This week we are counting down the days till opening day of the 2012-2013 ski season in Breckenridge. Helping everyone get into the season of snow is Ullr, the Norse God of Snow, who has made his way back to Breck. For the next several days, Ullr will be playing a little game of hide and seek. If you find him, from now until Thursday, November 8th, you’ll have a chance to win first chair on Opening Day, November 9th.

Ullr will be hanging around the Denver area waiting to be spotted. Like Breckenridge Ski Resort on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter to get clues as to where Ullr will be hiding.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIjiHhe4SzI&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Good luck and may the Norse be with you.

We are gearing up for opening day on Friday, November 9th, here in Breck. Breckenridge Ski Resort, one of the most popular ski destinations in Colorado, has offered world-class skiing and riding for over fifty years. On average, the Ski Resort in Breckenridge receives around 300 inches of snow a year. That’s a lot of powder.

With twenty nine lifts and 2,358 acres of prime skiing and riding, BSki Resort is the perfect place to stay and experience a real Colorado ski town. Whether you are looking for high-alpine terrain or a place to learn how to ski, you’ll find what you are looking for in Breck. There are four peaks for your skiing and riding pleasure– Peak 7, Peak 8, Peak 9 and Peak 10.

What is your favorite run in Breck?

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is reporting that “the Remodeling Market Index (RMI) climbed to 50 in the third quarter of 2012, up from 45 in the previous quarter.” This is great news for the remodeling industry. The increase brings the RMI back to 2005 levels.

“The strength of the RMI, especially in owner-occupied properties, shows that home owners are investing in remodels as home prices stabilize,” said NAHB Remodelers Chairman George “Geep” Moore Jr. “As owners become more confident that investments in housing will hold their value, they are beginning to undertake projects to improve their comfort that they had been putting off.”

According to NAHB, “All three indicators of current market conditions improved: maintenance and repairs rose to 56 (from 50), minor additions and alterations to 51 (from 47) and major additions and alterations to 49 (from 42). Current market conditions improved or held steady in all four regions in the third quarter of 2012.”

What do you think this means for the remodeling industry? Is this a sign that the housing market is picking up?

As the Northeast braces themselves for Hurricane Sandy, we wanted to share these somewhat eerie photos we found on Curbed. According to Curbed, “The MTA put New Yorkers on house arrest last night, shutting down the entire public transportation system for an indeterminate amount of time because of Hurricane Sandy’s looming arrival.”

From Grand Central to Penn Station, it appears the hallowed halls of New York City’s transportation hubs are on hiatus.

Photo via Curbed

Photo via Curbed

Another New York City landmark that was shut down due to Hurricane Sandy was the New York Stock Exchange, which was last closed for weather conditions in 1985.

Photo via NY Post

We wish everyone in the Northeast who is affected by this storm all the best.

Most young kids have a hard time understanding the importance of being energy efficient. Yes, we teach them to put their containers in the recycle bin instead of the trash can, but turning off the lights is a harder message to convey. For some reason when it comes to reducing the consumption of electricity in the homes, kids are missing the mark.

Designer Danny Taylor hopes to help conserve energy in the home with his “Dimmer Switch.”  According to Taylor, “This simple ‘dimmer switch’ humanises an ordinarily ubiquitous object to help the child form a relationship which they will want to participate with and affect. The act of turning the light on creates a ‘sad’ face, and turning it off contrastingly makes the character ‘happy’.”

So next time your kids leave the room without turning out the lights, tell them to turn the frown upside down.

How do you teach your kids about the importance of sustainability?

Photos via Danny Taylor.

Ever wonder how the rich and famous live? Well Curbed is featuring the newly sold penthouse of New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. Jeter’s former four bedroom penthouse at the Trump World Tower recently sold for $15.5 million after being on the market for over two years.

Some of the top-of-the-line features found in Jeter’s home–remote controlled privacy shades and entertainment system, billiards room, piano lounge, wet bar, and a 14 seat formal dining room table.

Photo via Curbed

Photo via Curbed

Photo via Curbed

Photo via Curbed

Photo via Curbed

It is rumored that the future hall of famer will be downsizing to a smaller space. What do you think of his former pad?

The London-based firm foster + partners has just been awarded the redesign of 425 Park Avenue, a 55-year old building between 55th and 56th Streets in New York City. Lord Norman Foster beat out three other “starchitects” for the commission– Zaha Hadid of Zaha Hadid Architects, Rem Koolhaas of OMA, and Richard Rogers of Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners.

Photo via Architizer.

According to Architizer, “The tower will replace a 32-story building completed in 1957. At 625,000 square feet, the Foster building will reportedly be the first full-block office tower to rise on Park Avenue in nearly 50 years.”

Foster says of the honor, “I have a personal connection with New York, which has been a source of inspiration since my time at Yale, when the new towers on Park Avenue and its neighborhoods were a magnet for every young architect…Seeing firsthand the works of Mies van der Rohe, Gordon Bunshaft, Eero Saarinen, and Philip Johnson was tremendously exciting then—I am delighted to have this very special opportunity to design a contemporary tower to stand alongside them.”

L&L Holding Company and Lehman Brothers Holdings are developing the project with construction set to start in 2015.

What do  you think of Foster’s design?

We wish we had this All Nighter Original poster handy when we were studying 20th and 21st century architecture. This poster breaks down the work of some of the greatest architects of all time. From I.M Pei to Frank Lloyd Wright, you’ll learn the signature styles of each of these 30 iconic architects.

Take a close look at the structures below, there might be a quiz later.

Which one is your favorite? Who would you have added to the list?

Photo Source: ArchDaily

Don’t let another ski season go by without a building your dream home in the Colorado mountains. A home in the mountains is a place for family and friends to gather while enjoying incredible views of nature.

One of the best ways to decorate your mountain home is with rustic furnishings.  Below are a few ways to achieve the rustic look in your home courtesy of Houzz:

• Consider the use of log accents in your mountain home.  For example, this log wood bunk bed featured in Houzz is perfect for accommodating guests at your mountain retreat.

Image via Houzz

• Mix and match weathered furnishings with modern and tailored pieces to give your home a rustic, yet sophisticated look

The Trilogy Partners team can help you to design and build the mountain home of your dreams.  Contact us today to discuss how we can make your dream a reality.

We are once again drawing inspiration from homes across the Atlantic. This time we take a closer look at this Dutch home, which is embedded in the moorland. Designed by Dutch architects, Denieuwegeneratie Architecten, this home is literally built halfway into the ground.

According to the Dutch architecture firm, “The thermal mass keeps this warmth and cools the house in the summer.” The glass facade allows natural night to filter in and also provides heat during the daylight hours.

Photo via Cush Design Studio

Photo via Cush Design Studio

This shelving unit gives new meaning to repurposing. The engine and roof were removed from this Jaguar to create the shelving.

Photo via Cush Design Studio

Skateboard stairs, another great job repurposing.

Photo via Cush Design Studio

We love the openness of this home.

Photo via Cush Design Studio

We’d love to hear what you think.