We wanted to wish everyone Happy Holidays from Breckenridge, Colorado. We are so fortunate to live and work in such a beautiful setting like Breckenridge, where it is always a winter wonderland. For those of you in parts of the country who won’t be having a White Christmas we wanted to share some of our favorite “snow” top moments from Colorado.

We hope you enjoy…

Trilogy Partners

Trilogy Partners

Trilogy Partners

It’s not surprising that today marks the first day of winter. It is after all a cold, snowy day here in Breckenridge, Colorado with a low tonight of -6 degrees. In honor of the first day of winter, we complied a list of ways to help you stay warm this winter season. From radiant flooring to ventless fires, see how you can beat that winter chill!

We love Planika’s remote-controlled, smoke-free, eco-friendly, ventless fires. Since there is no need for any kind of ventilation, this “fireplace” can be installed anywhere. In an existing hearth or even in the middle of your coffee table.

Photo via Planika

Photo via Planika

Radiant floors will help keep your toes nice and toasty this time of year. It can even be used with hardwood floors, but be careful of which type you choose, it could possibly expand from the heat.

Photo via Elle Decor

Tired of stepping out of a hot shower and wrapping yourself in a cold towel. Towel warmers in the bathroom will help solve this problem.

Photo via Trendir

How do you stay warm during the winter months?

Tuesday, December 13th will be a milestone for Kevin Pearce. He will once again strap on his snowboard and take to the mountain with friends and family here in Breckenridge, Colorado. This ride down the mountain will be Kevin’s first since his life-changing accident back in 2009 in Utah. Pearce, a shoe-in for the 2010 United States snowboarding team, was practicing a difficult move in Park City and sustained a serious trauma to his head, which left him in a coma.

Pearce promises there will be “No tricks. No big air. No spins or double corks. No halfpipe.”

Photo via ESPN

“I really couldn’t be much happier about the way things turned out,” Pearce said. “Even the smallest things, like jumping on a snowboard. It has totally changed my perspective.”

With the economy still struggling to rebound it appears that a new American home is emerging. Gone are the extravagant additions and in its place are more practical and functional ones. According to The Wall Street Journal “Tough recent years are leaving their mark on home design…Big home builders, smaller architecture firms and even bathroom-fixture makers are adjusting to the shift toward more practical features and away from the aspirational.”

One of the many changes that are taking shape in this new “economic downturn” era are the abandonment of the “formal” rooms. Formal living and dining rooms are making way for larger kitchens and more closet space. The open family room is now on the scene and is much more functional than a formal living room. Also making a departure is the grand foyer, which is being replaced with “drop zones” or glorified mud rooms.

Families are looking for everyday spaces, a room that will be utilized on a daily basis.

Trilogy Partners

We are also seeing more homes that are incorporating universal design. Elevator shafts are being added to the floor plan and larger showers are replacing the jacuzzis and soaker tubs.

What are some of the ways you think our homes have changed? What aspect of home design is most important to you and your family?

A bathroom should be a place of calm and relaxation. An oasis where you can wash away the stresses of your daily life. Think of a zen-like bath, with natural elements and sleek lines.

Trilogy Partners

This Steamboat Springs’ home features a bath that accentuates the natural elements.

Trilogy Partners

We wanted to bring a touch of nature into this guest bath.

Trilogy Partners

And this breathtaking bath draws inspiration for its beautiful view, also by bringing nature indoors.

By incorporating natural elements into your bath you’ll be able to create a place where you can go and rejuvenate your body and mind.

Countertops are becoming increasingly  more important in today’s kitchens and with a multitude of styles and colors it is becoming more difficult to find your home’s perfect match. Whether you are looking for a sleek, clean look or something with a little more texture, your countertops can set the tone for the rest of the kitchen. Natural stone such as granite, marble, soapstone and slate still reign supreme in most kitchens. They tend to be more durable and resistant to scratches, not to mention their beauty can help enhance the aesthetic of the kitchen.

Trilogy Partners

Trilogy Partners

Some kitchens will mix different surface areas. The countertops are natural stone and the island might be a butcher block. Whichever type of material you decide to use make sure you do your research to determine which will work best in your kitchen.

The importance of energy modeling in zero net energy home design cannot be overstated. Energy modeling is an early design phase analysis used to determine the projected energy needs of the structure to be designed.

Michael Rath, a Breckenridge, Colorado zero net energy home builder and managing partner at Trilogy Partners, says, “One of the most important aspects of creating the ZNE structure is energy modeling. This takes place early in the design phase. It’s important to estimate accurately the energy requirements of the finished structure. An energy census is completed and sophisticated computer modeling is employed. Once the energy needs of the structure are estimated, systems can then be employed to provide enough energy to the structure so that it consumes no more than it produces and can indeed be called a ZNE building.”

Energy modeling analysis utilizes a proposed building program to define and quantify the energy demand, and to establish design criteria that are technically feasible and economically realistic. It takes into account all of the environmental data, and physical and programmatic information about the proposed net zero energy building.

Trilogy Partners was the first to build a zero net energy home in Breckenridge, Colorado in 2010. Contact us for information on building a home in the Breckenridge, Colorado area that emphasizes sustainability and zero net energy by visiting the Trilogy Partners website or calling 970-453-2230. Trilogy Partners of Breckenridge, CO “Design smart. Build beautiful.”

Last week we highlighted some of our kitchens for National Kitchen and Bath Month, but today we wanted to focus on the bathroom. We find many people will spend the “big bucks” to renovate and remodel their kitchen and outdoor living space, but are hesitant to update their bathrooms, especially the master bathroom. Like a kitchen, you’ll be able to recoup most of the cost of the renovation to the bathroom if and when you decide to sell your home.

There are many levels when remodeling your bathroom, a mid-range bathroom remodel can include installing a new toilet, tub, new sink and vanity and new flooring. A high level remodel can consist of all of the above, plus expanding the room additional footage, adding a window, reconfiguring the layout of the bathroom, adding a bidet, new lighting and shower.

Before you consider what type of renovation your bathroom falls under take a look online and through magazines to get inspired and you’ll need to work out a budget as well.

We hope to provide you with inspiration today in honor of National Kitchen and Bath Month. Take a look at some of our bathroom designs below.

Images from our Trey Parker (of South Park) project that was featured in Architectural Digest.

Images from Trey Parker’s home that we designed in Kauai Hawaii. Just one a side note, the view below does not come with the remodel.

Take a look at a before photo from this project.

If you are looking to renovate or remodel a room in your home please consider Trilogy Partners.

Trilogy Partners. First-ever Net-Zero Energy Home in Breckenridge, Colorado

At Trilogy Partners we understand the importance of building homes with minimal impact to our environment. We are dedicated to designing energy efficient and sustainable custom homes for Colorado and that is one of the reasons why it was so important for us to build the first ever  zero net energy home in Breckenridge.

We believe that we can achieve superior results for our clients while still building eco-conscious homes. The Professional Builder has some great steps that we wanted to share about achieving zero net energy.

1. Design with production in mind
2. Think outside the box when it comes to materials
3. Staggered stud design pays off
4. Make sure your materials are readily available
5. Little improvements add up
6. Constant communication and collaboration are required
7. Evaluate partners before you begin
8. Management buy-in is crucial
9. Don’t beat up your trade partners
10. In-field supervision is critical, especially with first-timers

For information about zero-energy homes in Breckenridge, Colorado please give us a call at 970-453-2230 or visit us online at trilogybuilds.com.