Source: Trilogy Partners

Green home design is gaining in popularity as new home owners require more energy-efficient homes made from non-toxic and sustainable materials.

The standards for green home design and construction have been set by the LEED certification program (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the U.S. Green Building Council. The emphasis is on using renewable natural resources to build and lower energy consumption in the home.

Non-toxic materials must be used in construction to qualify as eco-friendly. This includes the use of sustainable woods, bamboo and recycled materials. The recycled elements can include wood and metals from old buildings, used brick and stone. Raw stone and tiles made from salvaged clay and recycled glass can be used for interiors.

New homes in the Colorado mountains can make use of solar energy to lower power costs. Energy Star rated appliances that use less power are incorporated into building and interior design plans.

New homes have good R-value insulation, based on the thermal resistance of the insulation or how well it holds in heat. This is important for Colorado winters.

Trilogy Partners has focused on green building in the Summit County area designing, and building homes that meet Green Building Council standards.

Rough-textured raw stone is a popular trend in bathroom design. A rough stone bathroom can have one or all walls in natural or engineered stone. The unfinished textures work with contemporary or traditional bathroom designs.

Raw stone has subtle color variations that bring the mountains into your home. The look is natural and can be combined with any type of lighting and plumbing fixtures. The raw stone can be used effectively in a master bathroom, guest bath or mudroom. The rustic look and feel make for a great outdoor bathroom and spa next to a pool deck. Raw stone combines well with rough, natural wood.

A truly rustic bathroom can have stone walls, and a simple wood vanity and counter with a stone or ceramic vessel sink. Raw stone can line an alcove for the shower giving it the appearance of a mountain cave. Stone can also be used to build an obelisk or pyramid with a shower head for a curb-less shower.

Contact Trilogy Partners, an award-winning custom home builder in Breckenridge, can design and build the perfect rough stone bathroom for your custom home or vacation lodge in the Summit County area.

Green buildings refer to buildings built to reduce their impact on the environment. Common examples include buildings with superior insulation, buildings built using sustainable building materials, and buildings filled with efficient features.

Source: Freedigitalphotos.net

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, 4.3 million Americans either live or work in a building that has received its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. At present, an impressive 44 percent of commercial and institutional buildings under construction in the United States have received the same, which is predicted to rise to about 50 percent by 2016.

The U.S. Green Building Council believes that this increase is happening because more and more people are realizing that green building practices help them save on costs. Furthermore, as interest continues to grow, the government is beginning to recognize the benefits to the national economy. As a result, the trend is predicted to strengthen in the near future as government support increases.

Prospective homeowners and other Colorado residents interested in learning more about green home design should contact Trilogy Builds to speak to one of our representatives.

image via Flickr

Solar panels are an alternative energy system that reduces your energy costs and actually increases the value of your home. In fact, buyers will “pay a premium” to own a solar-paneled home.

No longer considered “ugly,” solar panels can now be attractively incorporated into your green home design. Another option for larger roofs are solar shingles that look like traditional shingles.

Trilogy Partners combine sustainability and visual ambiance in Colorado solar power installations. Internationally, six home designs have been recognized for incorporating eco-friendly solar panels into attractive and striking home design:

1. Activehouse, Austria and Denmark – Solar panels actually generate more energy than the families need.
2. Malibu 5 Modern Beach House – Roof solar panels and hot water collectors are invisible in this home built from recycled materials.
3. Enertia Home, Blue Ridge Mountains, NC – Solid-wood walls are energy efficient and the roof solar provide electricity.
4. Cornell University Solar Decathlon Home – Solar power is the only energy source for this 800 sq.ft. home.
5. SunPower – Westport, CT – A 5kw solar system using 225-watt solar panels works well on smaller roofs.
6. SRS Energy Palm Springs, CA – Solar roofing tiles blend into the home’s tiled roof.

Is your home a good candidate for solar panels?

If you want your bathroom to provide more than just a space to clean up, consider including some of these dream bathroom ideas to your home remodeling plans. They are all great ways to make your ensuite master bath feel more like a spa retreat-and we could all use a little relaxation in our day-to-day routine.

Image: Divine Kitchens via Houzz.com

• Spa-Like Shower – Build a shower area that provides plenty of space. You can even install a comfortable bench. Make sure you have plenty of shelves or niches to hold your bathing products.

• Universal Design – Make sure the shower is accessible as you get older and your mobility decreases. These days universal design features like grab bars and curb-less shower stalls can be included in stylish and subtle ways that you’d never notice-until you need them.

Image: Moroso Construction via Houzz.com

• Warming Features – It gets chilly in the Colorado mountains, so a small feature like warming bars for your towels will feel like quite a luxury when you emerge from the shower on a cold morning. For even more comfort, consider radiant floor heating.

• Hidden Convenience – Install drawers that provide storage for your hair dryer, straighter and other bathroom accessories. You can even include outlets into the drawers.

Image: Phil Kean Designs via Houzz.com

• Morning Kitchen – A shower and a coffee are necessary morning rituals. So why not add a coffee maker or espresso machine to your ensuite bath and closet area?

Which of these features would you love to have in your Colorado luxury home? Contact us today to discuss our luxury home remodeling services.

Leading media outlets are predicting that sustainable design will increase in 2013. Here are some notable events and trends to watch:

• National Sustainable Design Expo. This event, sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), takes place on the National Mall in Washington D.C. It takes place in April 2013, so maybe the cherry blossoms will be in bloom!
• Sustainable Design Assessment Teams. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) started SDAT to focus on issues of sustainability in varied communities. For more info, visit the AIA website.
• Solar panels. Inhabitat predicts that solar panels on rooftops will increase in number. In related news, integrated solar chargers may appear on more batteries.
• Winter gardens. Fresh food can be obtained all year from winter gardens. And the lack of shipping means fewer carbon emissions. Plus, they can be a beautiful addition to a home’s landscape!

For sustainable design in Colorado and other locales, contact Trilogy Builds.

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Image via sxc

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?

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.