Do you still use a rotary phone or have you upgraded to a smartphone? Do you use a map while driving or GPS? These may seem like funny questions as it may seem silly to continue using obsolete technologies for reasons other than nostalgia. Why is the design and construction industry still using 2D drawings to relay ideas to clients?

Our design and build industry has been business as usual for the past couple hundred years.  Clients are shown 2D drawings to understand their home or structure and then build based off of 2D drawings. Why is this?

Michael Rath, CEO of Trilogy Partners, asked himself this question in 2008, he was fed up of the old ways where clients had an architect, builder and designer all essentially speaking different languages and not communicating to each other. This old model of how to build leads to projects being over budget, over scheduled and not the exciting and satisfying process that building your dream should be. He decided that it was time to break the mold and figure out a way where he could bring everyone together in one efficient working process. Michael found the 3D Modeling program SketchUp and he knew that this was how he was going to change how things would be done.

Michael wanted to create a collaborative process where everyone works from an exact 3D virtual model of a structure that is to be built. Where everyone involved, especially the client, knows exactly how the structure will look, feel and that every design and construction detail, down to the last nut and bolt, is answered for ahead of time. Ahead of any expensive mistakes! And so, Project Management Modeling was born.

Project Management Modeling (PMM) is a residential BIM (Building Information Modeling) solution combining project management, interior design and BIM that creates the most transparency and best results for our clients while saving money every step of the way.

“I love technology, I love being creative, I love collaborating with my clients and my subs and my engineers and I wanted to create an environment where everyone can do the best work possible and show it with everyone else in a collaborative open environment.” Rath

In most design and construction, especially in the residential genre, an architect will take the project so far and then usually hand it off to the engineer who hands it off to the builder. And then an interior designer steps in and you realize your Grandma’s heirloom bed wont fit into the guest room! The client is looking one way and then the next while those disciplines are not talking to each other. Everyone is separate. “It’s not well integrated. It is frustrating!” There wasn’t a BIM alternative for residential projects and something had to change. For Michael, the clients are the most important thing. “It’s my job, my duty to create the best possible house for them.” And so it was important that he would create a solution in order to achieve this.

It is time for our industry to change. We need to take advantage of technological advances and have a little fun doing it. “We have VR now!” The subs, the builders, and the clients can “walk around” the model of the house to be built and see how it will look. They will witness where they need to make changes as if the structure is already built. This allows for changes to be made quickly and without any cost involved.

By utilizing the latest technologies we are able to avoid costly mistakes, be more efficient and sustainable but also be more creative and trying things we wouldn’t have been able to do before. Can you image having a waterfall in your living room? You don’t have to imagine, we can show you in a 3D Model. If you love it, we can build it! Trilogy’s Project Management Modeling is giving you the ability to try new things, to make a custom home truly unique for our clients. If we have the technologies to achieve great things then why not take advantage of this? At Trilogy, we are capitalizing on these technologies and we want you to join us on this exciting adventure.

To find out more about our Project Management Modeling that combines project management, interior design and residential BIM you can click here or contact us directly. We would love to chat to you.

If you’re looking for building materials that will provide your home with a unique aesthetic as well as a bit of personality, then we recommend combining the use of metal and wood together for beautiful results. The following are just a few examples of how you can mix metal with wood:

Source: Houzz

• Warm and inviting – Compliment your bronze light fixtures with several different types of wood in order to elevate the visual dimension of the space.
• Beautiful contrast – Choose a light wooden table and surround it with metal chairs or stools to add some interesting visual contrast instead of complimenting it with wood chairs.
• Industrial style – Build your kitchen island out of distressed wood and add metal to it to create a strong focal point. Add a bit of visual balance by surrounding the island with lighter metal stools.
• Wood furniture and metal décor – If you have distressed wood furniture pieces, such as dressers or bookcases, add some metal décor – like a small metal lamp – to provide some texture and depth.

Use these examples to inspire your use of wood and metal. Contact us at Trilogy Builds for additional home design advice.

The living room should be a space that is comfortable, inviting, and easy to relax in. Because of this, the design of your living room is quite important. One of the best ways to accomplish a relaxing atmosphere is by using a natural living room design. The following are a few elements that you should consider implementing to create a natural living room:

Source: Trilogy Builds

• Natural light – Make sure that plenty of natural light gets into your living room. You can do this by installing large windows or using folding doors that open the space up to the outdoors. Or install a few skylights.
• Use earth tones – Add furniture and décor that have earth tones, such as clay reds and neutral browns. These soft colors provide a serene natural environment.
• Add wood elements – Wood furniture and décor pieces are a great way to physically bring natural elements indoors. Try using reclaimed wood pieces for a unique and organic feel.
• Grey contrast – If you use a lot of wooden elements, use a few light grey furnishings to provide a cool contrast for a calming atmosphere.

Use these tips and contact us at Trilogy Builds for additional design advice.

When it comes to making your bathroom a more eco-friendly place, finding ways to conserve water isn’t the only thing that you can do. In addition to installing low-flow faucets, why not install an eco-friendly bathroom sink as well? The following are some of the more environmentally friendly sink options you can choose from:

• Salvaged sink – Pick up anything bowl-like and salvage it as a sink. All you have to do is have a hole drilled in it for the drain.

• Cement sink – Have your sink poured in place using cast-in-place concrete. You can make your cement sink more eco-friendly by adding recycled aggregates such as porcelain or glass.

• Wood sink – As long as the wood was salvaged or the source was certified by the FSC (forest stewardship council), then it’s a great eco-friendly option.

• Rubber sink – For a real unique touch to your bathroom space, consider a rubber sink. There are manufacturers that produce sinks made from recycled rubber tires, which are stretched over a base frame to help form a sink.

If you’re looking for different energy efficient home features to make your bathroom more sustainable, then consider one of these eco-friendly sink options. Contact us for more ideas and information.

Source: Trilogy Partners

One of the top trends in green home design is the concept of passive design when planning a new home build as more homeowners embrace are leaning toward zero energy homes. Instead of trying to add energy-saving features after the home is built, the process begins from the ground up, by incorporating simple features directly into the home’s architecture.

Passive design can be considered simple design as it removes the complexity surrounding the most basic features found in all buildings including windows. The placement of windows facing toward the south is extremely crucial in the design, therefore this needs to be considered during site selection. This element allows the Colorado homeowner to take advantage of the sun’s energy to help reduce heating bills during the cold winter months, and provide natural light throughout the year.

There is an increased focus on making sure that structure doesn’t allow drafts to penetrate and lessen this warming effect. This is accomplished by making the home airtight and often by utilizing landscape elements such as trees or shrubs to act as windbreaks. By incorporating several elements of passive design into your green home design, you can reduce your energy bills for years to come.

Fresh from the recent World Architecture Festival held in Singapore, is news that Turkey’s Sancaklar Mosque has been awarded the honor of the Best Religious Building for 2013. This impressive underground structure was designed by Emre Arolat Architects of Levent, Turkey.

The design of the mosque is a departure from traditional standards and has been built underground in Buyuk Cekmece, a suburb of Istanbul. The designers were able to successfully integrate the man-made materials with the elements of the natural environment by combining concrete slab and natural stone.

Beyond the walls that separate the complex from the nearby highway and neighborhood, all that can be seen above ground is the concrete canopy accessible from the upper courtyard. The remainder of the building is reached via natural stone stairs that follow the slope of the site down into the structure.

With its almost cave-like atmosphere, the slits and breaks throughout the Qiblah wall allow natural sunlight to enter the prayer hall is an excellent use of green architecture. The intent of the design is to shy away from status quo and provide a magical space unlike any other.

Watch for more news on how world architecture meets green architecture from Trilogy.

Source: Trilogy Partners

No door is permanent, but some doors last longer than others. In general, longer-lasting doors are made of better materials, while also fitting into their surroundings in a harmonious manner. When choosing the perfect door for your home, consider the following:

• Instead of focusing on short-term savings, homeowners should prioritize long-term consequences. As a result, it’s better to install doors made of better and longer-lasting materials because the costs for multiple replacements add up over time. Furthermore, for homeowners interested in helping the environment, a longer-lasting door is much friendlier than one in constant need of repair or replacement.
• Consider the dimensions of the door because failing to do so can result in expensive and time-consuming modifications to accommodate the room’s needs. For example, if a room is going to be carpeted, then the door might need to be shortened to accommodate the carpet.
• Similarly, doors will affect the space around them. Double half-doors make convenient installations in cramped spaces such as hallways where opening a single full-sized door might open up into the walkway. Pocket doors and sliding barn doors can also help conserve space.

For more information about green home design, please contact Trilogy Partners.

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.

Colorado is becoming well known for its craft breweries but there are also some great little wineries popping up throughout the area. Buying wine quite often turns into collecting wine. A wine cellar is the perfect place to store your wine collection and can also be the perfect place to relax and enjoy a glass of wine.

Wine cellars can be incorporated into an existing space such as underneath the steps of your home or they can be built to a specific plan. Not all wine cellars need to be damp and dark.

Here are some suggestions for your future wine cellar:

• Use bright colors on the walls to keep things bright and airy.
• If you like a cozy feel wood floors can make the right impact.
• If your cellar is short on height use custom lighting that sits close to the roof.
• Leaving walls and floors concrete can provide the right temperature, add some comfort by laying down plush area rugs to provide texture and warmth.
• Use a color combination making the walls a different color to the racks, this will provide visual appeal.

If you need more information about potentially adding a wine cellar to your home, then be sure to contact the experts at Trilogy Partners today!

Wood adds natural warmth and texture to any room and it’s used extensively in kitchens and bathrooms by Trilogy Partners.

Wood countertops and butcher-block kitchen islands have always been interior design favorites.  Wood top kitchen islands can also be combined with stone or tile for versatility in food preparation.

Maple, cherry and other hardwoods need to be sealed and cleaned but they work well in areas where water and other liquids are used in food preparation and cleaning.

Wood countertops can be varnished to a high shine where water beads up on the surface.  They can be treated with various products that include tung oil, lemon oil, linseed oil and beeswax. An under-mounted sink in the bathroom or kitchen allows water to drain into the sink from the wood countertop.

The countertop can be smooth and elegant or rustic and weathered. A weathered countertop works well in a bathroom or wash area that is part of a mudroom.  The wood is actually recycled from a barn or other building.  It is sanded, smoothed and varnished or treated to avoid splinters.

Photo Source: Houzz