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

When you are considering having a deck built as a part of a home remodeling project, you have a choice between using wood or plastic decking. Both surfaces provide some advantages and disadvantages.

Example of a plastic deck

Wood is one of the most common materials to use when building a deck. It’s durable,, can be sustainable harvested,  and it is easy to work with. In hotter climates, wood is one of the best materials to work with, since it naturally absorbs the heat and dissipates it.

Plastics and composites are another choice when it comes to building decks.  They do tend to absorb heat, and can start sagging when they are used in areas that have very hot summers. Plastics and composites are more susceptible to mold and mildew, especially the lighter colored composite decking. This can easily be removed with some bleach and water and a scrub brush. Plastics and composite decking materials do tend to require a little bit more maintenance than your average wooden deck, since they require being treated 1-2 times a year in order to maintain their appearance.

Example of a wood deck

Both products can be produced in a sustainable, ecologically friendly manner. They make a valuable part of any home remodeling project.

Photo Source: Houzz

Colorado’s outdoor beauty is the perfect setting for patio entertaining and relaxing. And because we are ecologically diligent, we always look for ways to incorporate a sustainable design into an aesthetically pleasing setting. Eco-friendly materials include porous (pervious) concrete, stones and permeable pavers for better water movement in your yard. Landscaping with low-maintenance native plants and installing a “smart” irrigation system is another way to conserve water. Solar lighting is a great choice. Also, using LED outdoor lighting uses less electricity and may lower your electric bill, too.

• As you prepare to build or renovate your patio area, Better Homes & Gardens offers design suggestions to consider:
• Instead of an attached patio, utilize a spot that offers the most scenic vista or stage an area near a large tree.
• Water gardens bring beauty and serenity to your yard.
• Build your own fire pit! You can decide the size, and it can be a patio focal point.
• Instead of traditional lines, think curves. Gentle, circular arrangements with your patio stones and plants create a striking visual in your yard.

Not only will your patio provide a charming venue for relaxation and entertaining, it will increase your Colorado home’s value.

image via Houzz

Trust in Trilogy

Trilogy Partners design-and-build professionals carefully study interior and exterior trends for home and commercial buildings. Existing and new decor is every homeowner’s priority when building or remodeling. We are seeing ten striking home interior design trends for 2013:

1. Brass is the metal of the moment! From accent pieces to lighting, hardware and railings, brass is timeless and affordable.
2. Elegant florals and graceful tapestry-look fabrics are in demand for every room.
3. Computer-generated fabrics are all the rage on fashion runways, so look for these materials in upscale living rooms.
4. Move over modern because everything old is new again. Vintage looks in the kitchen (weathered concrete, slate, irregular flooring) are popular design choices.
5. Antique furniture and period pieces mix beautifully with your modern decor.
6. “Gloss! High gloss! Shine! Polish! Lacquer!”  – Jeffrey Bilhuber
7. Bright, hi-resolution computer-like colors are front and center.
8. James Mont furniture is over-the-top and has been called chic-savage.
9. Art pieces are no longer for the rich and famous. Investing in complimentary and affordable art for your home is trending.
10. Man Cave decor goes high tech this year and includes media rooms full of boy toys, wine cellars, and even hibachi-grill islands for the chef in every man.

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?

Floor plan for remodeled Baldy Townhome

Necessity is the mother of invention — and creativity! A Colorado couple purchased a Baldy Mountain townhouse that, though structurally sound, had a terrible floorplan. They felt the master bath was “an embarrassment,” and the formal dining room an unnecessary space.

Working with a limited budget and wanting to enhance their new home’s interior beauty and function, they contracted Colorado builder Trilogy Partners to help transform their house into a home.

The wasted dining room space was used to enlarge the master bedroom, bath, and walk-in closet. The final floor plan also included a mudroom, laundry room and half-bath. The couple says Trilogy’s professionalism and willingness to work within their budget and timeframe took their townhome “to the pinnacle of property values within our market.” They are especially thrilled with their new, luxurious master bath.

Trilogy Partners takes pride in enhancing Colorado’s natural beauty by building environmentally friendly homes using sustainable, “green” materials. We work with Energy Star® partners and products to help our clients realize long-term energy-efficiency and lower utility bills. Call 970-453-2230 or contact our design/build team for additional information.

Your home is most likely the greatest investment and asset you have, and as you build or remodel your kitchen, we will encourage you to make choices that will work well for you 10, 20 or even 30 years from now. Katrine Ames of This Old House magazine says to avoid “dating” your kitchen, consider a standard square layout, classic white cabinetry and neutral stone countertops for timeless form and function.

Older homes’ kitchens often have poor traffic circulation design and inefficient workspace, so when we work with a client to redesign and remodel a kitchen area, we examine what they and their family need now and years later.

This Old House remodeled a 1940 one-story weekend house that needed more space overall. The architect’s challenge was to design a kitchen they would “still love in 30 years.” Uncomplicated lines and utilitarian workspace was the client’s choice. The kitchen area was enlarged by eliminating a ground-floor guest bedroom. An island was added as well as a breakfast nook. The well-organized white cabinets were designed to hold specific-sized dry food storage containers.

Beauty, durability . . . Trilogy Partners professionals take kitchen design from cramped to comfortable, using sustainable, ageless design and materials.

Photo Source: This Old House

Our clients have always requested more durable and aesthetically pleasing bathroom design as they build or renovate their Colorado homes in the past. But now, more and more people — including Trilogy Partners — want sustainable, eco-friendly and energy-efficient bathroom areas in addition to a visually appealing space.

We want to work with our environment while saving money, and there are several ways to achieve this sustainable bathroom design:

• Multi-spray showers are so wasteful they are banned by the DOE (Department of Energy). For your shower, choose low-flow fixtures.
• Eliminate your bath tub to save water and space. But if a luxurious soak is one of your greatest pleasures, remember, less is more. Smaller, not spa-sized tubs are trending.
• Older toilets can use as much as 5 gallons of water per flush! Install water-saving toilets for your bathroom.
• As you design your new bathroom, choose natural materials. Other considerations include recycled material tile or post-consumer glass tiles. Avoid carpeting or hardwood flooring in your bath; waterproof materials and good sealing will save you repair costs 20 years from now.

We are designing and building now with consideration for the future. By specializing in sustainable/green design and materials, your home will have beauty today and energy savings for life.

Photo Source: Apartment Therapy

image via Flickr

Sustainable design has become popular among high-end architects for good reason. Eco-friendly furniture is good for the environment and also your health in the long run. Furniture designed with sustainable materials preserves forests by repurposing materials. Sustainable furniture design also avoids toxic chemicals used in most furniture today. Here are a few of our favorite furniture pieces from a new face in sustainable design.

New York-based designer Michael Robbins creates one of a kind handmade sustainable furniture from reclaimed wood. He got his start in New Mexico while building stools and chairs for his adobe home. Each piece of  furniture is handcrafted from his work studio, an old barn in the Hudson Valley. Robbins focuses on the art of form and simplicity in his design. His collection is quite new, and was just released in 2012.

Though Robbins designs and crafts each piece of furniture himself, every piece has its own unique feel. Some dark wood, some light wood, others are blends of dark and light or even painted neon green. More recently, he has added tables and lighting to his portfolio. Robbins take a classic twist on traditional furniture, by giving it the look and feel of abstract art.

image via Flickr

Wood is an amazing, versatile, natural element that produces a variety of effects. Each type of wood offers its own unique grain and characteristics when stained. Your choice in colors used on your wood features can be just as important a decision as the type of wood itself.
Here are some basic tips to keep in mind as you make your decision:
Light – Light colored woods and stains will often add the element of an open space, making it perfect for areas that you desire a large amount of wood surfaces. With a high gloss it also provides a reflective surface to bring more natural lighting into the room. Blending light wood with dark surfaces makes the ultimate dramatic contrast for your home.
Dark – Dark woods and stains provide a sleek and modern appeal. It is often associated with a masculine, powerful, and modern impression. Too much of dark woods in a location can be overwhelming it should therefore be used with caution.

Your Colorado architecture selections can be made much simpler with the assistance of our professionals. At Trilogy Partners we thrive in unique structures that incorporate sustainable and natural elements.