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Let there be light! When choosing lighting for a home, where do you even start? With so many options available, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. Luckily, Trilogy can help you find the right fit. We’ve rounded up some of the most common questions about lighting right here and have provided “illuminating” answers below.
Q: How many different types of lights are there?
A: Lighting can fall into three categories: general lighting, task-based, and decorative.
There are some options that fit into more than one category—such as cabinet lighting, which is both task-based and decorative. Additionally, most lights can be converted to dimmers to fit your exact needs or preferences, giving them even more functionality and allowing you to fine-tune your room aesthetics.
Q: How do you know what kind of lights are best for what types of rooms?
A: The answer starts with one simple word: function. For example, kitchens usually need both general lighting and task-based lighting so you can prepare food safely. Hallways and other low-light areas might benefit most from general and safety lighting. In a bedroom, you might want less lighting to create a cozier mood conducive to sleeping, and focus on general and decorative lights.
Q: Are there different colors of white light?
A: Absolutely! There are:
Q: Are there different styles of lights?
A: Yes. Here’s a short list:
Image courtesy of Vecteezy.
Q: What are the most current styles popular today?
A: According to our trusted local lighting experts, current favorites are: transitional, farmhouse, and modern.
Q: If you don’t know what kind of lighting to choose or feel overwhelmed with options, what’s a safe choice?
A: Our experts say: “Transitional. It goes with most styles and fits a lot of people's needs.”
Although we covered a lot, this isn’t the end all be all of lighting design – just a way to get started. There are even more lighting options out there we didn’t get a chance to touch on, so whatever your need, style, or preference, we’ll work together to choose lighting that makes your house a home We hope this helps get you started! If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!
“My favorite journey is looking out the window.” - Edward Gorey
Windows open the inside to the outside world, making them an important feature in a home. But how do you choose the right ones? If you’ve been window shopping but can’t decide what’s right for your home, Trilogy can help.
Let’s start with the basics. While there are dozens of different kinds of windows out there, here are the Top 5 most common styles to consider.
Not all window panes are created equal. There are single-pane and double-pane versions, with single-pane being the most common in older homes. While single-pane windows might be more economical, double-pane windows are a better investment long-term. Their dual layers of glass create a pocket of air between the two panes, improving energy efficiency by better insulating the home. They also help reduce outside noises and remove most condensation. In addition, dual-pane windows perform better in a wildfire and are less prone to shattering than single-pane windows.
And though aluminum and metal window frames are lightweight, affordable, and nearly maintenance-free, because they conduct heat they are not ideal for insulation. Fiberglass and vinyl frames have air cavities that can be filled with insulation, making them perform better. Wood frames have a slightly lower performance than those and require more maintenance but still insulate well.
One of the most popular windows on the market this year is the casement window. Because of their modern aesthetic, versatile form, and energy efficiency, these sleek styles from companies like Alpine Window are in demand. Because homeowners are still drawn to Farmhouse design, black windows like these from Milgard are a striking pick to add contrast to any home. And finally, visions of Italy have inspired Tuscan Windows to lend a bit of European flair.
“Trilogy uses a lot of Coeur d'Alene windows since they are a higher quality brand option,” says one of our trusted local window experts. “Trilogy orders products from Cascade as well, because there are a lot of requirements for homes within Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), and these windows are all pretty energy efficient.”
Another favorite: “Milgard windows. They have vastly superior quality, warranty, and workmanship.”
Although Milgard and Alpine are popular choices, they’re not the only options out there! There’s a science behind choosing the right windows for different projects. We consider where your home is, your elevation, and the level of quality you need for certain pieces of it. Then, we rely on experience and expertise to make an educated decision that checks all your boxes and fits in your budget.
As a custom home builder for the Ridge, Trilogy strives to provide our clients with the best possible selection for their new houses. From windows to lighting and more, we search for quality products and pass this knowledge on to you so you have everything you need to make the best choice for your home. Because at the end of the day, it’s your home, and we’ll always build it the way you want. If you’re interested in finding out more, contact Trilogy today.
Remember those “paint-by-numbers” kits? They promise a work of art if you follow their guide, and match each paint color to a number. If only choosing paint colors for a home were this easy! We understand there’s a lot of guesswork in picking paint, which is why we’ve come up with this handy guide to tackling some of the most common paint queries.
The most important thing is to pick a color that you a) like and b) will fit your lifestyle. For example, while you may love pristine white walls, if you have a family with large dogs you might want to consider slightly darker hues in high-traffic areas.
Has the variety of different paint finishes left you dazed and confused? Before you abandon hope, let’s break down the four main kinds.
Flat/matte and eggshell/satin are best for interior walls, while semi-gloss and gloss are good for bathrooms and laundry rooms. We recommend using a high gloss dura epoxy enamel on closets, baseboards, and windowsills. It has a hard enamel base that comes clean really easily and is very durable and washable. Flat is a fit for ceilings and garages.
The more shine, the more durable (and easy to clean!) the paint will be. When you clean matte paint, it can often leave discoloration or even remove some of the paint. The shinier the paint, the easier it is to wipe clean.
For example, in a high-traffic area prone to mold, mildew, and dirt like the bathroom, laundry, and kitchen, pick a semi-gloss paint. All other rooms will benefit from eggshell or satin as they are easier to clean.
Selecting paint for ceilings and the garage is a whole different ball game. Choose a flat paint that won’t reflect light and will be long-lasting.
Because these are high-touch areas prone to fingerprints (and/or pawprints), opt for a high gloss dura epoxy enamel for a smooth, easy-to-clean finish.
If you’re blessed with children and four-legged friends, seek out satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss finishes for your interior walls. These can be wiped down while still holding their color and shine. This is a great life hack adding value to your home, too!
Since the exterior of your home will be exposed to all kinds of weather, select a durable latex paint in a semi-gloss finish. If you have trim, the answer depends on its condition. High gloss paint will highlight imperfections in the wood, so a semi-gloss is a better choice.
Let’s hear it straight from one of our trusted local paint experts: “The most popular paint color is Swiss coffee. We use it for all of our trim, mostly on ceilings, cabinetry, doors, trim, and even exterior trim. For interior colors, there is a range but they’re typically lighter colors. Some grays are still popular right now, too.”
This year, paint colors have been all about warmth. The top paint picks for 2023 focus on earth tones like terra cottas and sunny neutrals like whites with yellow undertones. But if you’re a fan of dark hues, you’re in luck. Jade, chocolate brown, and brick red are also in the spotlight.
All of these are ideas to get you started as you dive into the paint world, but at the end of the day, it’s all about what you want and the style you love to live in. If there’s a finish or a sheen you want, Trilogy can do it. Even if it's not what everybody else is doing, we’ll make sure you have all the information you need to make a decision about the best fit for your unique home!
At Trilogy, we’re always happy to share our knowledge and expertise with our clients. It’s why we offer tools like our True Quote and useful how-to blogs. If you’re thinking of building your dream home, contact us today and see how Trilogy can help!
Floors are the unsung heroes of our houses: always underfoot, yet often overlooked. But there’s no denying the importance of choosing the right floor for your household since it needs to work with your lifestyle. But if you’re starting from scratch, how do you pick the right one? Trilogy is here to help simplify your selection process with a focus on flooring.
Before you start with the fun stuff like colors and style, it’s important to sit down and think about what the best type of flooring is for your daily life. Here are the top points to consider:
Another thing to consider is selecting different types of flooring for different rooms. For example, while you may appreciate the soft feel of carpeting throughout your home, it’s better to leave it out of rooms like the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room which are prone to moisture. Pick tile, wood, engineered wood, or laminate for these instead.
Once you’ve identified your flooring needs, the fun part begins. It’s time to choose which style and color of flooring suits you best. There are so many options out there to fit a wide range of budgets and tastes. Start with the Top 5 here!
1) Laminate: Made of a wood or tile photo with a particle board wood base. It’s not your grandma’s laminate! Today’s versions come a long way since they first arrived on the scene, and you’ll find modern options that offer a stylish, contemporary look paired with high performance that holds up against pets, kids, and life well-lived.
2) Carpet: Made of a variety of materials, from man-made to wool.
3) Tile: Made of different materials from clay to ceramic
4) Engineered Wood: Made of real wood layered over a plywood backing
5) Hardwood/Softwood Floors: These floors are made of organic materials from trees like oak, maple, walnut, birch, and even bamboo.
Still not sure what to choose? Consider some tips from one of our trusted local flooring experts: “Laminate is the most durable option. Engineered hardwood is a natural product so there are no pattern repeats in the flooring. Vinyl plank is very thin and brittle, so any movement in the flooring causes the click system to break.”
When it comes down to it, there are three important factors to remember when picking flooring: lifestyle, durability, and style. At Trilogy, we know how important it is to get things right the first time, especially when it comes to designing a home. It’s why we offer our clients the True Quote process, which helps build a budget to accommodate all your choices, from flooring to finishes. Contact us here to find out more!
What’s the difference between building a house and a Trilogy home? We think it can be summed up in five parts. From the humble origins of our family business in Paradise to our current connections in the industry, find out what makes Trilogy tick.
Trilogy has a family tree with deep roots in Paradise. The Bolins started this business over 50 years ago, and it’s still family-owned and operated. For generations, we’ve built countless residential and commercial buildings. Our ties to the people and this place mean we’re invested in the community’s success. We know every new build becomes a part of the town’s history, and it reflects the care we show each project.
At Trilogy, we understand a house is more than just a home to our clients. It’s a place where you can express your style, unwind, and make memories. This is why we’ll take time right at the start to find out what your wishes are. Whether it’s having a window seat nook for reading your mystery novels or a built-in appliance garage in the kitchen to house the tools for your baking experiments, we love helping bring your design dreams to life!
Building a home can be a confusing process, but Trilogy takes the guesswork out of it. We’ll be by your side to walk you through everything from permits to paint colors. And with our True Quote process, you’ll have peace of mind knowing exactly what it will cost. Even if the price of doorknobs goes up, we’ll stick to the quote we gave you. But if the cost of material goes down, we’ll let you know, and you’ll keep the savings.
At Trilogy, we are always looking to raise the standards of our builds and remodels, and we’ll pass this along to you in the form of advice. For example, we may recommend investing in a slightly better countertop or cement lap siding so it lasts longer and you won’t have to spend more money replacing it down the road. Sometimes better quality doesn’t mean it’s more expensive– and we’ll always look out for you.
After five decades in the industry, Trilogy has forged lasting bonds with subcontractors and other area professionals. Our word means something in the community–when we make a promise, we keep it. And we treat our clients like we’d want our family to be treated, because they’re a part of the Trilogy family, too.
Not all home builders are the same. Some may just do the bare minimum to be up to code; Trilogy not only does it right but does what’s best for you. We’ll give advice you can trust to build a quality home you can feel confident about. We’re always thinking one step ahead of the build and have your best interests at heart. So if you’re looking for a partner in building or rebuilding a home, call Trilogy to see how we can help!
What is style? Many people associate the word with trendy and fashionable things. In truth, style is a way of presenting your personality through design, whether it’s furniture, art, or otherwise. Unlike trends that come and go, style can make a lasting statement.
Your home should be a reflection of you! Don’t be pressured into trying out the latest home design fads. Focus on what you enjoy seeing every day, not what a designer says you should have. The end goal of “Home Design” is to make you feel like you’re at home. If you love bright blue walls or fun shapes in your selections, then you should feel confident in making those selections.
As you’re considering what to choose for a house that feels like home, it may be helpful to have a few guiding suggestions. In the world of architecture, many folks follow a list of fundamentals called “the four f’s.”
They are:
For example, if you have kids, you might want a house that functions well in terms of having space for the little ones (like a separate side of the house for them) or incorporating kid-friendly life hacks and amenities like a mud room or dedicated laundry room. If you like to entertain, you might be more concerned with having a show-stopping room for entertaining. Work at home? You might enjoy a space with a peaceful flow in tune with nature outdoors. Older folks with heirloom furniture may gravitate towards a house designed around their furnishings.
Have you been dreaming of a Modern exterior with a farmhouse interior? Go for it! Don’t be afraid to mix and match contrasting styles. Or blend different but complementary styles like a Rustic exterior and a Coastal finish interior for a casual look inside and out.
Ready to start looking at design options? The sky is the limit with our custom homes, and our Palisades Homes also offer a wealth of combinations, with three different floor plans and four finishes so you can express your own unique style through design.
At Trilogy, we make it our mission to create a home design for you reflecting your values and hopes within its walls. Want to get started? Contact us today to find out how we can make your home design dreams a reality.