Julie Norman, Author at North Peak Construction

Creating a Guest Room Office Combo

With so many people working from home these days, finding space for an office when designing your custom home, is no longer optional: it’s practically a necessity. If your budget and space are limited, using a guest room as an office is not only possible, but often a great solution.

Your first consideration will be space. If your guest room/office is on the smallish side, you may want to consider a sofa bed or Murphy bed to maximize space when you don’t have guests. This can give you the added benefit of a seating area (if you go the sofa bed route) or just more floor space (if you choose a Murphy bed option).

For larger rooms where a regular bed and a desk will co-exist with plenty of room to move around, consider storage. You’ll need storage for files and work documents, but try to keep it discreet. Choose a desk with drawers or closed-door storage, or consider shelving with baskets or decorative file boxes with lids. This makes it easy to keep work neatly stored away when guests arrive.

Here a minimalist desk interacts with a storage bench with drawers, providing functional and stylish storage for work and guests.

Consider using part of your guest room closet for office storage as well, especially if you need hardware like a printer or scanner. Having a place out of sight to store these, but also a place where you can still use them, will make the space feel more like an office when you need it to. At the same time, closet doors can be closed so that all of that stays hidden.

Considering a custom home? Contact us! We’d love to help design the perfect space for you and your family.

Reasons to love the Peaks at Redlands Mesa

The Peaks at Redlands Mesa is a luxury townhome development located in the “Ridges” neighborhood in the Redlands of Grand Junction, Colorado. At The Peaks at Redlands Mesa you’ll find great views, plenty to do, and easy living!

Low Landscaping Maintenance: Enjoy a low-maintenance lifestyle and spend your time on the golf range instead of worrying about weeds and landscaping.

Varied floorplans: With 4 different floorplan options, you’re sure to find the right one for you and your family!

1 & 2 Car Garage Options: We offer two floorplans with 2-car garages and two with 1-car garages.

Close to recreation: Walk to nearby Redlands Mesa golf course or head over to Lunch Loop for great hiking or mountain biking. Hop on your road bike and take off right from your door, picking up the Monument Trail off of Monument Road or a portion of the Colorado Riverfront Trail off of Hwy 340.

Great proximity to downtown: You’re mere minutes from downtown Grand Junction, entertainment and local breweries and restaurants.

Learn more and explore our floorplans here: https://northpeakconstruction.com/the-peaks-at-redlands-mesa/

Luxury Kitchen Ideas for Your Custom Home

When designing a custom home, the kitchen is usually one of, if not the most, important room. Most people want a large kitchen with room for entertaining, eating, baking, and living. But beyond that, every home owner has unique tastes and requests to create a kitchen that is truly customized for them.

If you’re thinking about your own custom home, and want to add a few luxurious or unique touches to your kitchen, consider the following.

WALK-IN PANTRY

Most families enjoy the benefits of some type of pantry. However, we’re talking about a walk-in, room-to-store-all-the-things PANTRY. Use this as your private office, plan meals and family events, and even create a hidden spot for your favorite snack

BUTLER’S PANTRY

Take that pantry one step further and create a Butler’s Pantry. Butler’s Pantries are usually spaces between a kitchen and dining room, or off to one side, used as “prep” space. It helps to keep the kitchen a little more “clutter free” during big events. If you love entertaining, consider adding a butler’s pantry to your wishlist.

WINE STORAGE

Living in Western Colorado means having access to great local wine! If wine storage is a priority for you, make sure you put it at the top of your custom kitchen “wants.”

STATEMENT PIECE

A custom vent hood is one ‘statement piece’ idea for your new kitchen. Adding a grand element, like a stove alcove, vent hood, or one-of-a-kind island is a surefire way to set your kitchen apart.

When you’re ready to get started with your custom homes project, contact us! (970) 812-7970 or info@northpeakconstruction.com

Commercial Flooring Options

If you’ve decided to remodel your commercial space, congratulations! You’re off on a fun and exciting journey to showcase your business’s style, brand, and mission through the look and feel of a space designed just for you.

One major aspect of your space will be the floors. Choosing the right floors isn’t just about budget or “look.” It’s also about durability and function.

commercial flooringoptions

Budget: First, obviously budget will be a factor in your design. Flooring for an entire office can get expensive, and knowing right up front what your budget is will go along way in narrowing down your choices for you. Options like luxury vinyl will be less expensive than hardwood.

Type of business: If you have a high-traffic business, like a specialty grocery store or retail store, you’ll probably want to steer clear of harder-to-maintain flooring options like carpet. However, professional office buildings can often benefit from a combination of elegant tile or hardwood in a reception area followed by lush carpet in offices and conference rooms.

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For the budget conscious: Luxury vinyl tile or carpet will be less expensive options for your remodel. Both of these come in a huge variety of styles and colors. LVT will be easier to maintain and keep clean than carpet, but if you’re in a small office setting, or in a business that doesn’t see a ton of foot traffic, carpet provides a nice, noise-dampening and “warm” option for your space.

For the professional office space tile or engineered hardwood can provide a sophisticated look and feel while also being easy to maintain during winter months with ice and snow getting tracked in.

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Finally, some projects will require a more specialized flooring. If you’re working with a warehouse space or one that needs super durable flooring, you’ll need to consider options like polished concrete.

Specialty floors, like those for basketball courts, are unique to your building and situation. At North Peak we’re happy to consult with you on all aspects of your project, from beginning to end!

Office Interior Design Ideas

Designing an office can be an experience that releases your creativity. A new style elevates how the environment feels for staff and clients that come in the doors. First impressions are everything. With numerous styles, deciding on one look that appeals to the eye can be a big decision. To help make your design decision, here are some growing trends.

First, a Few Tips:

Before diving into the biggest trends and what’s “popular,” your office should inspire you. These elements should be included to make the space enjoyable and unique.
Functional Floor Plan: Make the most of the layout. Even if there is no open floor plan, optimize the space for easy movement and room for different things.
Comfort and Practicality: Invest in stylish, comfortable furniture. A cozy chair to grind out a task and a relaxing couch to take a break promotes well-being.
Lighting: This simple part of the office is crucial for various reasons. Lighting can impact productivity and mood. Poor lighting can cause eye strain and fatigue and decrease employees’ concentration and satisfaction. Natural and artificial lighting can be used to reduce stress and enhance mood.
Brand Identity: Design the office that feels authentic to your brand. This can include color scheme, décor, and anything else that reflects your brand’s aesthetic.

Design Inspiration:

Industrial chic

This style offers a moody design, a color pallet of cool tones, such as blacks, charcoals, and grays, and a touch of earthy warm tones of rust, copper, and weathered wood for character. To bring this style to life, exposed brick walls, concrete floors, reclaimed natural wood and metal accents add to the industrial charm. To make the look complete, you want furniture that combines vintage metal and wood materials, keeping comfort in mind.

Modern Minimalism

A modern look is always a solid interior design choice, where you can add authentic details that accompany your brand. Opt for neutral white, beige, gray, and black colors to dominate the space. Your accent colors should fit into the brand’s theme; if you’re unsure, try out a calming deep blue, emerald, or light shades of green or any color that suits your taste to add visual interest without overwhelming the room. Have sleek and clean materials: polished concrete or marble tables, glass, metal, and smooth Scandinavian wood to tie in the modern minimalist design. Incorporate simple furniture with geometric shapes and clean lines to complement the contemporary style.

Bohemian Eclectic

A unique take on interior design, bohemian eclectic will turn eyes with the mix of vibrant colors, patterns, and textures. Bring in the rich and colorful palette of jewel tones like deep purple, red, turquoise, and earthy tones of sage green, terracotta, and ochre to get the bohemian look. A bohemian style requires natural materials such as rattan and bamboo. To add some flare and texture, include patterned rugs and embroidered fabrics. Selecting vintage furniture with intricate details and soft colors adds to the theme. Comfort is also essential, incorporating poufs, pillows, and a low-slung couch.

Elegant Contemporary

An elegant contemporary is a sophisticated take on design for a classic yet luxurious feel. The color pallets feature cream, charcoal, and taupe with accented jewel hues. Materials such as velvet, brass, polished wood, and marble bring out the elegance. Furniture that is elegant and refined with high-quality finishes or has upholstery covers to protect and provide comfort made of fabric or leather material.

Interior design does not have to conform to a particular style or theme if that’s not true for your company. These design ideas provide inspiration and guidance to find a style that works and feels raw. Don’t be afraid to experiment and go through trial and error to achieve an office space that is not only aesthetically pleasing but adaptable to the work environment’s constant changes.

Understanding the Pre-Construction Process

The first step, or set of steps, for any commercial, multi-family, or residential project, is the pre-construction process. During the pre-construction phase, before construction begins, much of the planning and essential work happens.

Usually pre-construction meetings take place involving the owner, project manager, architect, general contractor, and project manager. During these meetings the following are often discussed and decided on.

Defining the scope of work, Design/Development: including scheduling necessary tests (soil tests, for example) or pulling required permits, understanding the overall objectives of the project.

Costs and Schedule Management: This covers scheduling of subcontractors, estimated and actual costs, managing timelines for the project, and understanding risk management.

Team Assembly is crucial to any good project: having a reliable team in place, including subcontractors, vendors, designers, and assistants, can make all the difference.

Site Prep like getting an area graded and utilities set up, and setting up temporary offices, bathroom facilities, etc are the last step before a project actually begins. This means we’re ready to get started with the physical work of your new construction or remodel project!

Low Maintenance Commercial Landscaping ideas

When planning your commercial building project, don’t forget the landscaping! Without it, your building will still be beautiful and appropriately designed for your needs, but it won’t stand out.

Adding landscaping to your project will soften its edges, provide a peaceful place for clients and employees, provide shelter and food for a variety of wildlife, and keep water and maintenance costs low

Choose native plants. This is the first step in ensuring your landscaping will be sustainable and easy to care for. Group plants together for easier watering.

Consider perennial shrubs and flowers, like (for the Western Colorado area), Viburnums like Snowball bushes, Roses, Lavender, Tulips for early spring, Coral Bells, and Diablo Nine Bark.

Ornamental grasses and wildflowers are great options as well as evergreen bushes and shrubs.

Next, consider hardscaping. Adding stone pavers, decorative gravel, and mulch will give your landscaping interest without adding more plants and maintenance.

Automated irrigation will save money and time for you and your staff. Plants will get the water they need at a scheduled time each week (on multiple days, usually). This means healthy plants and no stress for your employees!

Considerations for your low maintenance commercial landscaping: sun exposure, weather, and traffic.

Know which plants will work best for various areas of your building. It may be best to choose shade-tolerant shrubs for some areas, while those that receive more sun are better for perennial flower beds or flowering shrubs.

Be aware of areas where snow will pile in winter (in parking lot medians or nearby sidewalk areas). You may want to consider just using decorative gravel in areas like this.

Similarly, consider foot and car traffic at your business. What will work for visibility, beauty, and ease for everyone using your space?

Planning accordingly can lead to a beautiful outdoor space for your business, its employees, and clients too.

Design Build vs. Traditional: Which is right for you?

When it comes to bringing your commercial construction project to life, you have two basic methods to choose from: a traditional (design-bid-build) method or a design build method. Each has its benefits and drawbacks, and deciding which is the best way to go will be up to you and your individual preferences.

Design Build

A “design build” method means that your contractor is in charge of everything: the design and the build. At North Peak we use this method and work with our architects, subcontractors, vendors and the owner as a team, from the very beginning of the project.

With a design build, you’re trusting your contractor to choose all of those other aspects: vendors, architects, etc. You’re allowing the contract to have most of the control, leaving you to just relax and wait for your finished project!

For some, this lack of control can be unpleasant. While it can save time and streamline processes, if you want to be more involved in various aspects of your project, a traditional method might be better for you.

Traditional Build

With a traditional build, also called a design-bid-build, you will choose your architect first. Once your architect has designed your project you can then have contractors bid on your project.

This also means you will become the go-between and main communicator between the architect and general contractor. You’ll be in charge of making more decisions in regards to your commercial project.

Three Commercial Building Trends for 2025

Trends in commercial buildings come and go, and this year is no different. While some trends, like sustainable building, have stuck around for several years now, others, like Smart Buildings and Adaptive Reuse are just emerging.

First, “Sustainable Building” has been growing since the 1960s. The 1990s brought actual guidelines for “green” building standards. Since then the availability of projects and methods for creating commercial office buildings, neighborhood strip malls, and homes, has grown substantially.

Bamboo, cork, reclaimed wood, concrete, and adobe are all examples of sustainable building materials.

A second trend in commercial office design these days includes “in office benefits” for workers. These can range from something as simple as green plants to more complex options like an employee fitness center.

Providing incentives for employees, and ways to help them stay motivated helps you as their boss, but also helps your employees. Natural light, breakout spaces, quiet rooms, and quality office furniture are all ways to provide benefits to your staff.

It’s no surprise that “smart buildings” and the concept of “IoT” (The internet of things) are taking off. Smart buildings use Internet integration technology to program security cameras and thermostats, to improve workflow, and even to analyze data and productivity.

Energy efficiency is one of the top ways companies can use Smart Technology. By implementing simple changes in your design, like programmable thermostats, smart lighting, and even smart windows, companies can save money and help the environment.

If you’re considering a new commercial building, repurposing a current commercial property, or building a space that includes commercial and residential aspects, we’d love to help! Contact us at (970) 812-7970.

What is Adaptive Reuse?

In Grand Junction, Fruita, and towns all across the country, historic buildings and warehouse spaces often sit empty for years before being demolished to make room for new and modern buildings.

However, the idea of Adaptive Reuse is growing, and can be a way to preserve architecture while also saving businesses time and money.

Adaptive Reuse the process of remodeling a building for a use other than its originally intended one. For instance, the Lowell School (the old R5 school) was repurposed to house several businesses, including a brewery.

One of the benefits of Adaptive Reuse is that it preserves both architecture and heritage. No one wants to lose the great brickwork on an historic building, or the tin ceiling inside, for example. By repurposing the building instead of just tearing it down, businesses are able to highlight those historical features.

Another reason businesses might consider Adaptive Reuse is cost. Often it can be cheaper to restore / remodel a building than to build a new one. Remodeling a structure can also be faster, which saves time and expense for owners too.

Elysium Studios is a tattoo studio in Fruita, Colorado whose space was a former church.

Some considerations for Adaptive Reuse include:

Structural assessments – you don’t want hidden or unexpected costs to arise. A structural assessment will ensure the building is sound and suitable for restoration or remodel.

Budget – Remember that, with any remodel project, unexected expenses will occur. Be prepared with an adequate budget and contingency fund.

Neighborhood – Is the potential project a good one for the neighborhood? Will it add value and fit in with other businesses in the area?

You’ll want to have a good contractor and team in place to take on your project; there will inevitably be areas that need to be brought up to code. Staircases and electrical wiring are two examples of areas that could require extra work to meet current codes.

If you’re interested in learning more about Adaptive Reuse, or have a project in mind, we’d love to talk to you! Contact us here.

Author: Julie Norman