Lone Pine Design Group

10/08/2026

This isn't directly business related, but Happy Birthday Dad!

09/01/2026

There’s a lot that goes into designing a home, especially when you’re still in those early, conceptual stages. You’ve got the client’s vision, the lay of the land, the budget, building codes and regulations, and then the simple question of what can actually be built. Sometimes all those things play nicely together. Other times, they pull in about five different directions.

At Lone Pine Design Group, that’s the kind of challenge we enjoy. We take all those different pieces, lay them out on the table, and figure out how to make them work together. Every property has its own story and its own set of challenges, and this project is a pretty good example of that.

Recently, the good folks at The Thompson Group Realtors reached out to us about a piece of property they’d been having some trouble selling. It’s a beautiful vacant lot with Fish Creek running right through the middle of it. The trouble was, the actual building envelope was tucked into one corner of the property - a small, oddly shaped triangular piece of ground that didn’t exactly make it easy to picture a house sitting there.

They asked us a pretty simple question: Could we design a beautiful home that would actually fit there and help folks see what was possible?

So, we sharpened our pencils and got to work.

What came out of it is a home that makes the most of both the property and the mountain setting. The main level is laid out for comfortable everyday living, with the primary spaces - and the views - turned toward Fish Creek and the mountain peaks beyond. Upstairs, the guest bedrooms are tucked away a little, giving family and visitors their own space while keeping the main level comfortable and easy to live in.

Right now, this is still a very rough conceptual design. It’s not meant to have every nail figured out or every cabinet picked. It’s simply meant to show what could be.

And sometimes, that’s all it takes.

You look at an empty piece of ground and maybe all you see is grass, trees, setbacks, and property lines. Put a house on paper, though, and suddenly you can picture morning coffee looking out toward the mountains, the sound of Fish Creek below, family coming to stay upstairs, and the lights glowing through the windows on a cold winter evening.

That empty lot starts looking a whole lot more like home.

Take a look at the listing, give Trenton a call, and go walk the property for yourself. Then come sit down with us at Lone Pine Design Group. We can take this rough idea, move some walls, sharpen a few lines, and start turning it into a home that fits the land - and, more importantly, fits you.

https://estesparkhome.com/homes-for-sale-details/COUNTRY-CLUB-DR-ESTES-PARK-CO-80517/1067595/66/

08/05/2026

It seems like these days, too many folks are quick to tear down or completely change old buildings because it's easier, cheaper, or they simply don't fit the vision they have in mind. I've never believed that's the right approach. If you don't want an old building, then maybe an old building isn't the one you should buy. These places have already stood the test of time. As caretakers of our history, I believe it's our responsibility to preserve the stories, the craftsmanship, and the people who came before us whenever we can.

None of us know exactly what the new owners of The Crags have planned, and that's why this meeting matters. It's a chance to hear their ideas firsthand instead of relying on rumors or assumptions. If you've ever sat in that old dining room, looked through those beautiful wavy-glass windows, and watched the sun settle over Estes Park, then you know there's something special about that place. It's more than just a building—it's part of the story of our community.

I hope folks will take the time to attend the meeting with an open mind. Let's listen to what the new owners have to say, share our thoughts respectfully, and remember that preserving the places that make our town unique is something worth talking about together.

Colorado Preservation, Inc.
Deep Roots Craftsmen
History Colorado

07/22/2026

Architecture, design, construction, and bringing old places back to life have been part of who I am for about as long as I can remember.

Growing up on the family farm, we didn’t have shelves full of books, but the ones we did have got read until the pages were about worn out. One of them was Back to Basics from Reader’s Digest, and that’s where it all started for me. Before long, I was checking out Your Cabin in the Woods from the library so often that they finally sold me their copy at a book sale. I still consider that one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Thank you, Conrad Meinecke, for setting a young farm kid down a path that would shape the rest of his life. (As a side note, a few years ago my wife surprised me with the newly printed edition. It’s one of my favorite gifts I’ve ever received.)

Then came This Old House. I’ll save those stories for another time, but that show taught me more than I probably realized back then. Build Your Own Low Cost Log Home became another favorite, and I still pull ideas from The Craftsman Collection today. Every one of those old books still sits on my shelf. They’re worn, dog-eared, and full of memories, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

When I was around ten years old, going into town to see my grandma was a pretty big deal. She’d take us to the little neighborhood grocery store and let each of us pick out a magazine and a candy bar. My cousins usually headed straight for the comic books, coloring books, or Mad Magazine. Me? I was the odd kid standing there flipping through Architectural Digest, Better Homes & Gardens, Log Home Living, and Old-House Journal. Looking back, I guess I was a little different, but those magazines opened up a whole new world for me. They showed me homes, craftsmanship, and places I’d never seen before, and they lit a fire that’s never gone out.

All these years later, that same excitement is still there every time I sit down with a new project. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a brand-new mountain home, a simple cabin, a century-old farmhouse, a historic restoration, or a small remodel. Every project has a story, and every client has a dream worth listening to.

I’d be honored to help you bring yours to life. Whether you’re building something new, restoring something old, or preserving a piece of history for the next generation, I’d love to walk alongside you through the process. My hope is that when it’s all said and done, you won’t just have a beautiful house - you’ll have a place that truly feels like home.

07/18/2026

We are excited to announce that we are now open! Providing one-on-one design services for any project that you have been thinking about for years. Our website is under construction, but should be done very soon. With 34+ years of experience, nothing is too big or too small. Give us a call, or stop by to chat and have a cup of coffee.

07/17/2026