Abigail Homes builds award-winning luxury homes in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team specializes in full custom homes built for energy efficiency and healthy indoor air and water. At the 2026 Colorado Springs Parade of Homes, their Emerson Estate took home four of six Industry Awards of Excellence and the People’s Choice Award. The home pairs French Country-inspired architecture with resort-style outdoor living designed to be enjoyed well beyond the warmer months. We spoke with the Abigail Homes team about the home, the outdoor living trends shaping their region, and why they chose Infratech to keep both of the home’s covered outdoor spaces comfortable year-round.
Tell us about the home. Where is it located, how large are the indoor and outdoor spaces, and what inspired the design?
Located in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado, the Emerson Estate is a stunning 6,777-square-foot custom residence featuring approximately 1,224 square feet of outdoor living space across its main-level covered deck and lower-level patio. The Emerson Estate is a breathtaking expression of modern luxury, thoughtfully designed to balance everyday comfort with sophisticated entertaining. Inspired by timeless French Country architecture, the home seamlessly blends classic architectural elements with contemporary finishes, showcasing natural stone, warm wood accents, dramatic rooflines, and expansive windows that frame the beauty of Colorado’s surrounding landscape.
Inside, the open-concept floor plan features soaring ceilings, intricate architectural details, and inviting gathering spaces anchored by statement fireplaces and thoughtfully curated designer finishes. The gourmet kitchen, complete with an oversized island and professional-grade appliances, serves as the heart of the home, effortlessly connecting the dining and living areas.The private primary suite offers a luxurious, spa-inspired retreat, while the lower level was intentionally designed with entertaining in mind, featuring a recreation room, game room, wet bar, custom bunk room, and additional guest accommodations.
Extending beyond the interior, the home’s expansive covered deck and patio create a natural continuation of the living spaces, allowing homeowners and guests to embrace Colorado’s beautiful surroundings throughout the seasons. Every element of the Emerson Estate was thoughtfully considered to create a home that embodies timeless elegance, exceptional craftsmanship, and the essence of elevated Colorado living.
What are some of the outdoor living trends in the Colorado Springs area?
In Colorado Springs, outdoor living has become an essential component of luxury custom home design. With our beautiful mountain scenery, abundant sunshine, and distinct seasons, homeowners are increasingly seeking outdoor spaces that offer the same level of comfort, functionality, and sophistication as their interiors. Some of the most prominent outdoor living trends we’re seeing in our region include:
• Four-Season Outdoor Comfort: Homeowners are investing in features that extend the usability of their outdoor spaces well beyond the warmer months. Ceiling-mounted infrared heaters, motorized wind screens, weather-resistant furnishings, and thoughtfully positioned fireplaces and firepits allow families to comfortably enjoy their patios and decks throughout much of the year, even as Colorado’s temperatures fluctuate.
• Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Living: Creating a natural connection between interior and exterior spaces continues to be a major design priority. Expansive sliding glass doors, folding door systems, and complementary materials help blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors while maximizing natural light and showcasing Colorado’s breathtaking mountain and forest views.
• Fully Equipped Outdoor Kitchens: Outdoor entertaining has evolved far beyond the traditional standalone grill. Today’s luxury outdoor kitchens often incorporate built-in grills, griddles, pizza ovens, beverage refrigerators, sinks, and generous bar seating, creating fully functional spaces for cooking, dining, and gathering with family and friends.
• Covered Outdoor Living Rooms: Spacious covered patios and decks are increasingly being designed as true extensions of the home. Architectural details such as vaulted wood ceilings, exposed timber beams, recessed lighting, and comfortable lounge furnishings create inviting outdoor retreats while offering protection from Colorado’s intense sunshine and unpredictable afternoon storms.
Ultimately, the growing trend is to create outdoor environments that are just as thoughtfully designed and enjoyable as the interior of the home, with year-round comfort becoming an increasingly important consideration.
What are the standout highlights and features of the outdoor living area?
The outdoor living spaces at the Emerson Estate were thoughtfully designed to create a private, resort-inspired experience that combines relaxation, recreation, and effortless entertaining. One of the most impressive features is the heated, in-ground saltwater pool, complete with a sun ledge and automatic pool cover. This stunning centerpiece provides the perfect setting for both leisurely afternoons and entertaining guests. For an added recreational element, the property features a custom putting green, offering homeowners and guests a fun and inviting way to enjoy the outdoors. Beautifully integrated water features at both the front and rear of the home further enhance the property’s ambiance, introducing a sense of tranquility and sophistication to the surrounding landscape.
Another standout feature is the home’s two expansive covered outdoor living areas, located on the main-level deck and lower-level patio. Both spaces are equipped with Infratech infrared heaters, allowing homeowners to enjoy the outdoors comfortably during Colorado’s cooler mornings, evenings, and changing seasons. Together, these elements create a luxurious outdoor retreat that feels like a natural extension of the home, offering the perfect balance of beauty, comfort, and functionality.
You’ve participated in and won multiple awards at the Colorado Springs Parade of Homes. Tell us more about this event and what this honor means.
As a custom home builder in Colorado Springs, participating in the Colorado Springs Parade of Homes has been an incredibly rewarding experience for our team at Abigail Homes. In 2024, we were honored to receive multiple awards, including Best Floor Plan, Best Architectural Exterior, and the highly coveted People’s Choice Award. Receiving these recognitions was especially meaningful to us because they reflect both the craftsmanship and attention to detail we put into every home, as well as the appreciation of the community we are so proud to serve. The People’s Choice Award, in particular, was a tremendous honor because it represented the support and enthusiasm of those who toured and experienced our home firsthand. Beyond the awards themselves, the Parade of Homes has provided us with invaluable opportunities to introduce Abigail Homes to new homeowners, build lasting relationships, connect with local industry professionals, and showcase our passion for creating exceptional custom homes.
We were also excited to participate in the 2026 Colorado Springs Parade of Homes, continuing our tradition of sharing our work with the community. Of the six Industry Awards of Excellence categories, we took home four: Best Overall Home, Best Architectural Exterior, Best Interior Design, and Best Kitchen. We were also honored to once again receive the People’s Choice Award, competing against three other homes in our category. We look forward to building on these experiences and continuing to demonstrate the quality, creativity, and personalized approach that define Abigail Homes.
How many Infratech heaters did you install, where are they placed, and which controls did you use to run them?
We installed a total of four Infratech CD-Series heaters throughout the Emerson Estate’s two covered outdoor living spaces. Two heaters are strategically positioned on the main-level covered deck, while the remaining two are installed on the lower-level covered patio. This arrangement provides supplemental warmth across both outdoor gathering areas, helping create comfortable and inviting environments during Colorado’s cooler temperatures. The heating system is operated using a four-relay Universal Control Panel paired with two smart dimmers, allowing for convenient control and adjustment of the heat output. By incorporating Infratech heaters into both levels, we were able to enhance the comfort and functionality of the outdoor spaces while maintaining the home’s clean, sophisticated aesthetic.
Why did you choose Infratech for this project?
At Abigail Homes, we place a strong emphasis on selecting products that offer exceptional quality, long-term reliability, and meaningful benefits to our homeowners. Having incorporated Infratech heaters into several of our previous custom homes, we’ve consistently received outstanding feedback from homeowners regarding their performance, comfort, and overall experience.
During the design phase of the Emerson Estate, one of our priorities was to create outdoor living spaces that could be enjoyed throughout as much of the year as possible, rather than being limited to Colorado’s warmer months. Given our region’s fluctuating temperatures and cooler evenings, incorporating an effective outdoor heating solution was an important part of achieving that vision. Infratech was a natural choice based on our previous experience with the product and the positive feedback we’ve received. Beyond their heating performance, we appreciate how seamlessly Infratech heaters can be incorporated into the architectural design without detracting from the beauty of the outdoor spaces. Ultimately, choosing Infratech allowed us to deliver on our goal of creating luxurious, comfortable, and highly functional outdoor living environments that our homeowners can enjoy for years to come.