This vintage rustic ranch home in Wyoming is all about authenticity and attention to detail. Its humble, understated persona belies its incredible level of painstaking craftsmanship. This is a home where everything was made by hand — from furniture and lighting, right on down to the hardware.
We were involved from the beginning, as the owners, equestrians from Texas, worked with architects to decide what to do about the house. They loved its period feel and wanted to work with it rather than start new. As a team we came up with some creative solutions to keep the retro look but create more spaciousness downstairs and additional bedrooms upstairs.
Traditional log construction, a long, low-slung porch (with six Old Hickory rocking chairs facing the incredible mountain view), a river rock chimney, and cheerful red-trimmed windows set the tone. The interiors are warm, rich, and atmospherically rustic. They’re filled with regional treasures, old and new, that create a western ranch environment without resorting to cliche.
Metalwork — from the fireplace screen to the handmade hooks that hold back the Roman shades — was handcrafted by a local blacksmith. Lighting fixtures were commissioned from an artisan in upstate New York. Thomas Molesworth-inspired pieces, such as classic leather club chairs, an applied-pole desk, burled standing lamps, and a beaded magazine rack, were made in Cody specifically for this project. Antique Navajo rugs were selected for pattern and color. In the kitchen, the refrigerator is faced with a mosaic of willow twigs culled from a creekside in Montana. Books, antlers, tooled leather, pottery, built-ins, Pendleton blankets, a stair railing made of sticks, and a mudroom lined with cowboy hats are just some of the details that create a layered, textured feel. And the art! Museum quality regional works add interest and color while speaking to the region’s cowboy and ranching traditions — an imperative for any authentic rustic ranch home.
This beautiful transformation has not only been featured in the Wall Street Journal, but it also has its own chapter in a best selling book titled “Cabin Style“, has been given a coveted spot in Mountain Living, and Cowboys & Indians.
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