Some people do mountain modern by building a flagrantly modern house in a rustic setting. We feel that you can have a modern sensibility within a traditional architectural form. This new build on the way up to Red Lodge Mountain is a case in point. The Porth Architects design features traditional materials and architectural shapes but is modern in its use of those materials and the restraint shown in design. For instance, the great room has wood beams but metal turnbuckle rod details. The windows are overlarge, but they’re double-hung and have a wood profile. The use of walnut floors throughout lends an elegant contemporary flair as well.
Our approach to interior design took its cue from the owner and her art, as well as the architecture. It straddles the line between traditional and contemporary in many details, especially in the kitchen, with its mosaic tile backsplash. The cabinets are wood but have a really clean profile, and sleek metal drawer pulls. The island countertop is made of an indestructible resin and supported by industrial-vibe metal legs. For the bathrooms, we sourced modern faucets and glass pendant lights. The master bedroom has a large, dramatic modern light fixture to counterbalance the big views.
Kibler and Kirch founder Rosina Katz worked with the owner to create a palette that is subdued, soft, and warm, with heavy use of neutrals and earth tones and custom touches such as the fireplace mantle made by local furniture maker Nick Kosorok. The fireplace screen and tools were handmade by Bar Mill Iron Forge in Big Timber. Color and pattern were introduced through rugs, and, in the quiet office lined with built-in wood bookshelves, an inviting red leather wing chair. Texture was added in pieces like the massive hair-on-hide ottoman, designed for a great room that can accommodate a crowd and a metal bench with a hair-on-hide cushion where guests can perch to remove their boots upon arrival.
While the rooms are oriented toward the stunning mountain views, the home’s special touchstone moment is found in the stair railing. Handcrafted by Montana artisan Ira Cuelho, the railing has texture and feels soft to the hand; reclaimed chair lift cables and metal wraps on the posts add artistic interest. This statement art piece stands up to the owner’s own fine art collection, which includes works by contemporary western artists Kevin Red Star, Kira Fercho, Troy Evans, Richard Parrish, and Tyler Murphy.
Check out these pictures recently published in the Big Sky Journal HOME.
