This fabulous mountain retreat was designed by CLB Architects, positioned in the heart of Moonlight Basin in Big Sky, Montana. With a peaceful backdrop of dense fir and pine trees, this dwelling offers a close connection to the natural environment for the owner’s family. With their main residence in Manhattan, the owners desired a getaway home where they could reconnect with nature and encourage their three children to experience the landscape as they grow up.
The husband spent time growing up on his grandfather’s tree farm in New Hampshire and wanted to recreate those treasured experiences amongst nature for his young family. The resulting home brings family members closer to one another and to the forests and lakes of Big Sky, which are framed by interior and exterior spaces across the home’s two levels.
DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT CLB Architects BUILDER Highline Partners LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Field Studio Landscape Architects
A launchpad for their many outdoor recreation activities, including skiing, fishing, and hiking, the home is a framework for the family through which connect to nature, and to one another.
Located in a sub-alpine, densely forested area, the home was carefully sited to blend with the natural environs and minimize site disturbance while maximizing views. The home is aligned to the edge of a gentle slope. It’s a long, linear plan punctuated by two wings at either end of the house that reaches out into the landscape to capture dramatic views.
The two wings are angled outwards to embrace the landscape and define a semi-sheltered outdoor space between the volumes. A double-sided glass corridor on the upper level connects the two wings, centering a porous, transparent zone in the home’s core and inviting the outside in.
The home’s program supports connectivity with modestly-sized bedrooms on the lower level to encourage family members to congregate in the main living areas.
Elevating the kitchen, dining, and living spaces allow for sweeping, treetop views of Ulery’s Lake and the Spanish Peaks. The design emphasizes a link to nature from every room, with indoor entertaining areas directly connecting to outdoor spaces for a free-flow of movement from inside to out.
The interior design reflects the family’s personality and unique identity, while also drawing influence from the natural surroundings.
What We Love: This mountain retreat offers grand views over Big Sky Country for a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. We are loving the cantilevered decks on the upper level that also provides shelter to the outdoor patios below. This is an idyllic home for family vacations to kick back, relax, and enjoy the great outdoors throughout the seasons. Overall, this fabulous family home is perfectly sited on its lot to soak in the beauty of nature through its large walls of glazing.
Tell Us: What elements in the design do you find most inspiring? Please let us know in the Comments, we love reading your feedback!
Note: Take a look at a couple of other incredible home tours that we have showcased here on One Kindesign in the state of Montana: A captivatingly beautiful modern rustic mountain home in Big Sky Country and Montana ranch retreat boasts gorgeous display of rustic-luxe details.
Dry-stacked quartzite stone on interior and exterior walls complete the elemental material palette. Furnishings help bring the colors and textures of nature inside, with pops of deep reds and oranges, rich leathers, and textural rugs and fabrics conjuring an autumnal landscape palette. A deeply personal art collection unites the family’s two worlds, with pieces sourced locally and from New York City.
Continuous hemlock soffits run from exterior to interior, with white oak and polished concrete floors in bedrooms and living areas, and dark walnut casework in the kitchen.
PHOTOGRAPHER Kevin Scott
1 comment