A Hilltop Retreat In Idaho Celebrates Its Surroundings

Interior designer Denise Morrison has received thousands of inspiration photos from clients, but when a family hired her to work on their retreat in Harrison, Idaho, she was surprised when they provided something different to spark her creativity: a written narrative. This was more than a list of preferred styles; it was a page-long text detailing how the family—self-described as adventurers who push boundaries, play music loud and laugh a lot—wanted to live on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene. “The wife wanted the family to spend their days hanging out, playing music, cooking and having friends over,” the designer says. “It was so sweet, and it helped us in making our selections.”

Located in the Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club, the residence is perched on a hill overlooking the lake. Embracing an elevated summer camp vibe, Morrison worked alongside architect Rory Foubister to design a main house and guest quarters—the latter dubbed “the barn”—connected by a courtyard. “This is Idaho, so we didn’t want to do a contemporary box,” says Foubister, who leaned into a Northwest architectural vernacular with a pitched roof, regional timber siding that will silver with age and simple volumes positioned to frame views of the surrounding landscape. “Some of the home’s elements are inspired by barns that are prevalent in the area,” the architect adds. “The clients wanted something with character.”

The exterior palette of wood and stone continues through the interiors and served as a jumping-off point for furnishings and finishes. Morrison and senior designer Jocelyne Lander selected pieces in materials such as leather, linen and wool to create a layered, lived-in feel, while clean-lined silhouettes and attention to scale keep things contemporary. “We balanced rustic and modern, finding that sweet spot where everything is just right—it doesn’t look like a woodsy cabin, but we weren’t ignoring that inspiration and going too modern,” Morrison says. To keep things unified, “We used a lot of neutral hues but at all ends of the spectrum, from light to very dark and everything in between,” she adds. “There aren’t a lot of big color moments here, which would have detracted from the cohesiveness.”

With space to host up to 20 guests, entertaining is a clear favorite pastime for the family, so the residence had to feel welcoming. “They wanted a very warm, cozy home that wasn’t pretentious—something livable that also had great style,” Morrison explains. In the main house, a large kitchen and lounge are the key gathering spaces, with the latter connected to the courtyard by a large sliding glass door system. Instead of a formal dining table, the clients requested a more informal seating area between the living room and kitchen. “This is the spot where everybody wants to hang out,” Morrison says of the circle of armchairs. “It’s such a unique way of creating a little den or lounge. They use it constantly.” For informal dining and the occasional wine tasting, the team created a beefed-up kitchen nook tucked to the side of the cooking area.

Private spaces such as the primary bedroom and bath are minimal but not cold, with warmth coming from the rustic wood that covers the ceilings and composes built-ins. Textured wallpaper, patterned tile and textiles create a quiet visual interest.

Two alfresco areas offer different atmospheres for enjoying outdoor environments created by landscape architect Aaron Rietze. The courtyard’s wind-protected seating area is more intimate, while the covered back patio running the length of the house is meant for entertaining, with its pool, dining area and fire pit with ample seating. When they aren’t out on the lake wakeboarding or riding dirt bikes through the forest, the family loves to gather around that fire pit with friends, singing along as the daughter plays her guitar.

Though the project started out as a summer retreat, it quickly grew beyond a seasonal getaway, with the clients now spending roughly half the year here. And Foubister credits that to a sense of balance. “Opting not to go super contemporary was right here,” he says. “It’s that blend of old and new that makes this a great Idaho home.”