Pops Of Color Dot A Modern, Minimalist Montana Dwelling

Between the region’s astonishing raw beauty and its access to nearly every imaginable outdoor recreational activity, Montana’s Big Sky area sparked instant infatuation for a pair of professional athletes when they first visited it together, more than a decade ago. Fly fishing enthusiasts who also enjoy cross-country skiing, the couple dreamed of the outdoors-focused life they could have there—someday, when their busy careers allowed.

It took another two years for the right 20 acre parcel to become available. Then, over a six-year period, the owners planned what they envisioned as their forever home, bringing on architect Edwin Ugorowski, designers Skye Anderson and Rain Houser, general contractor Rob McRae, project manager Sarah A. Riordan and landscape architect Charlie Kees to execute their passion project. “We weren’t in a rush,” one of the homeowners comments of the lengthy timeline. “So we were able to be really thoughtful with every aspect of this house.”

This level of attention was well worth it to create a residence aligned with such rarified surroundings, says Ugorowski. “This is one of the most amazing pieces of property I’ve been to, period,” he states. “Normally, in Big Sky, you don’t get such commanding views of the Gallatin River and Canyon.” (In contrast, the area’s coveted sight lines typically look up at the ski runs instead.) Capturing the stunning panoramas became a major goal of the modern structure he conceived, with the main living space overlooking the canyon and two wings radiating off an axis at angles that maximize additional vistas. There are three stories, the third composed of an observatory and rooftop terraces, with second-level guest quarters flanked by 65-to-75-foot evergreens “for a tree-house effect,” notes the architect.

Multiple spaces are designed to frame the sweeping surroundings, including a glass-walled second-floor bridge and a stairwell atrium, amid an array of oversize windows and sliders throughout. “The views were so incredible that we even ended up incorporating a rooftop deck after framing,” adds Riordan of the evolving design. Other spaces also pivoted as the homeowners’ needs changed, including what was first jokingly dubbed a “kitty courtyard” for their four beloved cats until it transitioned into a nursery when they welcomed their daughter.

Board-formed concrete, steel, glass and hemlock compose the material palette, “with the aim of being aesthetically pleasing and as low-maintenance as possible,” Ugorowski says. And the interior design coordinates neatly: It’s modern, minimal and fuss-free. “They wanted clean lines, no pillows to fluff and absolutely no clutter,” notes Anderson of their clients’ mindset, quipping, “At one point, a tissue holder on the counter was considered too much accessorizing.”

Visual interest instead comes in the form of textures and colors, as the palette isn’t at all neutral, adds Houser, pointing to eye-catching accents like the living area’s yellow sofas and patinated, teal-toned steel panels, a shade and material that repeats in the kitchen. A mix of dark walnut and pops of light oak brings in warmth, balance and a bit of brightness. See how the dining table contrasts with the room’s darker surfaces, for instance. Off-white plaster walls factor into this formula as well, Houser notes, “as there’s so much depth and soul in plaster, as opposed to drywall and paint.” Canyon views, however, remain the home’s focal point, with even the most vibrant interior hues reading as references to the landscape. “Bright yellow and teal are found in the wildflowers and skies and, while this isn’t a literal interpretation, these colors play well with what’s outside,” observes Anderson.

The great outdoors are, naturally, folded into how the home lives—there’s an outdoor kitchen, a fire-pit area, a lounge-style terrace and even an open-air shower off the primary bath—so the owners had a keen interest in preserving the property’s mature trees and untamed feel. Kees understood the assignment, blurring the lines between domestic landscape and wilderness. “Their vision was to fully embrace the surroundings,” he says. “We incorporated lupine, cone flowers, yarrow and other wildflowers; plantings are more refined closer to the house, then, as you move away, they transition to a wilder feel.”

For the homeowners, now proud Montanans, the slow-but-steady design-build paid off. “There’s not one room that stands out here, because they’re all so great,” enthuses one of the owners. “And we feel so lucky to have worked with such a creative team,” says the other. “This house feels like a home thanks to all the collaboration that went into it.”