A Design Team Conquers The Elements In Idaho

Details

contemporary staircase rock

On the shores of Payette Lake, a contemporary home grows out of its rocky surroundings.

contemporary exterior entry door rows...

At the entry to a McCall, Idaho, house designed by architects Heather Susemihl and her since-retired partner Andy Laidlaw, landscape designers Gusti Laidlaw and Jamie Laidlaw introduced narrow rows of cut basalt that lead to the front door fabricated by White Bird Woods. LBL sconces illuminate the space at night.

exterior landscape

Builder Steve Lacey oversaw the construction of the home, primarily composed of rock, teak and board-form concrete, which integrates into its natural environment.

contemporary living room neutral piano...

>Interior designer Corinne Brown selected a pair of Stefan Heiliger chairs and Thayer Coggin sofas to establish a contemporary tone in the living room. Accent pieces include the coffee table by Holly Hunt, the oak rectangular side table by Harbinger, the lamp by Mimi London, and the round table by Robert James Collection. The grouping is arranged atop a carpet from Amara Rugs in Torrance, California. A slab from Russell-Zuhl Petrified Wood in Holyoke, Massachusetts, hangs on a wall; the piano is a Steinway.

contemporary sitting area neutral rug...

A Barbara Barry rug defines a sitting area on the lower level. Pieces with a midcentury vibe-- a Thayer Coggin sofa in chenille by Perennials and an Eames chair from Design Within Reach--are joined by a coffee table resembling a gear from Ralph Pucci in Los Angeles and an Arteriors side table. The ceiling mount fixture is from Hubbardton Forge; the floor lamp is from Scott + Cooner in Dallas.

contemporary neutral kitchen hanging pendants...

Hanging pendants by Rocky Mountain Hardware light the bi-level island in the kitchen, which features an upper counter crafted from a single slab of walnut by Don's Cabinet Shop. The leather counter stools and desk chair in the corner are by Holly Hunt; the Waterstone faucets are from Waterware.

contemporary kitchen neutral

The kitchen's concrete counters by Cloudhidden Studios meld with the colors in the marble backsplash. Jaymark supplied the Wolf range and stove hood along with the eucalyptus cabinets, which are accented by bronze drawer and cabinet pulls from Rocky Mountain Hardware.

contemporary dining room neutral glass...

The dining area cantilevers over the bedrock and has glass on two sides, making for spectacular views. Holly Hunt side and armchairs circle a custom Wayne Design Group glass table, while above is a Ralph Pucci glass chandelier. Solis Betancourt sconces with a bronze patina flank the doors, and a wool Tabriz rug from Amara Rugs grounds the space.

contemporary hallway into bedroom low...

In the master bedroom, the combination of a low ceiling, expansive windows and a custom platform bed by Don's Cabinet Shop enhances the feeling of intimacy. Dubbed the "tree house," the room's soft colors reflect the outdoors. The hand-knotted area rug is from Amara Rugs.

contemporary bathroom vanity concrete sinks...

Stones from the property fill a recess beneath the master bathroom vanity, which is inset with integrated concrete sinks and Brizo faucets. Illuminating the scene are sconces by Hubbardton Forge. Underfoot is porcelain flooring by Ann Sacks.

contemporary bathroom whimsical space rocks...

Designer Courtney Snyder of McCall Design & Planning, who worked with Susemihl on the home, drew the concept sketch for the children's bunkhouse bathroom to be a whimsical space reminiscent of the natural environment. The Pratt & Larson tiles are from Contempo Tile & Stone.

contemporary exterior

When it came to siting the house, the team aimed to harmonize it within the natural landscape as much as possible and placed the structure within the existing evergreens and bedrock. Windows were sourced from Agnora and View Point.

outdoor sitting area landscape

A series of built-in terraces connected by paths carefully nestled into the rocks culminates in a lakeside sitting area. The RH teak chairs and sofa sport Perennials linen; the cushion color was selected to blend with the lake. A square Tuuci umbrella from Blue Sky Outdoor in Menlo Park, California, offers shade.

There was never any question that a summer home being built atop a large outcropping of Idaho batholith granite would be all about the surrounding rock.

“The architecture appears to grow out of the rock and is almost apart of it,” says interior designer Corinne Brown, who found herself playing word association games with the elements to determine the color scheme for the lakeside retreat.

Grays, blues and soft greens, among others, all factored into her plan, which was predicated on creating a soft contrast to architect Heather Susemihl’s modern design.

Area rugs in hushed tones on gray-washed, white-oak floors were the perfect base for the neutral-toned living room sofas and chairs enveloped by plaster walls and a teak ceiling.

“The warmth of the wood and softness of the plaster give the large surfaces life,” says Brown, who introduced serene blue and green accents.

Bits of steel, cork and bark–a dropped acoustical cork ceiling over the piano, for example–all help to add texture. A commissioned felt hanging by Andrea Graham is among the elements that prevents such things as board-formed concrete walls from reading too cold, while teak platform beds and kitchen cabinets fashioned from eucalyptus with chestnut interiors cushion the metal I-beams and concrete vanity sinks.