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Houzz Tour: A Rustic Lakeside Home Designed for Family Gatherings
This modern-rustic home, which captures the site’s stunning views, is designed for a large family to get together
This family had enjoyed holidays near Montana’s spectacular Flathead Lake for two decades – swimming, boating, walking and skiing. After their children had grown up, the parents decided to build a home that would draw everyone together for family gatherings.
They hired Pearson Design Group to create a house that would accommodate multiple generations. The architects kept in mind the feeling a traditional lake cabin evokes, and the result is a modern-rustic home that fits into the rugged landscape and works with the steeply sloping site.
They hired Pearson Design Group to create a house that would accommodate multiple generations. The architects kept in mind the feeling a traditional lake cabin evokes, and the result is a modern-rustic home that fits into the rugged landscape and works with the steeply sloping site.
The 223 sq m main house has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a cloakroom. The boxy sections flanking the gabled roof area contain the dining room on the left and the primary bedroom on the right. The large window at the end of the breezeway provides a view through the dining room out to the lake.
The house is a mix of steel and wood, and the gabled roof has a standing-seam metal roof. A neighbouring house on the left is fairly close by, so the architects used vertical louvres on one side of the open breezeway to create privacy. The large wood slats are on rods and can pivot to open up or close off the view of the neighbouring house.
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The house is a mix of steel and wood, and the gabled roof has a standing-seam metal roof. A neighbouring house on the left is fairly close by, so the architects used vertical louvres on one side of the open breezeway to create privacy. The large wood slats are on rods and can pivot to open up or close off the view of the neighbouring house.
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Here’s a closer look at the louvres. The slats have a shou-sugi-ban finish, a traditional Japanese technique in which Japanese cypress is burned, giving it a blackened appearance. The blackened wood plays off the blackened steel used throughout the exterior and interior of the home.
This is the portion of the home with the gabled roof. “We wanted to keep things simple and make the house feel really casual,” Justin says. “We continued the barn wood into the interior to bring in a warm texture and to bring an element from the exterior inside.”
Look closely at the wall on the right side of the kitchen to see the way the designers camouflaged the cabinetry and fridge behind the reclaimed wood.
Look closely at the wall on the right side of the kitchen to see the way the designers camouflaged the cabinetry and fridge behind the reclaimed wood.
The kitchen is open to this living area, which has a Fireorb wood-burning stove that can be turned to face different areas. The walls behind it have white noncombustible steel wainscoting for fire safety.
The architects integrated blackened steel into the modern design – in the glazing bars, the structural beams and the openings between rooms.
The living room is a good example of the way the architects layered different materials to create the home’s warm, rugged modern look. The kitchen has reclaimed barn wood on the walls. The living room walls are covered in white pine planks with a semi-transparent white stain. This stain allows the character of the knots and grain to show through.
The ceiling is painted white, covering up those characteristics and lending an airier feel. The dark-stained oak flooring contrasts strongly with these lighter tones, grounding the rooms.
The architects integrated blackened steel into the modern design – in the glazing bars, the structural beams and the openings between rooms.
The living room is a good example of the way the architects layered different materials to create the home’s warm, rugged modern look. The kitchen has reclaimed barn wood on the walls. The living room walls are covered in white pine planks with a semi-transparent white stain. This stain allows the character of the knots and grain to show through.
The ceiling is painted white, covering up those characteristics and lending an airier feel. The dark-stained oak flooring contrasts strongly with these lighter tones, grounding the rooms.
The furnishings provide layers of warm textures as well. A live-edge wood coffee table, leather chairs, sheepskin throws and woven pouffes cosy up the casual modern space. So does the seat in the bay window.
The dining room’s much lower, flat ceiling creates a cosy gathering space for the family, and the built-in banquette accommodates a crowd.
Driftwood pieces from the lake draw the eye up above the opening. The opening is covered with a thin layer of blackened plate steel.
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Driftwood pieces from the lake draw the eye up above the opening. The opening is covered with a thin layer of blackened plate steel.
Hire a local carpenter on Houzz.
Look through the window to see how the exterior’s reclaimed barn wood cladding continues seamlessly onto the interior wall. This marks the line between the gabled volume of the living room-kitchen and the dining room.
Large windows provide expansive views to the lake from the dining room. A glass base makes the sculpture appear as though it’s floating on the water.
Large windows provide expansive views to the lake from the dining room. A glass base makes the sculpture appear as though it’s floating on the water.
The other side of the vaulted living room and kitchen contains a hallway and the stairs, with the main bedroom beyond. The opening seen here is also encased in steel. The light-stained pine boards extend across the hall’s ceiling, providing a compressed feel between the larger spaces.
Windows wrap a corner of the main bedroom, providing beautiful views for the homeowners to wake up to. The ivory walls are plasterboard, which lends a restful and refined feeling that puts the focus on the views.
Painted wooden cladding on the ceiling add a more casual, cosy touch. Interior designer Leisa Kaiser accentuated the light neutral colour palette with touches of lake blue and dashes of gold that play off the evergreen trees.
Painted wooden cladding on the ceiling add a more casual, cosy touch. Interior designer Leisa Kaiser accentuated the light neutral colour palette with touches of lake blue and dashes of gold that play off the evergreen trees.
This photo showing the main house was taken from the bridge that leads to the guesthouse. The lower level of the main house contains two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Also seen here are the decks off the living room and lower level. The upper deck includes a grill and the lower deck has a hot tub. Justin says the vines have covered the concrete at the base of the house since this photo was taken.
The guesthouse roof deck is located just off the bridge to the left.
Also seen here are the decks off the living room and lower level. The upper deck includes a grill and the lower deck has a hot tub. Justin says the vines have covered the concrete at the base of the house since this photo was taken.
The guesthouse roof deck is located just off the bridge to the left.
Here’s a photo of the home and guesthouse taken from the edge of the lake. It gives a sense of how well the architecture navigates the steep and rugged slope, which has a 60ft vertical drop from the driveway to the lake.
The guesthouse is to the left, with the bridge on its right. The structure is 93 sq m, with one bedroom and one bathroom. There’s a big hangout space and cloakroom on the lower level, a bedroom suite with a sleeping porch on the second level and a roof deck on top. Off the lower level is an outdoor kitchen and dining area, with a patio on the right.
The house faces west, so the architects installed shade sails to protect the lower level and patio from the intense sunlight.
The guesthouse is to the left, with the bridge on its right. The structure is 93 sq m, with one bedroom and one bathroom. There’s a big hangout space and cloakroom on the lower level, a bedroom suite with a sleeping porch on the second level and a roof deck on top. Off the lower level is an outdoor kitchen and dining area, with a patio on the right.
The house faces west, so the architects installed shade sails to protect the lower level and patio from the intense sunlight.
Leisa fitted out the guesthouse roof deck with comfy furniture, making it the perfect spot to watch the sun set.
Another great sunset viewing spot is this deck off the guesthouse bedroom suite.
“This is the big lake hangout room, with a kitchenette and bar for relaxing and entertaining on the lake,” Justin says. It’s a great place to gather after swimming or boating.
Here’s a look at the property from out on the lake. Large boulders were craned in for erosion control. The home is a favourite spot for everyone in the family, and they look forward to making memories together here for years to come.
Tell us…
What do you like about this lakeside home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
What do you like about this lakeside home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A couple who host extended family
Location Bigfork, Montana, USA
Size Main house: three bedrooms and three bathrooms (223 sq m); guesthouse: one bedroom and one bathroom (93 sq m)
Designers Larry Pearson and Justin Tollefson (architecture) and Leisa Kaiser (interior design) of Pearson Design Group
Contractor Denman Construction
Photos by Gibeon Photography
The property has a main house, a garage and a guesthouse. The garage on the left connects with the main house on the right through an open breezeway. A bridge connects the main house with the guesthouse below.
Reclaimed barn wood and snow fence cladding from the region give the modern structure a rustic cabin look. “The grey tones are this wood’s natural patina,” project architect Justin Tollefson says. “We wanted to keep the house feeling simple like a lake cabin and not too heavy.”
The main floor of the house (seen here) is divided into sections. The centre section with the gabled roof contains the living room and kitchen. “We used different rooflines to express different rooms in the house. That space has a vaulted ceiling,” Justin says. “The different portions provide scale, massing and variety.” The gabled portion also nods to traditional lake cabin architecture.