Rustic Mountain Retreat
A mountainside home built around heavy timber, reclaimed wood and stone, with outdoor living treated as part of the floor plan rather than an afterthought.
Great room with stone fireplace and timber trusses, Rustic Mountain Retreat
The problem
A house this large can easily become a series of impressive rooms that nobody uses. The owners needed it to work for a full house of family and guests, indoors and out, at altitude and in every season.
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The problem
A house this large can easily become a series of impressive rooms that nobody uses. The owners needed it to work for a full house of family and guests, indoors and out, at altitude and in every season.
The thinking
The great room is organized around a stone fireplace and a wall of glass to the view, with timber trusses carrying the volume. Circulation is deliberate: a wine wall lines the hallway, the upper landing overlooks the main level, and the bunk room with a pool table gives guests their own territory.
Outside, a covered patio with a fire table and an outdoor fireplace extend the living space, and a separate fire pit terrace handles larger gatherings.
Why it matters
Selections at this scale are a coordination problem as much as a design problem. Keeping the palette disciplined across thousands of square feet is what keeps a big house from feeling like several smaller ones stapled together.
Completed while Natalie was with Veritas Fine Homes in Durango, Colorado. Per the homeowner's letter, the finished home won the local Parade of Homes the following year.
Project details
- Heavy timber framing with reclaimed wood and stone
- Great room organized around a stone fireplace and window wall
- Wine wall along the main hallway
- Upper landing overlooking the great room
- Bunk room with pool table for guests
- Covered patio with fire table and outdoor fireplace
- Separate fire pit terrace
“Natalie's design ideas, her handling of the selections, her relationship with us as clients and her awareness of cost were all excellent. She was conscientious and genuinely helpful throughout.”
Tell me about the house
Send the location, the type of project and where you are in the process. If it is a fit, we will talk through what the design work would look like.