Photography by Gibeon Photography

OPENING SPREAD: Big Bear Lodge is built with reclaimed timbers salvaged from old barns and natural stone to create a rustic lodge-like sanctuary that blends in with the stunning landscape. 

For a family who loves to spend time together exploring the great outdoors of Big Sky, Mont., this legacy home in the beautiful neighborhood of Moonlight Basin is a gateway to nature and togetherness.  Situated on the northwest side of Big Sky Resort, the neighborhood is a mix of modern and rustic architecture and ski in/ski out abodes like this one, Big Bear Lodge, which allows easy and year-round access to Mother Nature’s limitless playground.  In the wintertime, blankets of snow shroud the landscape, creating an invitation for alpine adventure on downhill or cross-country skis, snowboards, snowshoes, and fat bikes.  When the weather warms up, endless blue skies, and longer days usher in the opportunity for communing with nature and one another with activities like golfing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and fishing.  

This beautiful wooden buffet is nestled perfectly into a stony nook and hides a sweet surprise. The bottom drawer pulls out to reveal food and water dishes for the family dog.

Big Bear Lodge sits on a steeply-pitched site, which required Centre Sky Architecture to work strategically with the unique topography.  The “parkitecture” stone layup, which is about two feet thick at its widest point, provides a strong base for the home and bells out from the foundation.  It gives permanence as the rusticated stone reaches vertically and engages with the historic horizontal planks and masculine-scaled structural timbers.  

The goal of the project was to create a one-of-a-kind gathering place that can be enjoyed by the family and its posterity for generations.  This required a thoughtful and thorough approach to all aspects of the design.  Wellness and entertainment were built into the home where all of the spaces – from the kitchen nook to the lower-level bar and a collection of outdoor areas – turn into small pods for gathering.  

The reclaimed wood that is a hallmark of Big Bear Lodge is on full display in the great room where large exposed structural beams are a focal point. The Kensington Sofa in Graphite Vintage Velvet is from Restoration Hardware. 

There is a lot of outdoor living at Big Bear Lodge, and most of the decks and patios have their own stone fireplaces, which are horizontally stacked and then capped with prominent vertical stones called dragon teeth,” says Jamie Daugaard (AIA, NCARB, LEED AP), Principal Architect at Centre Sky Architecture.  “It adds a lot of charm to the home.” 

According to Michele Wheeler, (AIA, NCARB, CDT), Design Principal at Design Collective West, the home is intentionally regionally authentic and unimposing to its natural surroundings while also being incredibly functional.  The mountain interior aesthetic is timelessly cozy and comforting with rich textures and natural materials that only get better with age.  “All of the elements of the home were designed with the intent of creating a long-lasting property,” says Wheeler.  

The soft furnishings (custom off-white sectional from Kravet) with a modern twist balance the masculine architecture. Original artwork by Ashleigh Sumner over the fireplace creates a colorful contrast to the room’s rustic aesthetic.

The materials palette is natural, rustic, and reclaimed, and predominately features stone and wood.  “We wanted the interior finishes and interior textures of the home to be an expression of the outside landscape,” Wheeler explains.  The locally sourced natural stone, which consists of dark gray, tan, and brown hues to establish the earth-toned color story on the interior, was quarried from an area near Flathead Lake in northwestern Montana.  Reclaimed wood throughout the home includes hand-hewn timbers and logs with metal banding.  There is reclaimed wood plank paneling for the walls and soaring ceilings and wide-plank reclaimed thresher barnwood for the flooring.  To offer a lighter contrast to the stone and wood finishes, the kitchen at Big Bear Lodge features crisp painted cabinetry, thick white quartzite countertops, and a marble mosaic backsplash.

Art played a central role in the interior design of the home, and art selection was particularly meaningful to the homeowners, who wanted colorful pieces that would pop against the rustic, organic tones.  There are original art pieces throughout, including a burned-wood grizzly bear graphic by Carly Jo Studio in the gym, as well as original pieces by Ben Pease and Ashleigh Sumner over the great room fireplaces.  

The kitchen finishes are a light and bright distinction from the home’s rustic aesthetic.  The counter stools – carved from solid reclaimed wood timbers and accented with hand-forged steel strapping – are custom-made by builder Lohss Construction.  

Wheeler also selected modern, clean-lined furnishings in lighter colors and soft textures to balance out the rustic, somewhat-masculine architecture.  For example, crisply-tailored upholstered furniture, such as the cream-colored sectional in the great room, adds a contemporary feel that balances the weight of the hand-tooled wooden beams and dramatic stone fireplaces.  “The soft, modern furniture and refined, sophisticated accents bring a sense of repose and help the space feel lighter and brighter,” Wheeler says.  

The huge windows in the bedroom invite the luscious landscape in, while the spectacular stone fireplace and custom headboard upholstered with a soft, saddle-colored leather add a rustic touch.  
This peaceful bathroom offers the opportunity for a soothing, slope-side soak high in the mountains. 

The furniture arrangements themselves are incredibly functional, especially with respect to group gatherings and entertaining, as are the interior layouts that capture views to the mountains.  For example, the quartet of contemporary barrel-back swivel chairs near the great room windows create a perfect spot to take in the majestic vistas.

This bar is the perfect backdrop for family game night.  The sleek bar cabinet in a custom black color with dark green and blue undertones complements the hues in the natural soapstone countertop.  

Wheeler says one of her favorite rooms at Big Bear Lodge is the study where two oversized leather club chairs – perfect for lounging when you just want a little extra space to curl up – face the fireplace.  There is a custom built-in desk on the opposite side of the room, which is made from natural reclaimed oak and features an inset leather panel that provides a suitable, forgiving surface on which to write.  At the same time, it adds to the beauty and softness of the room.  

The back of the desk is accented with natural bark shingles, which have an amazing backstory of their own.  “We found a company in North Carolina that repurposes the peeled bark of Tulip Poplar Trees as part of the Appalachian forest re-growth project.  The bark, which historically was a waste product in lumber operations, is removed from the harvested logs before reaching the mill, then shaped and kiln-dried to create this beautiful, sustainably-sourced wall covering material,” Wheeler describes.  

This is just one of the home’s many unique touches that reflects its origins and its owners.  No doubt the family will enjoy the property – and Big Sky Country – for generations to come.  

The outdoor spaces at Big Bear Lodge are designed for four-season enjoyment.

ARCHITECT 
Centre Sky Architecture 

INTERIOR DESIGNER
Design Collective West

BUILDER
Lohss Construction