The home is oriented on the lot to maximize the views of the National Elk Refuge behind it while the front entrance and garage are built parallel to the street.

Not all dream homes are built on secluded acreage.  Some, like this stylish property in Jackson Hole, are located in more traditional neighborhoods on streets lined with other houses.  The owner loves the neighborhood feel and wanted a space that was light-filled, magical, inviting, and peaceful.  She enlisted the help of an architect from her home state of Michigan, Jeff Visser, Principal of J. Visser Design, to help make her dream a reality.

The tranquil water feature on the blue stone patio is designed to look as if one of the stone columns at the back of the house tumbled over, creating a soothing spot for taking in the views.

“Jeff has a lot of vision; he’s a great listener, and he made the project very seamless for me,” says the owner about embarking on her first built-from-scratch home project with Visser.  “Starting with a blank canvas and creating what I wanted was a very special experience.”

The owner has dubbed the water feature “bird central” because of the number of feathered friends that take turns bathing in the pond.

The owner who has an art and design background is quite creative and handled most of the interior design herself, collaborating with WRJ Interior Design.  Her artistic spirit craves a structured space–horizontal lines, lots of natural light, and consistency of elements—that helps her feel grounded.

“I like the bones of the home to have strength and structure, but then I add creative touches in other ways,” she explains.  “Truth in materials, natural materials and a quiet and limited color palette create peace for me.”

Rustic finishes in the great room—wooden beams, stone walls, and a simple staircase—are softened by the elegant vintage chandelier, simple neutral furnishings, and clean lines of the painted wooden doors and trim.

The three-bedroom, three-and-half bathroom home has 5,000 square feet of space, but the design and sense of scale combined with the comfortable furnishings and interior design choices create a cozy, relaxed feel.  “There’s a natural rhythm to the space and although the main level is very long, it doesn’t feel overwhelming,” says the owner.

This house is meant to be lived in, according to the owner. Some of the materials she selected—such as the solid oak hardwood floors—only get better with time.

To maximize the vistas while naturally integrating the home into its neighborhood setting, Visser designed the bulk of the house to tilt toward the view of the National Elk Refuge at the back of the property, which provides habitat elk and other big game, as well as birds and fish.  The garage and entrance on the front of the home were designed parallel to the road, complementing the other structures on the street.

“We tried to get the best of both worlds that way,” explains Visser.  The resulting layout creates interesting nooks—such as the front patio—that aren’t perfectly rectangular.

Chrome accents on the bottom of the island introduce sleekness in the kitchen, while custom-made nickel and glass upper cabinets add visual interest. Pendant lights by Waterworks; range by Wolf. (de Giulio Kitchen Design).

Visser adds that the owner wanted a house that felt like it “belonged” in Jackson Hole, but with a few modern twists.  The use of simple, earthy materials like the stained barn wood siding and Montana stonework on the exterior are juxtaposed against the simple shape of the metal roof and the angled shroud on the chimney that create a more contemporary feel.

Tongue-and-groove walls in the master bedroom add interest, while the stone hearth and wooden beams—painted white for simplicity—create cohesiveness in materials. The view of the National Elk Preserve begs for the curtains to be left open.

The generous and strategic use of windows was important to create the light and airy feel desired by the owner.  A huge bank of clerestory windows creates a nice visual effect from the street making the house look lantern-like when it is lit up at night. The ribbon of windows also draws light inside to illuminate the open stairwell on the main level and sprinkle sunlight onto the flight of stairs leading to the basement level which houses a living room, exercise room, work room, murphy beds, steam room, and plunge pool.

In the master bathroom, mirrors over the marble tile vanities on either side of the sleek shower reflect the gorgeous view at the back of the home. Window seats on either side of the tub are the perfect perch for the owner’s pups.

The main living area—consisting of the living room, dining room, kitchen, and sitting area—is an open rectangular space anchored by fireplaces on either end.  Each section is defined by rustic wooden beams and furniture groupings in a fresh, neutral palette. Romantic touches such as the vintage chandelier in the dining room and sumptuous draperies throughout the home soften the space.

This image captures the charming and magical feel of the home, both of which were important to the owner.

Stone wing walls on the back of the home—inspired by the renowned Amangani resort in Jackson—are visible through the trio of French doors.  The stone piers frame the view from inside while serving like shutters or blinds to offer a subtle bit of privacy, according to Visser.

The hardwood oak floors from the main level are carried upstairs. In the master bedroom, tongue-and-groove paneled walls and wooden beams are painted white to create a clean, light feel that contrasts the rusticity downstairs. Off the master, a balcony lined with a contemporary cable rail capitalizes on the picturesque view of the elk preserve.

Architect 

J. Visser Design
Jeff Visser, Principal
jvisser.com

Builder

KWC, LLC
kwcjh.com

Landscape Architect

Hershberger Design
hershbergerdesign.com

California Dreaming

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