This weekend we had some DIY fun of our own. This coffee table came from Home Again, a home furnishings store here in Jackson specializing in high end consignment, custom furniture, staging services and interior design. Purchased for $80, the table was a raw, blonde color when we got it, and showed potential.

Our recent infatuation with Pinterest took us to the site for inspiration for paint colors and finishes. We loved the looks of tables with painted legs and stained tops like these:

So we set out to purchase supplies.

We used a pewter-gray blue called Blue Dolphin by Pittsburgh paint, and a walnut stain.

After a full hour with the furniture sander, we used a coat of primer on the legs and followed up with our gray/blue paint. We learned that the stain splattered a lot, so we did stained the top and latticework, re-taped, and applied our second coat of paint afterwards.

The finished coffee table looks excellent, and makes the perfect showcase for our copies of Homestead!

Cooking an entire meal in an outdoor kitchen in our backyard sounds pretty ideal. We’d enlist Bontecou Construction to help install a beautiful patio like this one so we could entertain all our friends outside, or simply relax solo and enjoy the upcoming summer evenings.     

We also love the idea of hanging around a fire pit like one from Cowboy Cauldons. These babies come in all sizes, make a great patio centerpiece , and the larger versions work well if you’re cooking up a feast.

If you’re throwing a feast for a very large group, we’d suggest springing for Jackson’s own Firebelly. This portable stone pizza oven rents for $20 a head for groups of 45 or more, and was a huge hit at the recent Vertical Harvest membership drive party at the Center for the Arts.

What are you most excited about cooking outdoors this summer, and where’s your favorite patio in Jackson Hole? Is it at the Amangani, the Bird, Dornans, or perhaps in your own home?

]]> http://www.homesteadmag.com/the-drafting-table/outdoor-dining-season-its-almost-here/feed/ 0 http://www.homesteadmag.com/the-drafting-table/home-office-inspirations/ http://www.homesteadmag.com/the-drafting-table/home-office-inspirations/#comments Mon, 12 Mar 2012 19:36:22 +0000 Alex Schott http://www.homesteadmag.com/?p=481

At Homestead, we’ve been having a debate about the importance of offices. Is it better to have face-to-face meetings, as argued here in this recent article from Inc. Magazine? Or does working remotely (and with unlimited vacation!) spur productivity, as Fast Company claims?

Any way you slice it, it’s nice to have a peaceful space where you can get your work done, whether it’s at home or in an office setting. Which is why we’ve been trolling Pinterest (our new obsession – follow us is you aren’t already!) for home office inspiration with a Jackson spin. Antlers? yes please! Barn doors? Absolutely. As long as we can set up our mac and double monitor command station, we’ll be happily productive. Check out some of our favorite selections below!

Sliding barn doors – we love this. Twenty Two Home was rocking a similar doorway to their in-store office.

This is actually a shot of the Barefoot Contessa’s personal home-office. We are smitten with this antique desk and the wooden stool.

Lonny Mag is a major source of inspiration for us, and that’s where we found this gorgeous shot. We love the antique desk and the dark walls.

Finally, we know log cabins and wood walls are so prevalent in our cowboy community – the white wood and stainless steel brighten this home office for a contemporary feel that isn’t stuffy.

So you’re decorating a home in Jackson Hole. You’re probably inspired by Wyoming’s beautiful landscapes and would like to bring that aesthetic into your interior design scheme. So… heavy rustic fabrics, taxidermy, and knotty pine, right? Think again, says Saxon Koch, buyer and manager of Twenty Two Home, home décor shop, and the newest addition to Jackson’s Town Square.

When the large retail space became available last winter, Owner Elisa Chambers of Snake River Interiors jumped at the opportunity to expand on her interior design business’s vision. The result is Twenty Two Home – a welcome relief from the “traditional” Jackson design aesthetic.  “Not everyone in Jackson wants to live in a house with antler chandeliers!” Koch exclaims. Twenty Two Home’s beautifully curated pieces confirm that interior design can be homey and welcoming without being dark. The space inside the store feels especially bright and airy, as Koch and Chambers are inspired not only by negative space, but also how the light in Wyoming changes throughout the day and with the seasons.

The pair uses their careful design eye and refined tastes to select pieces that marry vintage and modern. The outcome is a range of home décor items and furniture that are timeless and classic, but still urban and chic.  “Jackson is not Aspen, but there are still beautiful things about Aspen that can inspire us.” Says Koch. “We are trying to create pockets of interest that are fresh and different. And we always have fun with it!”

Stop by the north side of Town Square to see Twenty Two Home for yourself. We bet you’ll find something to love, whether it’s a candle or vase, or a table or hutch to add a fresh design aesthetic to your home. At the very least you’ll leave with a sense of inspiration. “The home décor field in Jackson is shifting,” says Koch, “and that’s exciting!” We couldn’t agree more.

We are so excited to reveal the cover of our 2012 edition of Homestead! With all of the beautiful architecture, art, and interior design featured in this year’s book, picking our cover photo was certainly no easy task. But this stunning photo of the Shooting Star Ranch home by Stephen Dynia Architects and Dynamic Custom Homes shone through as one of the most extraordinary of the bunch. The visually dynamic shot by Cameron R. Nielson features a mix of materials including concrete, steel, wood, and handblown glass. This juxtaposition of textures combined with clean lines, open airy spaces, and plenty of natural light make for a look that is distinctly Dynia.

We can’t wait for the book to be out in just a few weeks for everyone to get a closer look at the cover story, featured dream homes, designer picks and accent pieces, and all our exciting new editorial!

Timber frame homes seem to be universal. They’re practically the standard here in rustic Jackson Hole where you can’t walk up a flight of stairs without them being made of knotty pine.

But at this chic loft in Patagonia, architect Pablo Velasco Suárez and interior designers Willie Sanchez and Marcela Escalada have found a way to put a modern spin on our typical rustic look. All they did was add a little sage green paint. Suddenly the space feels airy and chic – fur accent pillows feel contemporary, not stuffy. Mixed materials like iron railings and stone flooring add contrast. And traditional-style furnishings and artwork create balance and keep the motif from being too over-the-top contemporary.

Suarez, Sanchez, and Escalada show us that log homes don’t need to be stale and dated. If you’re thinking of breathing some new life into your traditional timber frame home, this loft is a great source for inspiration.

Much to everyone’s excitement, the big storm last week left Jackson covered in 5 feet of snow, and got us all out on the slopes after a dry start to the season.

All this fun at the resort got us thinking about our favorite places to relax après ski. And at Homestead, you can bet we prefer the luxury and solitude of a beautiful slope side home to any bar.

Imagine skiing up to your very own resort-side home and stashing your gear in a basement level ski locker room. You’ll mix up a cocktail at the wet bar off of the family room, and head to the deck for a soak in the hot pool, or make your way to the steam room and sauna. But where does this kind of luxury exist? The Hennessy Residence, one of the many slope side ski lodge residences at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, is an ideal spot for comfort when you’re off the slopes.

Designed by Ellis Nunn & Associates and built by Teton Heritage Builders, this private residence is a perfect example of a traditional timber & frame rustic style; it still feels warm and inviting despite its impressive size. One of our favorite architectural features is the catwalk hallway that overlooks the great room. The arched doorways on either end add a country charm, the wooden beams in the vaulted ceiling seem to enhance the views out of the expansive windows.

And there’s plenty of room for your guests as well – eight bedroom suites ensure that you can include your friends and family in a ski weekend that’s as memorable for your time off the slopes as on.

There’s nothing quite as glorious as an outdoor shower. You’re naked. You’re outside. The air is warm and the water is warmer. When you’re coming in from a long day spent in the sun, even rinsing off in a tiny space made with driftwood walls feels like luxury.

But this outdoor shower by local artist and designer Ben Roth takes the experience to a whole new level. Jackson couple Scott and Sandy approached Ben to design this shower as part of an addition to their private residence on North Gros Ventre Butte. The addition, designed by Carney Logan and Burke, was Sandy’s gift to Scott; as a lover of outdoor showering, the feature was his top requirement for the renovation.

Scott wanted an outdoor shower that would allow him to view the Tetons while he bathed. And while he didn’t want to offend his neighbors, he loved the idea of his head and feet being visible to passers-by. So Ben took measurements to tailor the shower specifically to Scott’s body, and came up with a chic elliptical design that provided privacy without compromising the Tetons. The carbon steel screen is also meant to rust over time, allowing the shower to blend into its surroundings while requiring zero upkeep – so Scott could shower nearly camouflaged by his surroundings (except for his head and feet of course!).

But when Sandy asked that her measurements be incorporated into the plans, the ellipse became much shallower and the design lost its original appeal. Realizing that she’d probably never use the shower, she asked that Ben return to the Scott-specific design. With that, the shower became Scott’s completely custom personal outdoor shower. Now that sounds pretty glorious to us!

Ben Jonson has owned B&B since 1993, and has completed some pretty impressive projects in those last 18 years. One of his favorites is this recent one in Cowboy Heaven in MT. According to Ben, the property was a success not only because it was a custom home built from scratch with a beautiful result, but also because the team of architects and contractors worked together so seamlessly to make the home a reality. The quality and customer service was on-point, and to Ben that’s what sets B&B Builders apart.

But while building custom homes is the company’s specialty, over the last few years home remodeling has become a major source of business and a core competency for B&B as well. With projects that range from kitchen renovations to façade revamps, Ben points to several remodels as great examples of the company’s work. The Baird remodel is one of the most striking – working with teams of contractors and sub-contractors, B&B completely overhauled the home’s exterior for a total aesthetic transformation.

So the next time you see a stunning interior, home, or commercial space, remember that it’s not only the design that’s important. It’s also the people who can make these dreams a reality, and B&B Builders is a great example of those teams and materials coming together to create something truly beautiful.

So when the designers chose small-town Victor, ID as the home-base for their first retail store, WRJ Home, this past May, you’d never expect it to feel like such a perfect fit for their refined tastes.

But the sunny, airy space that WRJ chose for their store was bubbling with a selection of beautifully curated home décor items. Their collection reflects the duo’s impeccable taste and love for antiques, with an infusion of classic Teton aesthetic. And the inside door that leads to favorite local restaurant, Sundog Café, brings everything down to earth for a refreshing and inviting vibe.

“Design in this region doesn’t have to be heavy fabrics and taxidermy.” Says Rush, who left his position as Design Director at Sotheby’s Auction House in New York to found WRJ in 2003. “We do have these little mounted antlers in the store, but it’s because they’re antiques. They have a story, which is what makes them interesting and adds value.” Rush is a firm believer that the story behind each of these pieces is what infuses it with meaning. WRJ designs spaces in relationship to their surroundings, providing context for the items inside.

But the store in Victor is just one piece of the WRJ puzzle. With so much expertise and so many varied abilities, the designers certainly don’t want to stop now. They hope to expand their empire and grow their design business Jackson and Teton Valley this spring while continuing their exhibition and interior design business. Their hope is that the space in Jackson will incorporate their experience with celebrity collectables and exhibition design in a gallery-like space where they can host events.

We know we’ll be seeing more of WRJ as their designs make an impact in the local community. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for Jackson as Rush and Klaus bring continue to bring their ideas to life!