Search Results for: guest house

> Story by Richard Anderson
> Photography by David Agnello and David Swift

The north face of Snow King Mountain offers wondrous views of the National Elk Refuge, Grand Teton National Park and, on clear days, the southern reaches of Yellowstone—with the added embellishment of downtown Jackson’s dynamic urban center in the foreground.

However, the north face of Snow King is also dark. Between the shadow of the mountain peak and the shade of the dense forest, getting light into living spaces is a challenge that requires creative solutions.

For a recent residence project on Snow King, Dynia Architects addressed this challenge with a three-story, vertically organized scheme that placed the primary spaces—living, dining, kitchen, and master suite—at the top, and secondary spaces—studies, library and guest rooms—on the middle level below. The ground floor, carved deep into the slope and devoid of daylight, became the ideal location for garage and utility functions.

The challenge to this approach, as Stephen Dynia, the project’s designer, points out, is “to create a compelling vertical circulation space that will entice you to the top floor and, once there, a living space that powerfully connects with the magnificent landscape, a place that makes the journey worthwhile.”

Setting: Snow King residences face two basic challenges: the steep hillside building site and the shadowy, north-facing aspects.
Life 360: The living-dining-kitchen space allows for views straight through from south to north, making the most of natural light and the ever-changing view to the north.
Clean Angles: The dimensions of the stainless-steel, gas-burning fireplace in the living room mimic the wide, panoramic vista afforded by the north-facing wall of glass looking out over the town of Jackson, the National Elk Refuge, and endless Wyoming sky.
Interior Equilibrium: “The finishes and furnishings are a wonderful balance of the Mountain West paired with the homeowners’ urban roots,” Jacque Jenkins-Stireman says of her design approach.

The first goal is achieved in the form of a generously sky-lit stair atrium that draws people toward ever-changing daylight animated by the boughs of pine trees above. The two runs of stairs are shifted to ease their visual length, with the upper stair more directly connecting the two elevated living floors, and the lower stair serving the entry.

One arrives at the uphill end of the top floor and turns 180 degrees to face an infinite, iconic landscape. The layout—an open plan that includes kitchen, dining and living areas—blends with nature as you approach the bi-fold glass wall that opens to extend the living environment onto a deep terrace across the face of the house, further integrating interior space with nature. The terrace, also accessed from the master suite, includes a central gas fireplace and is ideal for outdoor sleeping. Inside, the master suite is separated from the common area by the day-lit atrium, which filters light to all spaces.

Karen Parent, senior project architect from Dynia Architects, managed the process through completion, working closely with the homeowners to develop a palette of texture and color to enhance the architecture—both outside and inside. The objective, Parent adds, “is to fully understand the owners’ sensibilities when selecting things like wood species for the siding, ceiling, and cabinets; the exact tone of the concrete walls and floor; paint color; and lighting.”

Ascent: Direct sunlight pours through skylights over the staircase, luring visitors up from darker nether floors and suffusing the uppermost floor with warmth.
Custom Furniture: The dining room table, built by contractor John Walker, consists of a vast mass of wood magically suspended by a single support, reinforcing the effortless flow of light and air through the space.
Raised Rest: Walker also built the bed platform in the guest room, which, while in the darker, rear side of the home, still feels bright and airy thanks to a wall of glass opening onto the woods.

One highlight that came from this owner-architect relationship is a wall of black pebbles in the shower that is illuminated obliquely by a skylight above to stunning textural effect. “We as architects do not draw a line between the exterior and interior of a house. It is a holistic endeavor that results in a unified environment, and furthers the owners’ connection to this beautiful, natural environment,” Dynia says.

The carefully considered design approach also made for an exciting construction project, says John Walker, owner of Mill Iron Timberworks, who has been working with Dynia since 1997. “The small, steep site, the spatial divide on each level, and the simplicity of the finished details required thoughtful planning and close collaboration with the architect,” Walker says of the project he and his crew began in the summer of 2012.

“Modern homes must be constructed with incredible precision because you can’t cover up joints with superfluous elements like molding and trim. I enjoy working through these challenges with the architect,” Walker elaborates. The challenge is similar when it comes to furnishing interiors, Jacque Jenkins-Stireman, the project’s interior designer, concurs. “You have to be mindful of absolutely everything that goes into the space,” she says. “Everything has to be very clean. The objective for me was to provide beautiful, functional furnishings and finishes that support the architecture and the landscape alike.”

That meant a lot of custom work—much of it done by Walker—including the solid-oak dining room table that Stireman declares “an engineering feat.” A solid, 3-inch-thick slab of wood seems magically suspended by a single metal support. “There’s no heavy base, no chunky legs, no carving,” Stireman says. “It’s spectacular. It’s a very functional piece that doesn’t take away from the architecture. You see through the table allowing the light to continue through the space, maintaining the flow from the inside to the outside.”

The guest bedrooms provide another example. Of modest size and simply furnished—there’s really just one piece of furniture, the sleeping platform, also crafted by Walker in his Thayne cabinet shop—they contain walls of glass looking into the woods of the backyard. “You feel like you’re sleeping outside,” Stireman says.

At 4,200 square feet, it’s a generously sized home that balances openness and intimacy. “The homeowners didn’t want enormous spaces,” says Dynia. “They wanted it integrated, fairly compact.”

And with the entirety of Jackson Hole right outside their plentiful windows, they got the best of both worlds.

Home Sweet Home: The owners’ adored dogs, Linus and Lingling, enjoy easy access to the outdoors through the rear of the home, which opens onto a spacious terrace and the natural landscape of Snow King Mountain.

> Story by David Porter
> Photography by Steven Long

Fish Creek: A braid of Fish Creek flows serenely through the property.
Southern Exposure: Golden logs and siding, chimneys and pedestals of river rock, and native-plant landscaping establish this home as a deeply personal mountain lodge.

Meetings and shared ideas among the homeowners, architects, and contractor, Steve Bontecou Construction, converted the house to a beautiful family getaway—a cozy lodge in a stunning setting on Fish Creek.

Everyone involved in the project emphasizes two keys to their success: the owners’ infectious enthusiasm for redesigning the home and the high level of communication and collaboration that followed. Nunn says, “At the very beginning, we all met on-site and went over everyone’s thoughts. Steve [Bontecou], along with his superintendent, then coordinated all aspects of the project, working with the owners and us. This very large remodel ended up far better than expected in the end. The owners could not be happier.”

Main Approach: The crushed-granite walkway and indigenous plants, such as phlox and larkspur, guide visitors to the home’s main entrance.

Grand Entrance: Modifications to the main entrance are grand yet instill warmth—creating a perfect place to welcome family and guests.
Loft Walkway: On the upper walkway, one can access bedrooms, read in the summer light, or work at the antique desk. Bontecou reframed the nook in order to accommodate one of the family’s favorite pieces of furniture.

The goals of the remodel were at first modest, but became manifold. Originally, says Bontecou, “They wanted to update the kitchen and open it to the great room by removing a wall.” When his clients saw drawings emerge, the original plan was revised, and the remodel began to grow, eventually resulting in a refashioning of the entire home, from expanded doorways and vaulted ceilings to new tile, cabinets, and fixtures throughout. The only remaining elements from the original design comprise the foundation, frame, and wood shakes. Also included in the extensive update is an alarm system installed by Watchguard Security Systems. The system secures the home and alerts the homeowners should interior temperatures begin to drop, thus protecting plumbing and all the home’s custom finishes.

Now, the great room and kitchen have been joined to create an inviting space for family to gather. A load-bearing wall was removed and extra support added in the crawl space and ceiling to compensate. John Kjos, an architect in Nunn’s office, was instrumental in working with engineers to “ensure structural integrity throughout the remodel process.”

Great Room: Finishes lend the great room a lodge-like feel, with log paneling, trophies, and Molesworth-style furniture.

Another goal was to enhance the great room’s southern exposure. To accomplish this feat, the loft above the room was significantly reduced to open the ceiling, exposing large timbers. Then, larger doors and windows were added, flooding the honey-colored room with light. In concert with the larger openings, Harry Statter and his team at The Tree and Landscape Company, known for their high-quality landscape design, installation, and maintenance, “removed some old growth and created new landscaping to enhance the already dramatic location.” Consequently, views of Fish Creek, a private pond, and Munger Mountain in the distance were unwrapped.

Kitchen Close-Up: The heart of the home gleams in the combination of alder, glass, bronze, and granite.

Kitchen Opens Wide: The home’s vast kitchen can accommodate the whole family, cooking and eating together.

One can easily come and go from the kitchen while preparing a meal or snack. Craftsman Kitchens, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, made the trek to install their custom-made alder cabinets throughout the home, providing ample and handsome storage. Granite countertops installed by Davis Marble & Granite, also from Salt Lake City, augment the lovely space and offer the perfect surface for preparing or lingering over a meal.

Great Room: Cozy furniture and a river-rock fireplace that rises from floor to ceiling craft an ideal space where weary skiers can warm themselves or the grandkids can stretch out to play a board game.

From the initial steps of redesigning the great room and kitchen, the project evolved. All of the interior doors, trim, and moldings were replaced with high-grade alder. Bathrooms were gutted, enlarged when possible, and finished with marble and granite, custom cabinets, and top-of-the-line fixtures. Stair rails were rebuilt by hand by the carpenter who crafted the original rails in the ’80s. He, too, was happy to revisit his work.

Marble Bathroom: The master bath is finished in striking marble panels.

To access the upper floor, one ascends the stairs adjacent to the main entry. Here, a number of rooms and bathrooms welcome family members and guests. Nunn redesigned all of the ceilings on the second floor; new trusses allow for vaulted ceilings in the bedrooms and hallway. The vaults enlarge the rooms, dappling them with sunshine, while the hallway evokes a gallery with high ceilings, spot lighting, and wool rugs.

Everyone involved in this labor of love credits the high levels of contact among all parties. Nunn and Bontecou agree that they most enjoyed the owners’ willingness and excitement to do everything that was required to make this home the best possible in updating it. Nunn adds, “Steve and his crew kept the project running as it should have with excellent construction management and the finest carpentry.”

This gorgeous log home “gets back to ‘Jackson rustic,’” says Bontecou. When asked about his favorite part of the project, Nunn agrees, “The whole completed home is my favorite, as it creates a home that is timeless and not dated, which was my original intent.”

+ Story by Richard Anderson
+ Photography by Cameron R. Neilson

INTERIOR DESIGNER
Snake River Interiors
snakeriverinteriors.com

Like the creek that winds through the 17-acre property, Andy and Elisa Chambers’ home off South Park Loop Road meanders gently through its pasture. A strand of water flows from the north, passes under the dining room and leads guests to a stately, well-proportioned portico and entryway done in Wyoming stone. The wood that clads much of the rest of the exterior comes from snow fences weathered to perfection by many a winter out on the high sage plains.

Entry

A thread of water, bringing to mind the irrigation ditches found throughout the surrounding ranchland, snakes under the dining room and flows into a pool that’s half decorative, half recreational.

Inside, the house has a natural current that carries visitors from chamber to chamber—like deep pools that invite one to stop and soak in the views—or deposits them in quiet corners. Nature grows right up to the very edges. At just under 5,000 square feet, the home is a tight, warm living space for the family of six—functional, yet aesthetic. The bulk of its glass faces south, welcoming in sunlight and the spectacular vistas of Munger Mountain and the Snake River gap down to Hoback. “The great thing about the south end of town is, you get the last glimpse of light falling on the valley,” says Elisa Chambers, who owns Snake River Interiors and the retail shop Twenty Two Home.

Dining

The expansive black walnut table was made by a friend in Idaho while the French glass-cloche light fixtures above were the owner-designer’s idea.

The mix of grand and intimate spaces showcases the family’s lifelong collection of exquisite works, a thoughtful mix of antiques, Arts and Crafts furnishings and contemporary style. The couple took their time developing their vision. They bought the property 15 years ago, but only began building six years ago. “We sat on different pieces of the property and imagined where each room would be and what we wanted to look out on from our bedroom,” Chambers says.

Living Room

By eschewing the traditional stone hearth and chimney, the designer-builders were able to extend their expansive views south to Munger Mountain.

Shortly after they purchased the land, they came upon an old cabin in Cokeville, which they bought, disassembled and rebuilt on their property. That became the master bedroom while a second cabin became the children’s room. They linked the two structures with a chain of rooms—an office, a spacious living chamber, a generous dining room and a large but still cozy kitchen. “We don’t really have any hallways,” she says. Instead, one room opens onto the next, with only a few doors along the way to close off certain areas.

Chambers, along with Snake River Interiors, does not confine herself to any one style: “We curate homes, we don’t decorate homes. You find pieces that speak to you and that you love. The juxtaposition between old and new is key to our design philosophy.” Texture and light, simplicity, balance and harmony are crucial. “The simplicity,” she points out, “allows you to appreciate your environment, not compete with it.”

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+ Story by Kirsten Rue
+ Photography by Lynn Harker & Architectural Digest, Mexico

INTERIOR DESIGNER
Harker Design
www.harkerdesign.com

Harker Design has provided full-service design for clients in Jackson and in their primary residences throughout the country. This project took them to Punta Mita, Mexico—a property that juts into the ocean just 40 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta. There, sultry breezes and quiet beach coves border an equally sleepy ancestral fishing village.

Open-Air Living

Sliding-glass panels allow living spaces to remain open to ocean breezes and lulling tides.

The design team of Pat Harker and Scott Adams were called on to provide the right touch for a compound envisioned in spa style: freestanding structures, open to air and sea, with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass walls and separate enclaves designed for various family members and guests. The project presented a novel indoor/outdoor design challenge.

Dedicated to quality materials, Harker Design was given responsibility for selecting many of the building elements, working in concert with the architect and contractors. “We collaborated closely with the client on everything in the house,” says Harker. From the wood arbors to the flagstones, the two chose textures and materials that would suit the flow of the compound. An homage to relaxed seaside living, the home also utilizes local building techniques, such as traditional palapa roofs.

“They use a beautiful weaving technique, where’s it almost like art itself,” Adams says of the unique roofs, which were hand-installed by local craftsmen.

That artistic tenor continued throughout the compound. “The design was serene and soft,” says Harker of the palette they chose. The contrast of tonal values with woven, artisan-style textiles established a trademark aesthetic for every room. “We kept it very neutral except for splashes of color.”

Each soothing, uncluttered space allows for a gentle drift between structures, while botanical and natural elements speak to a sun-bleached, marine landscape. “We tried to take each room and emphasize the colors you see outside,” Harker says of inspirations that included vivid flowers, lizards and the turquoise sea. In bursts of arresting, saturated color, they sought to capture “that flavor Mexico has.”

“We really wanted to address the way they were going to live in the house,” Harker remarks of other custom touches. One set of chairs swivels to take in 360-degree views and even has a clever, wave-shaped arm that mimics the roll of the ocean.

Herringbone Pattern

Local stonemasons created the master bedroom’s distinctive Old World ceiling using a time-honored technique. “It was great to take advantage of the real talent that was in the area,” Adam says.

“This was a really great project because literally everything was custom-built to fit the area and scale of the house,” says Harker. This required added focus in terms of project management as they shipped materials back and forth between their offices in Idaho and the home site. They also worked closely with sister company Woodland Furniture & Artisan Cabinetry, who produced the furniture and cabinetry using their factories in Idaho and Mexico. Cabinetry was constructed using zebrawood and Primavera, a fine-grained South American mahogany.

At the same time, Harker Design met the challenges of designing for a tropical climate. “We wanted fabrics that were beautiful while being amenable to the elements—the spray of the ocean, heavy sunlight, humidity,” Harker says. The corrosive effects of sea salt and humidity levels influenced the selection of substantial Egyptian marble for floor tiles and countertops as well as special zinc coatings to protect fixtures.

“I really enjoyed the option to work on a project that was in a warmer climate and that embodies the climate in its structure,” Adams says of the completed home.

“The clients were thrilled, and they really love it,” Harker chimes in. “That’s always my favorite part.”

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