As it came to tackling the decor within this large family vacation home, interior designer William Peace along with his partner Hillary Linthicum made a genuine Western Montana texture without going full cowboy. “We wanted the house to look like what it is — a rustic and rugged ski home, but also like the things had been collected over time … no wagon wheels permitted,” he states.
The residence is ski in, ski out and is perched at the crux of 2 different ski areasnonetheless, that the East Coast family enjoys the property yearlong. There are all kinds of outdoor adventures to be had, including hiking the many trails and fly fishing on the local Gallatin River.
The house has been designed by architect Larry Pearson, and Peace Design joined the design team early on in the construction stage. They blended stone, reclaimed wood, accents such as metalwork and tiles crafted by local artisans, a mixture of appropriately textured fabrics, Western artwork, vintage Native American rugs and antiques for a balanced mixture of rustic and refined. The final result is a comfortable vacation home completely setup for yearlong healthy family fun indoors and outside.
in a Glance
Who lives here: This really is a second house for a couple with two sons and also two daughters
Location: Big Sky, Montana
Size: 7 bedrooms
Peace Design
Peace Design
Stairs from the entry lead to the main floor. Peace chose lighting and furniture that could resist the scale of this huge stone fireplace. The huge rug in the very first photo is a reproduction, as vintage Native American travel rugs weren’t made in large sizes like this one.
The clients owned the moose sculpture at the entryway before they bought the home. Today he’s right where he belongs. The textures, materials along with a vintage Native American rug set the layout tone. Through the home Chris Lohss of Lohss Construction used position dead logs such as the one used for the newel post, and recovered wood just like you see on the stairwell walls. These wide planks used to be warehouse floors.
“In a home like this, we like to include elegant pieces, such as the antique European costume chest, to add elegance and to balance out the more rustic bits,” Peace says. “We wanted it to seem like the bits had been gathered over time from around the globe.”
Red chair: Dessin Fournir; painting: “Trade Talks,” Montana Trails Gallery
Peace Design
Almost all the other carpets are vintage Native American rugs. “These carpets are incredibly durable; initially they were made as travel rugs to protect the floor in tepees and tents as horse blankets,” Peace says.
The group left the main-floor windows undressed and simple to avoid detracting from the huge mountain views. Additionally they toned down the artwork and color palette to emphasize the spectacular viewpoints.
Living room chandelier: habit, Solaria
Peace Design
Scouting far and wide for unique antiques was a priority. A camel saddle “ties as a rustic piece and introduces a saddle without moving too cowboy cliché,” Peace says. For the large cocktail table, blacksmith Andrew Crawford added metal legs into an 18th-century plinth reclaimed by a European cathedral, again incorporating an aged and weathered piece without veering into normal dude ranch territory.
Peace mixed new upholstered pieces together with the antiques. “Utilizing new upholstered pieces keeps the house feeling warm and unfussy rather than stodgy or grandmotherish,” he states. These plush sofas are coated in mohair, and the throw pillows are suede and leather. “We needed to contrast all the Western ruggedness using luxe materials, such as leather, mohair, velvet and suede,” he states. “These textiles stand up to all the architectural textures and create warmth and add elegance.”
Sofas: habit, TecnoSedia coated in Holly Hunt Aqua Velvet; cocktail table stage: Robuck & Co.. Antiques; buff saddle: vintage, Marburger Antique Market; wing chair: Holland & MacRae; moose mount: Ralph Kylloe; chandelier: Fire Mountain Forge; bronze to the cocktail table: Tierney Fine Art; area rug: custom, made by Peace Design, made by Patrick James
Peace Design
This smaller area off the primary living area is where Peace gave a large nod to cowboy dude ranch style. Red breeding Thomas Molesworth chairs encircle a classic drum using a custom antler chandelier overhead. Molesworth was a prominent designer of Western furniture, making his company made in Cody, Wyoming, by the 1930s into the 1960s.
Just beyond the windows is a deck with room for dining al fresco in the summer, a hot tub and fantastic views of the ski hill.
Chairs: Molesworth reproductions, Marc Taggart; drum cocktail table: Suzanne Golden
Peace Design
The kitchen is the middle of all for gathering and entertaining, and provides plenty of seating. There’s loads of space for preparing and storing food for all of the men and women who may be staying here — around 16 people at a time.
Counter Condominiums: Franklin, Hancock & Moore
Peace Design
“My clients rarely eat out whenever they are up here; it is about coming after being outside all day, sitting in the front of the flame, relaxing and enjoying meals together,” Peace says.
Sturdy and simple textiles stand up to spills and allow the outside viewpoints be the focus. Antique copper and brass industrial pendants along with a walnut island that functions as one large cutting board add warmth. “You will find amazing artisans in the region, and we love working together,” Peace says. Local artisans crafted the aluminum and brass port hood, the metalwork, the cupboards along with the tiles.
Pendant lights: Ann Morris Antiques; pendant over table: Glo; seats around table: Scott Market; backsplash tiles: Kim Loftus; kitchen hood: Air Controls in Bozeman, Montana
Peace Design
Just off the kitchen is this more intimate family room. The green leather seats swivel so that everyone can enjoy the view from the window behind. The TV is concealed over the fireplace. An iron and rope lighting fixture and leather and chenille textiles work in harmony together with the log walls.
Camel leather love seat: habit, made by Peace Design, coated in a Kravet chenille; chandelier: Solaria; vintage leather lounge seats: South of Market; painting: “All in a Day’s Work,” Montana Trails Gallery
Peace Design
The area with the stone walls is your primary floor’s ski-in, ski-out entry. Skiers can store their skis in the adjoining closet, pull on some dry, fuzzy socks and jump up into the live-edge wood bar for a hot toddy.
Tavern and cocktail table stools: Hancock & Moore; backless cognac leather stools: habit
Peace Design
This built-in custom couch has a twin mattress and transforms into an additional bed.
Chandelier: habit, Archive Designs
Peace Design
Bunk rooms and sleeping nooks optimize the bedroom area; there are three beds in this area. Pendleton blankets keep things cozy.
Peace Design
Another bunk area has two collections of rustic log bunk beds. Peace sings the praises of gifted local Montana and Wyoming artisans. “The architect, Larry Pearson, and that I basically just asked them to create the beds with their stash of logs and do what they do best,” he states.
Bunk beds: habit, Lohss Construction
Peace Design
In the bunkroom’s bathroom, a large claw-foot bathtub is the perfect place for an après-ski soak.
Bathtub: Sunrise Specialty
Peace Design
Atlanta blacksmith Andrew T. Crawford made this custom bronze faucet for three.
Peace Design
A Turkish rug and unique custom headboard inspired by Austrian style continue the collected look. One patterned throw pillow accents simple cream bedding. Peace brought in Western touches via the tepee paintings and wide-planked reclaimed wood walls.
Headboard: custom, Formations; Lights: Lamp Arts; paintings: “Snow Camp” and “Camp in Square Butte,” Montana Trails Gallery
Peace Design
The main entry is under the shed roof, while the ski-in, ski-out entry is on the primary floor.
Ski season just finished this month after a fresh April snowfall, so it is time for your household to switch gears and plan for summertime Montana fun.