Montana Lakehouse
This home was built on a beautiful Montana Lake with expansive views to the South and West. With dark ornate cabinetry, high ceilings and multiple floor surfaces it was dated, dark and too formal for the homeowners.
We confined our efforts to the main level concentrating on the kitchen and living spaces, along with the primary bedroom and ensuite.
A larger, more functional, and modern style kitchen with Sub-Zero and Viking appliances was the primary goal for the homeowners. Removing the wall and pantry by the stairs allowed the traffic pattern to open up and create a better connection between the dining room, the kitchen, the kitchen table and the patio. The large center island is conducive to meal preparation by several people. The small sink gives the fishermen a place to clean their catch! The cooking area is sleek with larger tile on the backsplash and cabinetry that integrate the vent hood. The soapstone counters and the cherry cabinets bring the colors of the lake inside.
Overall efforts included a unifying approach to updating the walls, flooring, and paint. We removed the carpet, tile and vinyl flooring in the living spaces and kitchen for a circle-sawn fir for its rustic, yet warm, attributes. Arches, soffits, and rounded corners were removed, opened up, and simplified. All the walls were painted in Benjamin Moore Cloud Cover to brighten and modernize while still being warm. All exterior doors became full light doors which made an immediate difference in the openness and lightness of the space while adding even more drama to the views.
The living room is naturally focused on the lake view through the three enormous windows. The original gas fireplace at the west end and a woodstove at the east end made the room feel cluttered and confused. Since the woodstove was the most authentic and useful, it was kept and the west fireplace wall with its dated archways and media center was removed. Then we anchored the room on the woodstove with the redwood accent wall. The redwood was reclaimed from a 120-year-old water pipe that had been replaced in the area.
Removing the west wall fireplace and bookcases in the living room gave us the opportunity to rethink the primary bedroom, moving the entrance and reconfiguring the enormous walk-in closets to center the room on the view thru the bay windows. The new sitting area and bedroom deck we created have become favorite spaces for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine overlooking the water.
The exterior had a few needs, primarily the lakeside patio and upper deck. Both were suffering from water damage and needed to be replaced. We expanded the patio, addressing the steep slope down to the water with larger stairs that can also be seating. The larger patio is more flexible for outdoor dining and grilling.
The approach and front entrance to the home was improved with angled parking in view of the front entrance and a new sidewalk to guide guests past the garage. A new covered entryway added protection and the custom glass and fir front door made it less formal and more welcoming.
We confined our efforts to the main level concentrating on the kitchen and living spaces, along with the primary bedroom and ensuite.
A larger, more functional, and modern style kitchen with Sub-Zero and Viking appliances was the primary goal for the homeowners. Removing the wall and pantry by the stairs allowed the traffic pattern to open up and create a better connection between the dining room, the kitchen, the kitchen table and the patio. The large center island is conducive to meal preparation by several people. The small sink gives the fishermen a place to clean their catch! The cooking area is sleek with larger tile on the backsplash and cabinetry that integrate the vent hood. The soapstone counters and the cherry cabinets bring the colors of the lake inside.
Overall efforts included a unifying approach to updating the walls, flooring, and paint. We removed the carpet, tile and vinyl flooring in the living spaces and kitchen for a circle-sawn fir for its rustic, yet warm, attributes. Arches, soffits, and rounded corners were removed, opened up, and simplified. All the walls were painted in Benjamin Moore Cloud Cover to brighten and modernize while still being warm. All exterior doors became full light doors which made an immediate difference in the openness and lightness of the space while adding even more drama to the views.
The living room is naturally focused on the lake view through the three enormous windows. The original gas fireplace at the west end and a woodstove at the east end made the room feel cluttered and confused. Since the woodstove was the most authentic and useful, it was kept and the west fireplace wall with its dated archways and media center was removed. Then we anchored the room on the woodstove with the redwood accent wall. The redwood was reclaimed from a 120-year-old water pipe that had been replaced in the area.
Removing the west wall fireplace and bookcases in the living room gave us the opportunity to rethink the primary bedroom, moving the entrance and reconfiguring the enormous walk-in closets to center the room on the view thru the bay windows. The new sitting area and bedroom deck we created have become favorite spaces for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine overlooking the water.
The exterior had a few needs, primarily the lakeside patio and upper deck. Both were suffering from water damage and needed to be replaced. We expanded the patio, addressing the steep slope down to the water with larger stairs that can also be seating. The larger patio is more flexible for outdoor dining and grilling.
The approach and front entrance to the home was improved with angled parking in view of the front entrance and a new sidewalk to guide guests past the garage. A new covered entryway added protection and the custom glass and fir front door made it less formal and more welcoming.
Project Year: 2022
Country: United States
Zip Code: 59711
