Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Modern Home With Awesome Views in Big Sky Country
A home overlooking the Missoula Valley is designed for both family time and large gatherings
Just a few minutes’ drive from downtown Missoula, Montana, surrounded by Ponderosa pines, sits a modern house with a modest profile. But inside, the space opens up to a cathedral-like great room with awe-inspiring valley views.
The “wow” that transition elicits is exactly what the homeowners were after when they hired MMW Architects to design a home that would be comfortable for their family of six as well as for large gatherings. But the steep site that made the architecture and views possible also made construction hairy. And initially, they didn’t know if they’d be able to access water or secure an easement for a necessary drain field for their septic system.
“Despite both of these important unknowns, the owners forged ahead. We came to realize this is the way they lead their lives — believing in the best outcome,” project architect Angie Lipski says. “Their trust in us was so full and heartfelt that I knew all decisions would be good ones.” Keep scrolling to see the “wow”-worthy results.
The “wow” that transition elicits is exactly what the homeowners were after when they hired MMW Architects to design a home that would be comfortable for their family of six as well as for large gatherings. But the steep site that made the architecture and views possible also made construction hairy. And initially, they didn’t know if they’d be able to access water or secure an easement for a necessary drain field for their septic system.
“Despite both of these important unknowns, the owners forged ahead. We came to realize this is the way they lead their lives — believing in the best outcome,” project architect Angie Lipski says. “Their trust in us was so full and heartfelt that I knew all decisions would be good ones.” Keep scrolling to see the “wow”-worthy results.
The new rustic-meets-refined house is divided into a private side, left, and a social side, right, both covered in stained cedar. These are connected by a flat-roofed glass entry area, which allows people approaching the home to see through to the views beyond. A mudroom is to the left of the entry.
The house’s different forms help the structure fit into the steep site’s limited building area and keep it from looking massive from the curb, which was important to the owners (and, Lipski says, reflects a lack of flashiness that’s the Montana way).
Scroll to the bottom of the story to see the home’s floor plans.
The house’s different forms help the structure fit into the steep site’s limited building area and keep it from looking massive from the curb, which was important to the owners (and, Lipski says, reflects a lack of flashiness that’s the Montana way).
Scroll to the bottom of the story to see the home’s floor plans.
The steepness of the lot wasn’t the only architectural challenge. The couple wanted the house to feel like an intimate refuge for themselves and their four teenage children. At the same time, because their life is rooted in their religion and their church community — the husband is a church leader — the family regularly hosts groups of 50-plus people, sometimes multiple times a week. The house needed to accommodate that waxing and waning.
Lipski’s solution was to create small and large architectural experiences. When there’s a houseful, for example, kids can spill out of the home and sit on the entryway planters seen here. There are intimate corners as well as (and within) larger entertaining spaces both indoors and out.
“Even when it’s just the two parents, after all the kids are gone and there’s no gathering, the home still maintains a warm scale,” Lipski says.
Lipski’s solution was to create small and large architectural experiences. When there’s a houseful, for example, kids can spill out of the home and sit on the entryway planters seen here. There are intimate corners as well as (and within) larger entertaining spaces both indoors and out.
“Even when it’s just the two parents, after all the kids are gone and there’s no gathering, the home still maintains a warm scale,” Lipski says.
Here’s the view from inside the glass entry. People come in from the open air to this “compressed” space and then move into the expansive great room on the right.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about the choreography of experience. So this is part of that too,” Lipski says.
Your Guide to a Smooth-Running Construction Project
“At the end of the day, it’s all about the choreography of experience. So this is part of that too,” Lipski says.
Your Guide to a Smooth-Running Construction Project
In the long and narrow room great room, dramatic structural ceiling “ribs,” which were craned in from the upper drive, draw the eye out toward the valley.
It’s the favorite room of everyone in the family, the homeowners report. The windows frame views on all the sides and bring the calm of the forest inside. Being surrounded by glass also allows the family to fully appreciate the way the light changes over the course of the day and how the seasons change throughout the year.
Ceiling fan: timber 84-inch smart with light in Heirloom Bronze with maple blades, Minka Aire
It’s the favorite room of everyone in the family, the homeowners report. The windows frame views on all the sides and bring the calm of the forest inside. Being surrounded by glass also allows the family to fully appreciate the way the light changes over the course of the day and how the seasons change throughout the year.
Ceiling fan: timber 84-inch smart with light in Heirloom Bronze with maple blades, Minka Aire
In the kitchen area, the cabinets’ knotty hickory wood has a rustic sensibility, but minimal hardware and drawers in place of cabinetry are aligned with the home’s modern, streamlined style. The flooring was meant to be wood too, but the homeowners switched to less expensive but realistic-looking luxury vinyl tile to stay on budget as costs rose during the pandemic.
The kitchen is perfect for the way the family often entertains, with guests pitching in with meal prep and cleanup. Lipski clearly defined spaces and uses, such as storage for crockery, utensils, bar supplies and small appliances, so anyone could easily find them without too much direction from the homeowners. She designed a large island that would double as a space for setting out a buffet, with plenty of outlets for crockpots and Instant Pots.
Even the cushions on the built-in settee beside the 16-person dining table were carefully thought out. Lipski ensured that they’re thick enough in back to prevent people from whacking their heads.
Kitchen sink: K-72218 Sensate touchless in chrome, Kohler
The kitchen is perfect for the way the family often entertains, with guests pitching in with meal prep and cleanup. Lipski clearly defined spaces and uses, such as storage for crockery, utensils, bar supplies and small appliances, so anyone could easily find them without too much direction from the homeowners. She designed a large island that would double as a space for setting out a buffet, with plenty of outlets for crockpots and Instant Pots.
Even the cushions on the built-in settee beside the 16-person dining table were carefully thought out. Lipski ensured that they’re thick enough in back to prevent people from whacking their heads.
Kitchen sink: K-72218 Sensate touchless in chrome, Kohler
Beside one of two large kitchen pantries is a hardworking coffee station. “The morning coffee routine was of paramount importance and not to be joked about,” Lipski says.
When it’s just the family of six, the room is very warm and intimate and conducive to family time, the wife says. They eat dinner together every night and work and study at the island.
Stash It All: Know the 3 Zones of Kitchen Storage
When it’s just the family of six, the room is very warm and intimate and conducive to family time, the wife says. They eat dinner together every night and work and study at the island.
Stash It All: Know the 3 Zones of Kitchen Storage
Another kitchen pantry is recessed into the wall at the end of the room. It hides a home office in the center and a cleaning closet equipped with outlets that keeps vacuums of various sizes at the ready.
Thin-profile LED pendants and linear chandeliers keep sightlines clear.
Linear downlight: Cirrus, PureEdge Lighting; island pendant lights: Jeno, Elan Lighting
Thin-profile LED pendants and linear chandeliers keep sightlines clear.
Linear downlight: Cirrus, PureEdge Lighting; island pendant lights: Jeno, Elan Lighting
The living area features a pellet stove, which has lower emissions and thus is better for air quality than a traditional wood-burning stove. Streamlined, neutral-toned furniture selected by the homeowners lets the views provide most of the pattern and color.
At the far end of the room, centered in a 16-foot-wide expanse of glass, is an 8-foot-wide door that opens onto a spacious deck.
Shop for living room furniture
At the far end of the room, centered in a 16-foot-wide expanse of glass, is an 8-foot-wide door that opens onto a spacious deck.
Shop for living room furniture
This view looking back up at the home gives you a sense of the site’s steepness.
The architects relied on civil and structural engineers to maximize the limited buildable area while seating the home as softly into the grade as possible, Lipski says. They built as “green” as budget allowed too. Exterior materials were selected to be low-maintenance and to weather naturally. The team created the tightest possible building envelope and installed solar shading. The electrical system is solar-ready. And they worked with a structural engineer to reduce concrete foundation walls from 8 inches to 6 inches thick, to reduce their carbon impact.
The Passive House: What It Is and Why You Should Care
The architects relied on civil and structural engineers to maximize the limited buildable area while seating the home as softly into the grade as possible, Lipski says. They built as “green” as budget allowed too. Exterior materials were selected to be low-maintenance and to weather naturally. The team created the tightest possible building envelope and installed solar shading. The electrical system is solar-ready. And they worked with a structural engineer to reduce concrete foundation walls from 8 inches to 6 inches thick, to reduce their carbon impact.
The Passive House: What It Is and Why You Should Care
The tall trees that you see on the right in the previous photo obscure a glassy corner of the house occupied by the primary suite, seen here.
The glass doors at the foot of the bed lead to a small Juliet balcony. At night, the homeowners can open the doors, close a retractable screen and sleep looking out at the trees as if they’re camping in their own home.
The glass doors at the foot of the bed lead to a small Juliet balcony. At night, the homeowners can open the doors, close a retractable screen and sleep looking out at the trees as if they’re camping in their own home.
The adjacent primary bathroom is on the home’s street-facing side, but it’s also totally private thanks to the site’s topography and forested landscape.
A deep soaking tub surrounded by tree views gives new meaning to the term “forest bathing.” The landscape seems to continue into the shower, thanks to variegated green tile walls and a pebble floor. The hickory cabinet and the tile reflected in the mirror above work beautifully with the setting too.
Throughout the home, accessibility for both guests and the homeowners was a significant design consideration.
“The parents will be able to fully live in this house, on the main level, until they no longer can live alone,” Lipski says. “There are no thresholds within the house on the main level. The shower is a zero-entry. Both the water closet and shower have blocking in the walls for the days when grab bars might be necessary. The mudroom has roughed-in plumbing for a stackable washer-dryer. This will be installed once the kids are gone and the pressure on the mudroom is reduced. Then the parents can do their laundry right off their primary suite.”
A deep soaking tub surrounded by tree views gives new meaning to the term “forest bathing.” The landscape seems to continue into the shower, thanks to variegated green tile walls and a pebble floor. The hickory cabinet and the tile reflected in the mirror above work beautifully with the setting too.
Throughout the home, accessibility for both guests and the homeowners was a significant design consideration.
“The parents will be able to fully live in this house, on the main level, until they no longer can live alone,” Lipski says. “There are no thresholds within the house on the main level. The shower is a zero-entry. Both the water closet and shower have blocking in the walls for the days when grab bars might be necessary. The mudroom has roughed-in plumbing for a stackable washer-dryer. This will be installed once the kids are gone and the pressure on the mudroom is reduced. Then the parents can do their laundry right off their primary suite.”
This little powder room is near the home’s entrance, next to the staircase leading from the connector to the lower level.
The homeowners requested a urinal — an uncommon feature in residential settings. But urinals such as this one from Kohler use little water (and in some cases no water), making them environmentally friendly. Advocates say they’re more hygienic than toilets too.
A tiny wall-mounted vessel sink saves space and is sufficient for hand-washing.
Mirror: Evita, Krugg Reflections; sink: Scarabeo, Nameek’s
The homeowners requested a urinal — an uncommon feature in residential settings. But urinals such as this one from Kohler use little water (and in some cases no water), making them environmentally friendly. Advocates say they’re more hygienic than toilets too.
A tiny wall-mounted vessel sink saves space and is sufficient for hand-washing.
Mirror: Evita, Krugg Reflections; sink: Scarabeo, Nameek’s
The lower level is dedicated to the kids. But this is no typical basement.
With the windows on each side, the homeowners say, it feels as though you are in the forest, while the ceilings make the family room comfortable and inviting for sitting, doing homework or enjoying movie night.
There’s a huge projector and screen near this couch to facilitate watching parties, whether it’s just the family or during the big community gatherings.
In addition to the family room and three kids’ bedrooms, a laundry room and third storage area-pantry are on this level. When you regularly entertain 50 people, having enough storage for a lot of dry goods, such as toilet paper, is critical, Lipski notes. Having a large, well-stocked pantry is also handy when snowstorms make the short trek into town treacherous.
There’s also space for stashing gear such as skis, bikes and camping equipment that’s seasonally rotated out of the garage.
With the windows on each side, the homeowners say, it feels as though you are in the forest, while the ceilings make the family room comfortable and inviting for sitting, doing homework or enjoying movie night.
There’s a huge projector and screen near this couch to facilitate watching parties, whether it’s just the family or during the big community gatherings.
In addition to the family room and three kids’ bedrooms, a laundry room and third storage area-pantry are on this level. When you regularly entertain 50 people, having enough storage for a lot of dry goods, such as toilet paper, is critical, Lipski notes. Having a large, well-stocked pantry is also handy when snowstorms make the short trek into town treacherous.
There’s also space for stashing gear such as skis, bikes and camping equipment that’s seasonally rotated out of the garage.
The door on the left in the previous photo leads to this outdoor seating area with a steel outdoor fireplace on a wraparound patio. A second, smaller fire pit is around the corner, and the outdoor staircase connects the patio to the upper balcony, outside the great room.
Beyond that is the kind of view that has earned Montana the nickname “Big Sky Country.”
Beyond that is the kind of view that has earned Montana the nickname “Big Sky Country.”
A wider shot reveals the element of the house that was the biggest surprise to the homeowners: the way reflections of the views in the windows dissolve the distinction between the house and the mountainscape.
The homeowners marvel at how the home encourages moments of wonder and curiosity — and how this was considered in the design and creation of the space they feel lucky to call home.
The homeowners marvel at how the home encourages moments of wonder and curiosity — and how this was considered in the design and creation of the space they feel lucky to call home.
The lower-level floor plan
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their four teenagers
Location: Missoula, Montana
Size: 3,485 square feet (324 square meters); four
bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Architect: Angie Lipski (principal), Kurt McGrane (project architect), both of MMW Architects
Builder: Jeremy Moran of JM Moran Construction
Fortunately, the team managed to squeeze a drain field onto the site without having to secure an easement from a neighbor. And they did hit water — albeit 520 feet down.
In the meantime, to get a sense of what the homeowners were envisioning, Lipski asked them to create Houzz ideabooks filled with inspiration images, as she usually does with her clients.
“I love that I get pinged when they drop a new image. I tell them that this allows us to telepathically communicate on design and really get each other,” she says. “I’m certain that I grabbed images from Houzz for my storyboards that I shared with [these homeowners]. Houzz is an indispensable tool for me in design communication.”
In this case, the husband’s taste leaned more rustic and the wife’s was more refined. Houzz helped Lipski guide them toward a happy medium in the final design, she says.
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