Porch-Happy: Outdoor Living With Rocky Mountain Views
This rustic Montana porch with an outdoor kitchen and a stone fireplace can be enjoyed year-round
The fireplace: To make this outdoor seating area a fit for Bozeman’s weather year-round, architect Andrew Brechbuhler included a fireplace composed of Montana moss rock and chief cliff, stones that are native to the area. In addition to heating up the homeowners, the fireplace serves another purpose. The home is located on a golf course, Brechbuhler says, and “the fireplace and beams and columns protect that sitting area from any errant hits.” Toward the top of the photo, note that there is an outdoor heater — another buffer against the elements. To the left in this photo is the Bridger Range, a subrange of the Rocky Mountains.
The walls: The siding of the home is reclaimed barnwood. Exposed rafters add “some depth and visual texture” to the space, Brechbuhler says.
The furnishings: Designer Teresa Kessler had a specific, firm budget for each of the spaces, and to stay within it she chose a mix of higher- and lower-priced items. The sofa and chairs, composed of waxed canvas with leather ties, were found in Mexico, while the coffee and accent tables came from American retail chains.
Sofa and chairs: Altamura sectional and chairs, customized, Casamidy, Mexico; throw pillows: Cost Plus World Market; coffee table: West Elm; trunk side table: CB2
The walls: The siding of the home is reclaimed barnwood. Exposed rafters add “some depth and visual texture” to the space, Brechbuhler says.
The furnishings: Designer Teresa Kessler had a specific, firm budget for each of the spaces, and to stay within it she chose a mix of higher- and lower-priced items. The sofa and chairs, composed of waxed canvas with leather ties, were found in Mexico, while the coffee and accent tables came from American retail chains.
Sofa and chairs: Altamura sectional and chairs, customized, Casamidy, Mexico; throw pillows: Cost Plus World Market; coffee table: West Elm; trunk side table: CB2
Here is a closer look at the lounge area that lies between the fireplace seating area and the outdoor kitchen. Behind it (inside the home) lies the great room. Note how the glass door lifts and slides, folding like an accordion onto itself to open up. The large overhead trellis serves to make the space less exposed and more inviting, Brechbuhler says. The architect used heavy lap siding on the exterior walls for a rustic feel.
Lounge chairs: Restoration Hardware; throw pillows: Cost Plus World Market; lap siding: reclaimed fir
Lounge chairs: Restoration Hardware; throw pillows: Cost Plus World Market; lap siding: reclaimed fir
The patio area continues with an outdoor kitchen that includes a built-in grill and cooktop, as well as a second seating area.
The patio floor: The pattern in the stamped, colored concrete is achieved via a fractured earth stamp that creates the texture. The fabricators added a releasing agent to the concrete to create a mottling effect that gives it a more natural, stone-like appearance.
Outdoor sofa: Restoration Hardware; throw pillows and blanket: Cost Plus World Market
Builder: Dovetail Construction
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The patio floor: The pattern in the stamped, colored concrete is achieved via a fractured earth stamp that creates the texture. The fabricators added a releasing agent to the concrete to create a mottling effect that gives it a more natural, stone-like appearance.
Outdoor sofa: Restoration Hardware; throw pillows and blanket: Cost Plus World Market
Builder: Dovetail Construction
More
11 Ways to Get More From Your Summer Porch
Trending Now: 8 Popular Features for Porches
Porch-Happy: A Place for Hanging Out With Wine and the Dogs
Porch at a Glance
Who lives here: Keith and Wendy Gordon
Location: Bozeman, Montana
Size: 800 square feet (74.3 square meters)
Designers: Andrew Brechbuhler of Brechbuhler Architects and Teresa Kessler of TK Design Studio
The backstory: Wendy and Keith Gordon like modern decor but find the sleek finishes often used in that style aren’t inviting enough for their taste. They wanted a home that blended modern lines with the “rustic, Craftsman, from-the-earth Bozeman feel” popular in their local area of Montana, homeowner Wendy Gordon says. Key to enjoying their beautiful new home was creating an outdoor living space purely for relaxation. “We’re very casual people,” says Wendy Gordon, who wanted a back porch “where anybody would feel comfortable.”
The scope of work: This home is a new build.
The layout: This photo shows the back porch in its entirety, with the fireplace and seating area on the left and the outdoor kitchen area on the right. The wall of windows separates the great room inside the house from the outdoor area, but it can be opened for a seamless indoor-outdoor transition.