--- title: "Ballantyne Design Associates LLC — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/ballantyne-design-associates-llc-pfvwus-pf~1451550916 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1451550916.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Ballantyne Design Associates LLC" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/51e3cec101303a6c_8671-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "2200 River Street, Fort Benton, Montana 59442, United States" latitude: 47.924 longitude: -110.6052 phone: "(406) 781-7148" website: http://www.ballantynedesign.com rating: 5 review_count: 4 best_of_houzz_awards: 1 followers: 97 last_updated: 2026-09-05 --- # Ballantyne Design Associates LLC Original Houzz profile: [Ballantyne Design Associates LLC](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/ballantyne-design-associates-llc-pfvwus-pf~1451550916) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Fort Benton, MT - **Serves:** Great Falls, Helena, Havre, Lewistown, Shelby, Conrad, Fort Benton, Loma, Licensed in Montana, Washington, White Sulpher Springs - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (4 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2014), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Houzz Influencer - 1,000 Ideabook Saves Ballantyne Design Associates is an award-winning design firm, recognized for the quality of its considered design solutions. Never satisfied with solely addressing the economy of design, we work to exhaust the potential of all the projects we undertake. Ballantyne Design Associates was established in 1999 by Keith and Christina Ballantyne as an architecture and interior design firm providing services to a wide variety of private, commercial and institutional clients. Since then they have combined their varied experience and particular areas of expertise and interests to realize architecture and interior projects that reflects their diversity, energy and creativity and that of their clients. Architecture is a complicated enterprise, subject to multifarious influences. It is the charge of the designer to produce intelligent, creative responses to these myriad issues to affect an outcome that ideally exceeds the expectations of each client. We see all of our commissions, regardless of scale, as opportunities for the expression of the highest potentiality of architecture. Small is as important as large! Intelligent, exhaustive interrogation of the project program is prerequisite to achieving a result sufficient to call any project a success. ### Services Provided - Building Design - Home Remodeling - House Plans - New Home Construction - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Kitchen Design - Sustainable Design - Kitchen Remodeling - Energy-Efficient Homes - Floor Plans - 3D Rendering - Bathroom Design - Green Building - Space Planning - Universal Design - Historic Building Conservation - Basement Remodeling - Architecture - Construction Drawings - Custom Homes - Interior Design - Project Management and Planning Services ### Areas Served - Great Falls - Helena - Havre - Lewistown - Shelby - Conrad - Fort Benton - Loma - Licensed in Montana - Washington - White Sulpher Springs ### Typical Job Cost 500 - 10,000,000 ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Ballantyne Design Associates LLC | | Address | 2200 River Street, Fort Benton, Montana 59442, United States | | Phone | (406) 781-7148 | | Website | http://www.ballantynedesign.com | | License Number | MT \#2268, WA \#7011 | | Followers on Houzz | 97 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — http://www.facebook.com/BallantyneDesignAssociates ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Ballantyne Design Associates LLC](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/ballantyne-design-associates-llc-pfvwus-pf~1451550916) - **Website:** http://www.ballantynedesign.com - **Phone:** (406) 781-7148 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - NCARB Certificate - 2015 Great Falls Home Builders Association Parade of Homes - winner of all six awards in category for the Wahl/Bailey Remodel - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2014), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 4 reviews** ### All 4 reviews **★★★★★ — Kimberly Hibl, Jan. 2017** > Keith Ballantyne designed and oversaw the construction our new office building in Fort Benton, Montana. He was exceedingly professional and respectful. Our favorite thing about working with him was that he was willing to listen and investigate our design requests, even if his initial reaction was negative. A small example of this is the roof color. He initially planned for a grey roof on the building, but the owner wanted blue. At first het tried to talk us out of it, but then went home and reworked all his imagery to reflect this and was back the next morning to verify that the roof would indeed be blue. Although there were some mechanical issues to troubleshoot after we opened, Keith was there every step of the way (including the troubleshooting!), and we love our building! We also love that Keith was very knowledgeable about alternative building options for our cold and very windy climate. **★★★★★ — kurtwahl, April 2013** > My name is Kurt Wahl and I am writing to review Ballantyne Design Associates, more specifically Keith Ballantyne of BDA. > > My wife, Sandra Bailey, and I own a ranch home in Great Falls Montana, built in 1949, on a slab foundation with original radiant heat. Originally a three bedroom el, it was remodeled in the seventies, adding a master suite up and family room down in split level fashion. It sits on a near-double lot in an established neighborhood of relatively comparable homes. > > We had decided to remodel for what reasons obvious to all who entered. The junction of the original house and the seventies addition created a 4-way intersection at the kitchen through which all traffic moved, or failed to. To complicate matters, the boiler and plumbing for the radiant system were located in a wall shared between the kitchen and laundry, through which we had to pass from our informal (everyday) entry. In short, nothing worked. > > Our needs were relatively few but not simple. I wanted a professional style working kitchen that was not huge in area or price. My wife wanted a master suite in which she would feel comfortable, pampered, and organized. We both wanted it to have a cutting edge modern aesthetic that "popped" in a way that was functional, clean, and honest. And we wanted it all done without changing the simple fifties ranch look of our house when seen from the street. > > Keith quickly solved the traffic issues by relocating the kitchen in the opposite direction everyone else thought it had to go, adding only 50 square feet to the building in doing so. (We did not need extra space). In so doing, he borrowed space from where it was not utilized and added much needed light to dark gloomy rooms. To save money, he suggested inexpensive Ikea cabinets in two useful applications, installed in a way that would enhance their functionality as well as compliment the overall design and the custom cabinets nearby. > > I could go on listing elements of his design which my wife and I particularly like; there are many. Keith was the "just right" amalgam of art, intelligence, and common sense. He gave good advice to Sandy and me, and was not jealous about changing his design to suit our desires or our budget. He was always professional and congenial in working with our contractor to solve the problems that always arise in a remodel. And, though our project was not of a grand scale, he was nearly always available to respond to my questions and even the most hair-brained of my ideas. We recommend him without reservations! **★★★★★ — so\_there, April 2013** > Ballantyne Design Associates (BDA) was engaged by me to add a Four Seasons room onto an existing Tudor residence. The parameters of the project were such that several contractors looked at the job and pretty much dismissed it as not viable. Keith Ballantyne of BDA and his wife Cristina took on the project. After a couple of false starts (mostly due to my and my wife's decision making efforts) came up with drawings that satisfied pretty much everything. BDA guided our thoughts but still did not impose what was not wanted. The contractor generaled the project but BDA was always there to oversee and correct. Keith pretty much had the answers, as in all projects, problems do arise. > > BDA in my opinion is a rising star in the field. Imaginative, innovative, practical and sometimes off the wall. 'Nice people' could be said also. > > Check out he company's talent on Facebook. **★★★★★ — Beau Renfro, April 2013** > As a General Contractor, I worked with Ballantyne Design Associates on an extensive remodel project. They were quite professional. Did an outstanding job on figuring out what my clients were looking for and the best design to suite there needs and budget. If I had any questions or concerns throughout the remodel they were readily available to answer. They also checked in occasionally throughout the project to make sure everything was good. I look forward to working with firm in the future. ## Selected projects - [Wahl/Bailey Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/wahl-bailey-remodel-pj-vj~213341) - Location: Great Falls, MT - Photos: 9 - Description: This project started out as an effort to remodel the kitchen in this 50's vintage, single-level rancher. We proposed a small addition that made very big changes to the space and the house. The knock on effect was that the master suite was also remodeled, then the family room, then the guest room, and the exterior... It's been a great project. 2015 Great Falls Home Builders Parade of Homes - Winner in all 6 criteria for Category C (Addition & Remodel) Projects - [River Street House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/river-street-house-pj-vj~213354) - Location: Fort Benton, MT - Photos: 8 - Description: This is a single-family, two-story home on a full basement. The house sits in rural Central Montana, and is designed to be contemporary whilst still being "contextual". The interior space is decidedly contemporary in an open plan configuration. The thing that is not evident in these photos (yet) is the third floor "room on the roof", which is a glazed sitting area that affords views of the surrounding river and bluffs. - [Good Agency Live/Work](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/good-agency-live-work-pj-vj~363360) - Location: Fort Benton, MT - Photos: 18 - Description: This will be a live/work project when complete. It comprises a great room that will double as the office. There will be a mezzanine that will line the upper perimeter of the great room that will be finished with steel, wood and plaster details. The exterior is clad with flat-lock metal panels, cement board lap siding and standing seam metal roof. We are incorporating tilt & turn windows at the great room - a great import from Europe. - [Edmonstone Cottage](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/edmonstone-cottage-pj-vj~213316) - Location: Musselburgh, East Lothian, UK - Photos: 7 - Description: This project was very modest in size, but very ambitious in scale. The total area of this mid-terrace cottage was only 750 s.f., but it included the gutting of all interior finishes and partitions and all the services. The result was a completely modernized cottage space completed for under $75/s.f.. - [Four Seasons Room Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/four-seasons-room-addition-pj-vj~213287) - Location: Fort Benton, MT - Photos: 11 - Description: This is a small addition to an existing house, designed to accommodate family and social gatherings. The cylindrical chimney accommodates both interior and exterior fireplaces and affords access to the exterior in a variety of ways, through patio, deck and fully opening, collapsable doors. - [Ingram/Fitzgerald Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ingram-fitzgerald-home-pj-vj~213329) - Location: Spokane, WA - Photos: 5 - Description: This client had a desire to showcase some of their favorite artwork pieces. The remodel was less about significant structural changes and more about refocusing ones visual attention. We installed niches, created surfaces to hold and display items, reworked and added lighting, and screened or opened up views. Subtle use of color, texture and material were all component to making this very restrained project work well. - [Kuykendall Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/kuykendall-remodel-pj-vj~1863842) - Location: Great Falls, MT - Photos: 6 - Description: This is a remodel of a mid-century modern home originally constructed in 1959 for a doctor and his family. Today, we're changing virtually all of the main floor having gutted all rooms and reconfiguring the spaces to the needs of the new owner. We removed and reframed the roof at the main living space to give it more light and open to the pool and golf course view beyond. Forgive these images, better ones to come once project is complete. https://www.signaturemontana.com/go-with-the-flow/ - [O'Hara Solarium](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/o-hara-solarium-pj-vj~1863882) - Location: Fort Benton, MT - Photos: 4 - Description: This is a small addition to accommodate the owner's green thumb. It will be constructed using SIPs panels to maximize insulation values and ease construction. It will have a vaulted ceiling and use a Haiku fan and passive ventilation along with other mechanical controls of the environment. - [East Glacier Park Apartment](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/east-glacier-park-apartment-pj-vj~2255269) - Location: East Glacier Park Village, MT - Photos: 6 - Description: A small full-service apartment built over an oversized two-car garage. This project affords VRBO accommodation to a much-needed vehicle storage and shop space for the owner who owns and operates another house on this property. It is designed to be energy efficient and self-contained for continuous separate use by renters. [See all 9 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/ballantyne-design-associates-llc-pfvwus-pf~1451550916) ## Ideabooks - [Greystone](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/127333265/list/greystone) — 5 ideas - [keith\_ballantyne2914's Ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/7992819/list/keith-ballantyne2914-s-ideas) — 20 ideas - [Kenney](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/56272662/list/kenney) — 8 ideas - [Kuykendall](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/59131429/list/kuykendall) — 34 ideas [See all 4 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/ballantynedesign) ## Community Q&A **Q: What is the wood used here** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Reclaimed snow fence from Wyoming. Centennial Wood Products **Q: Siding, color** *(in Photo Questions)* Hi could you tell me the different siding and colors you used. Thank you A: The wood is reclaimed snow fence from Wyoming (Centennial Woods) with no additional 'treatment' or finish applied. The metal is a Dark Bronze standing seam that we had rolled to 16"wide w/ 2" high seams. The metal was installed by a subcontractor who specializes in architectural metalwork. **Q: Standing seam source** *(in Photo Questions)* Do you know the source/manufacturer of the standing seam? Thanks! A: The installer has a machine that rolls that profile at the dimensions I wanted. It's not that uncommon a profile so is available through a lot of suppliers/installers. **Q: is this stained cedar or old wood?** *(in Photo Questions)* Wanting for covered exterior siding. Thanks. A: It is reclaimed snow fence from Wyoming. Mostly a variety of pine; mostly 30-40 years old. Sourced from Centennial Wood Products in Wyoming. It's installed as a rainscreen to assure air movement to let it dry - imperative if you want it to last, in my opinion. **Q: Great mix of materials!** *(in Photo Questions)* Reclaimed barn wood? Also, did you use any kind of rain screen underneath the wood? A: The wood is installed over furring strips at 16" o.c. that hold the back of the siding 3/4" off the face of the sheathing. We used a VaproShield weather barrier behind that. The wood siding was milled to have chamfered top and bottom edges and was slightly gapped to allow expansion/contraction and air movement. The siding was fastened using stainless steel trim screws (10,000 of them!). I would recommend installing a mesh over the furring to keep bugs down. Even though we haven't had issues with insects over the past 4 years - I'm thinking it would have been prudent. I've been very satisfied with the siding. We took 40 year old wood, pulled some nails and installed them (many were quite twisted and cupped, etc) on the furring using levers and cheaters to straighten them when installing them. We've put nothing on the wood to try and preserve it and it's only getting better looking with time. I have discussed with Centennial Wood Products about suggestions for preservatives, etc. and have decided that I'll just leave it as I don't want anything to darken the finish. I'm one who contends that wood is not an evil exterior material. It wears well and lasts a long time if it's allowed to dry properly; if this wood were attached direct to the face of the sheathing, I'd be much more concerned about rot, etc.. Time will tell if I'm right! **Q: Curious** *(in Photo Questions)* What's the siding at the second story? Standing seam? How was the bottom capped? A: I had those panels rolled from 24ga coil stock. They are "extra dark bronze" rolled to 16" wide w/ 2" standing seams for hidden fasteners. I think the material was from Firestone --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-05.*