When a couple who split their time between London and Montana fell in love with a secluded densely forested lot in the renowned Yellowstone Club, a private community in Big Sky, Montana, they turned to JLF Architects, headquartered in Bozeman and known for its site-sensitive take on rustic-meets-contemporary legacy houses, to design their mountain home.
JLF principal Paul Bertelli presented the idea of a cabin in the woods. Comprised of a series of structures connected with glass corridors and linked by reclaimed materials rather than one outsized 7,500-square-foot residence, the concept honors regional history. The couple embraced the notion, and the finished result has become their treasured sanctuary.
JLF Architects designed the three-component cabin with reclaimed timber and stacked Montana moss rock, lodgepole pines from the site, wood from a 100-year-old timber frame barn and repurposed remnants of an old cottage, offering homage to the area’s 19th-century homesteaders with details such as the hand-hewn beams that span the living area ceiling as well as the multiple rooflines that convey an original structure added onto through years and generations.
While the contemporary element of oversize steel-and-glass true-divided-light windows departs from its small cabin inspiration, the house, created in collaboration with OSM Construction and Catherine Lane Interiors, retains a humble quality that resonates with comfort and approachable ease.
During the winter months, extensive snowshoe and cross-country ski trails loop around the scenic property for the active couple to enjoy. Stacked stone fireplaces with the natural world on view through the large windows create serene and relaxing sitting spaces. A stylish chef’s kitchen, with state-of-the-art appliances, a large island with a breakfast bar and custom cabinetry in a shade directly inspired by the rich green of the pines that surround the house, offers a functional and inspiring space for cooking.
Design and technology also protect against Montana’s sometimes extreme winter season. While pioneers of the past filled the space between the logs in their homes with mud or clay, such materials are now impractical against the elements.
For this cozy cabin update, engineered chinking provides a modern solution with the right look. “It reflects traditional methods but it’s the 21st-century version of a log wall,” Bertelli says. “We were very cautious about regionalism and making sure the buildings look like they grew out of the landscape.”
Material Used:
As with previous projects, JLF opts to keep its material resources proprietary.
The structure does incorporate reclaimed antique timber and Montana moss rock.
