Tucked away at the base of Mount Sentinel and only a few blocks south of the University of Montana, was a quaint and cozy shingled and arched 1930s cottage. However, a dissonant addition from the 1970s shifted the original charm to aesthetic awkwardness and poor flow. Further adding to the discord was another kitchen expansion in the 90s.
Our clients knew the location was special and loved the charm of the original cottage. They came to us with the desire for a small remodel to try to bring harmony to the home, but as we worked through options their enthusiasm grew and likewise, the scope of the project expanded to include a completely new structure on top of the existing foundation footprint.
While maintaining the feel of the front façade, the rest of the home was reconfigured and choreographed to offer beauty and meet the functional needs of a modern family. Similar to many homes in historic districts, where the homes grow organically to meet needs, multiple volumes and roof lines result. Likewise, our design process was organic and fluid to meet the family’s needs as they developed and refined their vision. For example, just as demolition was beginning, we added a roof gable and moved a first-floor office to the second floor to create a secret study with a view of the neighboring mountainside. To add even more whimsy, the study is hidden behind a pivoting bookshelf a la Young Frankenstein.
We noticed that the clients had a tendency to bedazzle early on, so we worked with them to celebrate certain moments while also allowing the home to have some white space or breathing room between the moments. Our mantra became “If everything is special, then nothing is special,” and the clients really took that to heart. Nonetheless, the home is filled with unique and bespoke elements. The floating glass, steel, and oak staircase reflects and refracts the light through the adjacent window and provides a focal point as one enters the home. Local granite stone was used on the three fireplaces as well as the chimney and stone walls on the exterior. The previous owner, a pastor, had salvaged a pair of stained-glass windows from a church in Butte and reused them in their bedroom, we couldn’t help but celebrate these windows but felt that they were more appropriate for framing the handmade Murano glass chandelier in the dining room. During construction, a local ceramic artist was commissioned to provide a rooftop sculpture that could be viewed from the glassy second-floor hallway and primary bedroom.
Due to an organic design process and our commitment to honoring the original cottage, this renovation fits seamlessly into the neighborhood. It is formal where it needs to be yet comfortable for daily life. The people, the dog, the cats, the wine - all were carefully tended to throughout the design of the home. The spacious rooms and crisp white palette set the stage for vibrant tile and offer many locations for large-scale art. Easy connections to the exterior spaces offer all-season gathering under the shade of the trellis or while making s’mores around the fire pit.
