Architecture & Interiors
Western Tradition
A hands-on homeowner blends classic styling with functional design in her family’s Montana estate

“One of the joys of building your own home is that if you pay attention, you can get all the details right,” says Sally Uhlmann of Bozeman, Montana. Her family’s home is a testament to that philosophy; from a custom fireplace built to exacting specifications for displaying an oil painting to a living room designed to accommodate a large heirloom rug, the traditionally-styled home is classic and elegant, yet perfectly at home in its Western setting. At the heart of the spacious family- and dog-friendly home is a thoughtful approach to space planning and design.


A Place for Everything

Behind the scenes, the Uhlmanns’ home is outfitted with functional rooms and hidden spaces that serve a variety of practical purposes:

  • A spacious laundry room—with a view  “We generate a lot of laundry, and since I spend a lot of time there it’s essential to me to have a beautiful room with a drop-dead gorgeous view,” Sally says.
  • A back-up laundry room on the lower level  “What can I say; I have teenage boys,” Sally explains.
  • A pair of pantries  There’s a butler’s pantry for glassware, dishes and less-used appliances, and a separate food-storage pantry.
  • A gift-wrapping room  The centerpiece of this room is a large, uncluttered table that’s perfect for wrapping big gifts or working on other projects.
  • A cedar-lined closet to store woolens
  • A separate room for keeping luggage
  • A dog bath in the garage  “If you live in Montana and have dogs,” Sally says, “a dog bath is essential.”