Luxury Is... A Grand Gathering Place

Architecture and interior design by CTA Architects Engineers

From its prime location near the entrance to Elk Highlands, the residence known as the Snow Ghost Chalet literally sets the tone for the exclusive new community of custom homes at Montana’s Whitefish Mountain Resort. The enclave’s developers decided to collaborate on the design of the 6,400-square-foot home with CTA Architects Engineers, a venerable firm with seven-plus decades of history in the Rocky Mountain West, to create an elegant design tailored for contemporary living. It’s a style CTA partner and project manager David Mitchell describes as “Montana mountain architecture.”

Lighting by Design 
“Lighting is just as important to a home’s overall design as the furnishings,” says architect and project manager David Mitchell. With that in mind, he shares the following lighting lessons embodied by the Snow Ghost Chalet:

Start with natural light. Windows on every wall allow ample natural light to fill the home from dawn until dusk, even on overcast days. Window walls capture major views, while high transoms let the sun trace its way across the interiors throughout the day. 
Mix it up. A medley of light fixtures, from recessed ceiling cans to beam-mounted spots, pendants to chandeliers, and wall sconces to table lamps, play a wide variety of roles, from focusing on tasks at hand to setting the mood. 

Highlight key design features. Many of the lighting elements in this home were carefully positioned to highlight architectural details. In the formal dining room, for example, a combination of downlights and uplights call attention to the columns of the window wall. 
Make it easy to control. “A true custom-designed house should have a lighting program integrated into one system,” Mitchell advises. This home’s nearly two-dozen lighting zones are controlled from a single panel preprogrammed for occasions ranging from brightly lit parties to intimate conversations to late-night security lighting. 
Keep it green. To maximize energy efficiency, the system emphasizes low-voltage fixtures designed to provide ample illumination at about 60 percent of maximum power.