Women in Design: Candace Miller

THE WESTERNER: Candace Miller, Miller Architects, Livingston, MT

How did you fall in love with rustic architecture?
My father was a contractor and we used to salvage materials to build these funky little cabins for ourselves in the woods where we lived. (He was a gold miner for three months out of the year.) Today, I live rurally—my husband and I have a ranch—and so our surroundings influence me. Montana is incredible. It has spoken to me in such a way that the architecture is somewhat secondary to the landscape in many of my projects. 

What are the hallmarks of your designs?
I try to keep to simple massing and roof forms rather than trying to use lots of frenetic forms. I also like to use really beautifully weathered materials that look like they’ve been there for an endless amount of time. That way, [a structure] has a place in the environment right now rather than having to weather over time. 

What's the most inspiring thing you've seen lately?
Barns. I look at a lot of barn books and keep taking myself back to a real simple form. And then you articulate that into a home itself, bringing it down to a scale that feels right for a person. That’s my basic inspiration. 

Your designs have such a strong sense of place... How do you capture the spirit of the West?
I really try to make a connection with the environment—by using big windows and really capitalizing on our beautiful surroundings. Or, you might walk out to a screened porch that leads to an open porch that leads to a patio. I like to give a variety of those spaces to extend the living space. You can have smaller living spaces if you create outdoor living spaces. Then, people are closer to that spirit of the West. They can hear it, they can smell it, they can feel it. 

How can homeowners achieve a Western look that isn't clichéd?
I really try to steer them to something that’s much quieter. I start with an understanding of what they’re trying to achieve, then I show them a few alternatives. I try to help them identify what’s been done a thousand times and suggest a way that’s traditional rather than trendy. That way the design will last over time.