From Our Editor: Halcyon Days
Darla Worden reflects on summer's virtues and the enduring allure of good design.
Portrait: Povy Atchison
Summer makes a brief appearance in the mountains, and homeowners seek ways to extend their time outdoors to soak up every moment. “The hottest thing in indoor living is bringing it outdoors,” a writer told me, and that results in certain ubiquitous mountain home amenities. Full-length sliding glass doors, like those in Denise Morrison’s family retreat on Lake Hayden, eliminate barriers between indoor and outdoor as they disappear when opened. “In summer months the doors will be wide open,” Morrison says.
The Treehouse in Whitefish, Montana also was designed to create a seamless indoor-outdoor experience. Its great room has expanses of glass that are sliding doors that open: the living room becomes like a balcony, and the kitchen opens onto a patio and dining area.
Tricked-out outdoor kitchens with chef-style ranges, gas grills large enough to cook burgers for a football team, restaurant-quality pizza ovens, wine coolers and woks make food prep an activity shared while chatting with friends and family. In the Cascade Mountains, a broad deck holds a grill, dining table, stone fireplace and heating elements in the ceiling to counter brisk nights.
And let us not forget the omnipresent fire pit in a variety of styles and materials, like the ones throughout this issue made from stones excavated from a property’s site and flat stone slabs perfect for putting up your feet while toasting your toes, surrounded by comfortable seating while roasting your s’mores.
If you’re ready for a mountain getaway of your own, check out the new version of the Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa, reopened after a tragic fire. It’s back, and better than ever, and though the building is new, the Harrison family’s signature hospitality remains.
Happy summer! As one friend reminds me, “If summer happens on a weekend, let’s have a picnic.”
Darla Worden
Mountain Living Editor in Chief
