A 1990s Home Gets a Contemporary Refresh

A rejuvenating remake brings a mountain home in Jackson into the light

When Florida-based clients who owned a home in Jackson approached designers Rain Houser and Skye Anderson of Urbaine Home in Bozeman about a remodel, Houser and Anderson accepted the challenge with enthusiasm. The 8,500-square-foot log home was solidly constructed on a beautiful parcel of land rich in wildlife and wildflowers between the town of Jackson and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Designed by Locati Architects and built in the 1990s, it represented, at that time, state-of-the-art mountain living. Constructed of massive logs, it featured a spiral staircase and mahogany-paneled library, a Tuscan-inspired kitchen with dark cabinets and a terracotta backsplash, a media room, a separate apartment over the garage, and a great room with a soaring ceiling and dramatic log trusses. Roomy, comfortable and solid, it nestled into its site among aspens and mature conifers while also enjoying glorious views of the Tetons.

When conceptualizing interiors for today, Houser and Anderson believe that the key to creating warm, inviting spaces that are regionally appropriate yet sophisticated is a deft juxtaposition of old with new, clean-edged with organic, simple with charismatic, and open to the outdoors. Whether in a remodel or in new construction, their interiors blend the handmade with the manufactured, with sources ranging from local to international.

The site, the bones and the layout of the home were good, explains Houser, so the designers focused on refreshing the interiors. “It was a traditional log home from the ’90s with the tones of that era,” she says. “The clients wanted this to have a very different feel from their home in Palm Beach, so we added a lot of texture and beautiful new tones that were subtle and serene while still keeping it very clean.”

In the entry, with its studded wood front door and stone wall, the designers injected steel, smoky glass, European furnishings and crystal “to create a mood” and set expectations for the rest of the home. The open living room was updated with neutrally upholstered sofas with modern clean-edge profiles, charismatic lighting fixtures and bold art. A luxurious daybed positioned under a large window has become a favorite spot for the children of the house. “The plan was simple,” explains the owner; “to be comfortable and cozy, and nothing too precious. We live in our home and we don’t want anyone to feel too uncomfortable to kick their feet up.”  

A restrained approach to furnishings in the dining room, such as low-profile dining chairs from Brazilian designer Sergio Rodrigues, keeps the focus on the art, the views and the conversation, while in the library a daring choice was made to paint the mahogany walls and ceiling a deep green, resulting in a room conducive to quiet study and contemplation. The media room, bedrooms, baths and guest apartment were also given complete makeovers with unique textural touches such as a tufted headboard wall and pendant lights in the master bedroom; a round hair-on-hide mirror and wood backsplash in the powder room; a low bed upholstered in blue velvet in a guest room; and reclaimed barnwood cabinets, painted ceilings and a Montana-artisan-made coffee table in the guest apartment.

The kitchen was entirely reimagined. “Now,” says Houser, “it’s all about tone and texture and honest materials. The reclaimed white oak is wire brushed so that it’s soft to the touch. We handpicked the beautiful slab countertop. And we love the simplicity of the wooden hood.” 

The kitchen features wire-brushed reclaimed white oak, open shelving and faux bois planters. The island’s dark base grounds the room.​

Open shelves add a sculptural element while putting the classic forms and neutral colors of the dishes on display. “It originally felt a bit formal and especially dark,” says the homeowner. “By removing the upper cabinets and adding in shelves, guests can find things easily and it made the space feel brighter. The lighter finishes are much more our style.”

Meanwhile, the base of the new island, painted black, adds contrast. “The kitchen has a beautiful, organic nature because of the materials we selected,” says Anderson. “And the contractor, Jake Gress, did a beautiful job.”

Lighting fixtures often act as the focal point of a room. And the designers rely on vintage rugs, which they sourced from around the world and deployed throughout the house, to ground each space with texture, color and soul. In the end, they made the most of a well-designed, well-constructed home while updating it for today’s entertaining needs and family life.

In a seating area, organic driftwood lamps, a Mimi London stump table and vintage chairs are offset by an ordered grid of framed prints.

“Bringing this house into the light and updating the spaces meant a focus on materials,” explains Houser. “We wanted a cohesive vibe so that everything blends. It was a question of picking up on those tones and enhancing the good bones and features of the home that already existed.”

The homeowner revels in her time at the house. She cites how “cozy and comfortable” Houser and Anderson made it, adding, “My favorite part is to see how our family and friends use all the spaces.”  They took a house, she says, and made it a home.

The drapery fabric is from Andrew Martin; the daybed is custom. The designers sourced vintage rugs for spaces throughout the house.

Mahogany paneling painted Farrow & Ball’s Studio Green creates a serene refuge; the Sergio Rodrigues lounge chair is paired with a vintage desk reproduction.

An Amy Ringholz painting, velvet bed and bold checked drapes imbue the inviting guest room with modern flair. A fur throw and pillow add texture.​

In the master bedroom, a velvet tufted wall takes the place of a headboard, turning the room into an ultra luxurious retreat.

On the deck, clean-lined furniture keeps the attention on Teton views.

DESIGN DETAILS:

ARCHITECTURE Locati Architects INTERIOR DESIGN Urbaine Home