A Design for the Decades in Yellowstone Club

The home is situated to take advantage of striking views in both directions—Lone Peak at the back of the house and Big Sky Resort at the entrance. | Photography by Mali Azima

A focus on friends and family moved long-time Yellowstone Club townhome owners to spend three years designing and building a ski chalet on newly purchased property located on the main ski run at the Club. When architects Greg Dennee and Darin Hoekema of Locati Architects began working with the homeowners, they had vacationed with their now adult children in their Yellowstone Club townhome for many years. The family decided it was time to invest in building a legacy home with a timeless blend of features to make it as livable today as for the future generations of their family.

“When designing a home for generational living, it is important to have larger gathering areas and smaller breakout spaces for privacy,” says interior designer Melanie Turner. “This home is made for sleeping a crowd, featuring a girls’ bunk room, boys’ bunk room and five other bedroom suites. Two of these suites have attached bunk rooms, which are perfect for parents with young children.”

A muted mosaic backsplash made of handmade Moroccan zellige tiles complements expansive views of Lone Peak from the kitchen and adjacent dining area.

“The homeowners had a considered approach to every decision,” recalls Greg Dennee. “Even the yet-unborn grandchildren were accounted for with the design of bunk rooms adjoining bedroom suites.”

A Navajo chair by Pacific Green in bark skin and hide is tactile and comforting in the living room. Lee Industries sofas covered in Larsen’s Limerick Oat is a lighter counterpoint to reclaimed wood and stone elements.

The great room’s design hinged expansive views in addition to serving as a place for the main gathering hub for family members and visiting friends. “There are beautiful views in both directions—a ski run on one side and Lone Peak on the other—so the great room’s design is bi-directional to capture both views,” Dennee says.

“I walk down the hall in the morning to a fabulous kitchen ringed by beautiful windows, and the shades automatically roll up so the world opens up to me,” says the homeowner.

The homeowners’ meticulous attention to detail through thoughtful planning of every part of this bespoke residence has resulted in a home that will age well. “It’s designed to outlast the trends,” says Dennee. “By using reclaimed fir for the heavy timber beams, columns and siding, the home nods to sustainability while taking advantage of building materials that have proven longevity and fit with the existing landscape.”

The girls’ bunk room on the lower level is loved by both children and adults.

The homeowners also focused on other efficient and sustainable features including a whole-house geothermal heating and cooling system to offset propane use, solar panels to replace some electricity usage, triple-pane windows, above-and-beyond insulation and Tesla Powerwalls for home power backup.

Reclaimed fir trim work frames views of Lone Peak in the living room.

As a multigenerational vacation home, recreational spaces where everyone can gather together, like the “Shack,” are essential. Connected to the house via a glass breezeway, the Shack is a two-story cathedral-ceilinged enclosure a few steps from the main ski run of Yellowstone Club. “It feels as if you leave the main house and go to a cabin, but you don’t even have to take your slippers off,” says Dennee. “The kids can ski all day while the parents watch from the Shack and share in the ski experience.”

Custom chandeliers by IronGlass Lighting are eye-catching in the dining room, which also features one of the home’s four fireplaces.

Around every corner is another gathering space built for a crowd, including an oversize hot tub and fire pit adjacent to the Shack with heated benches open to the ski run as well as ski-in, ski-out access. There’s a lower-level rec room set up for entertaining with a custom bar and barstools, shuffleboard table, billiards and card table. “Our main design goal was to create a space that allows for effortless entertaining and feels welcoming and non-pretentious to guests,” says Turner. “Soft leather and suedes, a chunky knit rug and furry throw blankets create a warm and comfortable atmosphere for the homeowners and their guests.”

Nature also plays a lead role in the décor. “By incorporating organic forms into both the architecture and furnishings, the homeowners are surrounded by nature whether inside or outside,” Turner says. “A live-edge table or birch-log wall treatment could remind you of a favorite fly-fishing spot, and organic flagstone floors and stacked-stone walls transport you to a hike in Montana. Mountain homes should feel cozy, no matter how large the house.”

“Hanging pendants allow more surface area on furniture for personal belongings, give a room architectural interest, and they’re fun!” says designer Melanie Turner.

AUTOMATION INNOVATION
Although some homeowners disconnect from technology during vacations, this mountain home uses the latest in smart-home automation technology to make the lives of its owners and guests easier and more relaxing. The homeowner and his son worked closely with Turn It Up Technologies to create a tech-forward home. Here are a few of the smart-home automation elements that won this residence a 2021 Lutron Excellence Award.

This timber frame-style home uses salvaged beams and dry-stacked stone to help maximize sustainability. “These ageless materials fit with the landscape and can be found on homes that are 50-plus years old,” says architect Greg Dennee.

LIGHTING CONTROL About 170 discreet motion detectors automatically turn lights on and off as people walk through the house. Undercounter lights and dim nighttime lighting in the bathrooms are included in the smart-home setup. CUSTOM INTERFACE A user-friendly technology interface in the form of tablet-like devices stationed in each room controls all smart-home features, including weather forecast, room temperature control, music, LED mood lighting, automatic electric shades, hot tub temperature and external door locks. ALEXA AUTOMATION The homeowners enjoy instant voice-activated control of lighting, window shades, a lift for artwork covering the family room TV screen, temperature changes and more. SLEEP COMPANION Each bedroom has oxygen enrichment to help those arriving from lower elevations get a good night’s sleep. “The design and construction team de- serves a lot of credit for flexing and accommodating this uncommon and challenging functionality,” the homeowner says.

DESIGN DETAILS