A Festive Family Gathering Place

Having a space where the whole family can gether together in comfort can be a big challenge. But a great room worthy of the name—warmed by a glowing fire and graced with abundant soft seating—can really melt the stress of the holiday season away. Here's a boldly designed Big Sky, Montana, lodge that gets it just right.

With five children and six grandchildren (plus more on the way), these homeowners wanted a family-friendly high-country retreat touched by whimsy. Interior designer Hunter Dominick, principal of Hunter & Company in Whitefish, Montana, added all sorts of delightfully playful details that make the rooms feel solidly Western and rustic, yet also fresh and fun. Her daring color choices are especially brilliant against the textural backdrop of stone and timber.

In the great room, a massive three-sided stone fireplace is a towering presence among the heavy wooden timbers. But the room doesn't get too serious, thanks to a pair of oversized sofas upholstered in a big, bright floral print. "We chose floral because it's unexpected," Dominick says. The grass-green rug adds another punch of color, and a fanciful black-and-white checked moose from MacKenzie-Childs keeps an eccentic eye on the scene.

For a full tour of this incredible rustic retreat, click here.

Photo by Gibeon Photography