A Jackson House Built As A Gathering Place For Friends
This guesthouse is designed to appeal to friends and family
A two-level stacked- stone guesthouse addition in Jackson, Wyoming, by JLF Architects and Big-D Signature appears autonomous but connects to the main house via a tunnel. | Photo by Audrey Hall
In the spirit of “If you build it, they will come,” an international couple whose careers have kept them in constant motion built in Jackson with the intention of creating a home base for themselves and a gathering place for family and friends. Explains the husband, “Way back when, someone said to us, ‘Find a home where the kids are always going to want to come.’ Jackson fit the bill. There’s something to do outdoors all year round and it’s elite-level: mountain climbing, skiing, fishing, hiking, biking. It’s just a paradise, and that’s really what drove it for us. You have the Tetons and Yellowstone and the Snake River right there, and you’re right in the corner with Idaho and Montana, with access to all of that. And there’s another thing we like: Jackson is absolutely genuine.”
Historical materials combine with an unexpected interior palette for a fresh take by interior designer Tayloe Piggott. The Old World door is made from reclaimed materials. | Photo by Audrey Hall
The project—a collaboration between JLF Architects, Big-D Signature, designer Tayloe Pigott and the homeowners—is appropriate, original and soulful. It speaks to place through integration into its site and masterful use of local stone and reclaimed wood, and it references the owners’ personal history and passions. Six years on, with their own kids and 14 nieces and nephews making the most of it and retirement on the horizon, it was time for Phase II.
An open-to-the-outdoors room has a fireplace, large table, cooking facilities, a water feature and windows that open to big pass- throughs. The structure is connected to the main house by a terrace. | Photo by Audrey Hall
The owners were thrilled with their home, and they’d become close friends with the architects and builder, so there was no question as to the team. What warranted consideration was the scope and siting of the work. While the guesthouse drove the project, they wanted more room for outdoor living, overflow guests and destination experiences. The solution was to use the existing slope to create what appears as an understated and separate structure but spreads over two levels and connects to the main house underground. This seemingly autonomous building gives guests their privacy and kids their independence but can be accessed from indoors in inclement weather.
Colorful textiles in the stairwell — huipiles collected by the owners in Guatemala and Mexico — pop against creamy plaster walls and speak to the owner’s South American heritage. | Photo by Audrey Hall
The mix of old and new materials adds interest to an interstitial space. | Photo by Audrey Hall
The stacked-stone and reclaimed-wood gabled structure consists of a living room, guest suite, bunk room and laundry at entry level. The lower level houses an open space with three functions: media room, golf simulator and hangout room with bar. From there a hallway leads underground back to the main house. For a seemingly simple structure, the craftsmanship is in the details, from glass stairwell panels inset into reclaimed wood timbers to Cotswolds-inspired stonework.
The bedroom combines a salvaged wood ceiling, textural fireplace and plaster walls. An antique chest brings history; fabrics add color. Says JLF’s Paul Bertelli, “It’s meant to be seamlessly woven into the original house, with all the same materials, textures and colors. | Photo by Audrey Hall
“The owners wanted a simple material palette with stone as the primary material,” says JLF Architects’ Travis Growney. “Building an addition six years later sounds simple, but it’s a major feat to source the same materials. It is not easy to recreate, even with the same craftsmen. We didn’t want to introduce a new palette, and we didn’t want to see what was old and what was new. We went to great lengths to make it feel part of one project.”
The bunk room contrasts dark against light wood, with textiles for color. | Photo by Audrey Hall
Verdone Landscape Architects set terraces down the grade so as not to impede the mountain views. | Photo by Audrey Hall
At the end of the day, adds JLF’s Paul Bertelli, “The house is a real testament to friendship. The friendship centers on how the owners extended their friendships to their friends and family and also to us. You look at the quality of what we did and the amount of time we spent nurturing it and the rigor of the detailing, and it’s all because of them. We have a deep connection to the family—and it shows in the end result.”
As featured in ML’s July/August 2023 Issue
