A Swiss-Army-Knife Home in the Tetons
With three separate dwellings all in one, this “mountain urban” abode is perfect for outdoorsy in-town living.
This mountain modern home in downtown Jackson Hole, Wyoming, packs a powerful punch, especially when considering the ski town’s rigorous building restrictions. Rolled into one lot are three separate dwellings. The home also boasts low-maintenance exterior materials, a midcentury modern vibe, and a stunning indoor-outdoor connection with views of Snow King Mountain Resort beyond—the perfect residence for this outdoorsy young family who love to entertain.
The home’s modern architecture features a handful of cut-away spots that not only add visual interest but also serve specific purposes—like the open slots on the wraparound deck that allow for water drainage. To minimize the amount of staining, sanding, and updating required of the home’s exterior, the design team went with two layers of materials: corrugated metal in multiple directions on the outermost layer, and cedar siding, which is well protected underneath (with the exception of the wooden trellis above the deck, which adds warmth and charm).
The owners inhabit the main house, with three bedrooms, an open-layout great room (comprised of the kitchen/dining/living spaces), a two-car garage, and an office.
Built-in shelving, a contemporary steel fireplace, and wood ceiling beams create warmth that complements the surrounding framed views in the great room. “The Teton area is such a spectacular outdoor space,” says the wife. “We love all the recreation the area offers—skiing, biking, hiking, viewing the wildlife—and wanted to bring our love for the outdoors in. We used a clear stain on all the wood throughout the home, and went with white paint because we wanted the views to be the biggest focal features.”
Large sliding doors open to an additional outdoor dining area. “It increased our living space by 30 percent,” says the wife, who also curated the home’s overall midcentury modern style and furnishings.
“My son was born about five weeks before we moved in,” she says. “When it came to the interiors, we needed to compromise between fine furnishings and durability.” Much of the home’s sleek pieces hail from online sources like Article, IKEA, Home Depot, and All Modern.
An open-concept kitchen punctuates the white space with dark grays and baby blues. A hallway on the left leads to a walk-in pantry, and the stairwell on the right leads up to the bedrooms and down to the entryway.
A birdcage light fixture from Etsy adds character above a floating vanity in the powder room.
Form meets function once again in the master suite; a corner cut-away adds indoor-outdoor square footage while maximizing mountain views and adding architectural interest.
The tile in the master bath is a gorgeous selection, thanks to the wife’s keen design eye. The slender windows add light while maintaining privacy.
The view from behind the back apartment and detached garage; in the background sits the main home and garden-level suite.
Below the main home is another dwelling with two bedrooms, one bath, and a living/kitchen area, which has its own separate entrance. “That is a lock-off unit,” the wife says, “so the house can either absorb it and be five bedrooms with two living areas and kitchens, or it can be separate.” Because basements do not count against Jackson’s square-feet building limit, this unit is sunk four feet in the ground—still retaining plenty of natural light.
The third dwelling is a separate apartment above a detached garage on the other side of a small courtyard-style lawn.
The apartment boasts long-lasting interior finishes like luxury vinyl tile and radiant floor heating.
The town of Jackson’s increasing popularity puts these lock-off dwellings to good use. “Both the additional units are rented full time with great tenants,” says the wife. And the home’s Swiss-Army-Knife versatility allows for the family to possibly expand in the future—without uprooting their love for Jackson and the great outdoors.
DESIGN DETAILS:
ARCHITECTURE Design Associates Architects INTERIOR DESIGN Homeowners CONTRACTOR New West Building Company
Christopher Lee is the lead architect of Design Associates Architects, which specializes in creating remarkable custom residential architecture throughout the Jackson Hole and Rocky Mountain region. View their profile or contact Christopher at 307.733.3600.
Content for this article provided by Design Associates Architects.
