Blue and Blue-Gray Accents Weave Through this Sophisticated Dwelling

Reclaimed wood siding and dry-stacked stone give the guesthouse its rustic modern feel. The living space, with two bedrooms and an open main area, sits above the garage. | Photo: Elliott Fuerniss

Cozied into a hillside near Bozeman, Montana, this guesthouse feels less like a building and more like a quiet pause in the landscape—a refined retreat that speaks softly of place and craft. Built of dry-stacked stone and reclaimed wood, the structure reimagines mountain vernacular with a lighter, more considered hand. The two-bedroom, two-bath guest quarters occupies 1,200 square feet of living space above a two-and-a-half-bay garage. Conceived as part of a long-term vision, it reads as settled and intentional rather than newly added.

The architecture by Pearson Design Group is contemporary in expression but firmly rooted in place, relying on materials that feel intrinsic to the landscape. “We used a modern architectural language, but grounded it in regional materials,” explains PDG’s Justin Tollefson. “The stone and the wood look like they’re of this place, bringing regionalism to a clean, contemporary, minimal aesthetic.”

The living room’s sculptural coffee table sounds a contemporary note against a backdrop of plush upholstered furniture grounded by an updated version of a classic braided rug. The neutral palette gets a shot of energy from the yellow pillows and patterned throw. | Photo: Elliott Fuerniss

That architectural restraint continues indoors, where details such as the absence of trim place the emphasis squarely on craftsmanship rather than ornament. Atlanta-based interior designer Alice Cramer, a longtime collaborator and friend of the owners, shaped the interiors to complement the home’s strong architectural framework. “The homeowners like a modern vibe, but with warmer colors to soften the contemporary feel so it’s not a hard modern,” she says. “He’s from the Midwest, while she grew up in the South, so there’s a softening that her aesthetic brings.”

The result is a house that feels clear-eyed and contemp­orary, yet unmistakably welcoming. The open kitchen and living area form the heart of the guesthouse, designed to feel relaxed rather than precious. Cramer layered texture over pattern, choosing woven upholstery, braided rugs and sculptural furnishings that add depth without visual noise. High-low selections—custom pieces alongside accessible finds—underscore the home’s easy sophistication. A backgammon table sits near a window, offering both play and a view, while chairs wrapped in richly textured George Spencer fabric introduce subtle pattern and tactility.

Interior designer Alice Cramer employed subtle color, as in the blue-gray pendant lights and the island’s richly grained marble of blue, gray and rust. The ceiling’s reclaimed wood matches the home’s exterior. | Photo: Elliott Fuerniss

Material choices in the kitchen set the tone for the rest of the interior. “Everything kind of started when we selected the island slab,” Cramer says. “It has blues and blue-grays with rusty movement through it, and I loved it with the warm oak cabinetry and floors. It gave interest but tied into everything.” Those hues—echoed in the ceiling, floors and reclaimed wood—inform the rest of the interior, creating a cohesive, tonal environment that feels layered rather than busy.

The guest bedrooms are designed with flexibility and comfort in mind. One features two double beds, while the second holds a stately metal-framed four-poster. Both layer sumptuous fabrics in a mix of patterns and textures, with thoughtful details such as desks positioned near windows, niches between closets, and carefully considered lighting supporting how the spaces are actually used.

A playful George Spencer fabric covers the chairs at the living room’s game table. | Photo: Elliott Fuerniss

Understated and deliberately sited, the guesthouse, built by OSM Construction, reflects a shared respect for material, craft and longevity. Architecture and interiors work in quiet concert to create a retreat that feels calm, warm and enduring—designed less to impress than to support the rhythms of family life.

Outside, a small bronze rabbit named Chauncey keeps watch near the garage, a lightly whimsical detail that hints at the thoughtfulness and ease found throughout the property. “Architecturally, we always had a design in play for how families grow,” says Tollefson. “The goal was a guest­house that looked like it was there in the beginning.”

The primary bath’s mirror, which reflects the shower’s vertically set Moroccan tile, echoes the upside-down pyramid shape of the sconce. The bedroom’s desk area is visible through the open door. | Photo: Elliott Fuerniss

The iron bed is a modern riff on the traditional four-poster. Cramer chose a neutral palette with a pop of blue for continuity with the living room. | Photo: Elliott Fuerniss

DESIGN DETAILS

INTERIOR DESIGN – Alice Cramer Interiors
ARCHITECTURE – Pearson Design Group
BUILDER – OSM Construction

As seen in Mountain Living’s March/April 2026 issue.