From Our Editor: The Finishing Touch

Photo – Eleanor Williamson

It’s Mountain Living’s Rustic Issue, a favorite among readers, and we showcase handsome homes in Jackson Hole, Steamboat Springs and British Columbia.  As structures these architectural masterpieces could stand on their own. But what makes them truly unique are the final touches—the homeowners’ interests and personalities, and the historical influences and locale, that architects and designers take into consideration to create a one-of-a-kind, tailor-made home.

In Jackson Hole, a homeowner who spent her childhood in California but vacationed in the West wants to re-create fond memories of those trips by building a home that feels like it could have been there for 100 years—using rugged materials that speak to the landscape, and furnishings that celebrate Western traditions like handwoven rugs and Native American artifacts. At Jackson’s Teton Village, a friendship between a homeowner and his Swiss-born architect, David Hacin, results in a collaboration to create a home for the travel-loving family that incorporates chalet elements as well as influences from the Wyoming landscape.

A Colorado family searching for a vacation property finds a rustic gem near Steamboat Springs.  Built with an extensive use of reclaimed lumber, the home came with an abundance of Western furnishings, and interior designer Devon Tobin deftly combines Mountain Modern pieces with the existing elements in a harmonious design the homeowners love.

After spending years traveling in search of a perfect site for their dream home, a couple discovers a 500-acre site in British Columbia. They work with Locati Architects to create a special place that highlights their collection of Canadiana furniture, Navajo rugs and Pacific North Coast artifacts—a legacy the homeowners will one day pass to their children.

To see a wide selection of bespoke rustic furnishings, and the best in fine, handcrafted design today, you’ll want to visit the Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale, sponsored by Mountain Living, in Jackson, Wyoming, Sept. 5-8. And while you’re in town—don’t miss the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, with 12 days of events, Sept. 4-15.

­Darla Worden
Editor in Chief