3 min readDifferences of opinion are bound to come up when a house is being designed for more than one person. For a San Antonio–based couple building a holiday home, it was easy to agree on a location: Bigfork, Montana, a favorite vacation spot for them and their four college-aged children. But they couldn't come to a consensus on aesthetics. “One wanted more of a white farmhouse and the other a woodsy retreat," Seattle-based designer Kylee Shintaffer says. Fortunately for them, Shintaffer excels at elevated rustic style and was adept at marrying both.
Alongside Fullerton Architects, a local firm, Shintaffer built the project from the ground up along a river inlet off Flathead Lake. Creating a seamless narrative within the landscape, the design team incorporated natural elements into the home, from Montana moss rock to reclaimed timbers for the ceiling. These features—along with a "barn" that acts as a garage/guesthouse—satisfied the desire for a rustic retreat.
As for the white farmhouse brief, Shintaffer brightened the interiors by whitewashing the wood walls and adding contrasting details. "We stained a wood window dark to give it that freshness and graphic pop against the lighter wood walls," she explains. The centerpiece of the double-height, open-plan living area is another farmhouse-meets-rustic feature: a towering white plaster chimney with three large stones surrounding the fireplace. "If we clad that entire thing in stone, it might have felt heavy and dark," Shintaffer notes. Instead, it's a blank canvas that shifts the emphasis to the rest of the room, including the heart-stopping views.
"The way the house is situated, every spot has a different view: of the river, the field, the mountains," Shintaffer says. This inspired her to create smaller areas within the larger rooms, which she describes as "spaces where you pause to enjoy the vistas beyond." One of her favorites is the sitting room behind the fireplace, which feels nestled in the trees.
To blend indoors and out, modern farmhouse and woodsy refuge, Shintaffer opted for a combination of new and midcentury furnishings. "There's a beautiful handmade quality and patina to vintage pieces that help them anchor in with the rustic elements of the building," she says. Altogether, the design adds up to the best of both worlds.
GREAT ROOM
Vaulted ceilings clad in wood add a rustic touch.
The combination living and dining area is the center of the home, outfitted for every aspect of family life.
SITTING ROOM
Walls of windows make the most of scenic views.
"You feel immersed in nature here," Shintaffer says of the sunroom, which is encased on three sides by expansive windows.
KITCHEN
Oversized pendants bring drama to the island.
Stools stay tucked away beneath the stained oak island until extra seating is needed, while a series of drawers offers additional storage.
BREAKFAST NOOK
Wood paneling creates a room within a room.
"This is a magical spot," Shintaffer says of the restaurant-style breakfast nook, which features custom benches with a low back, so as not to detract from the view.
DINING NOOK
A separate barn is the ideal spot to house guests or host parties.
A cozy eat-in area in the barn-turned-guesthouse that seats a crowd, making it perfect for entertaining.
POWDER ROOM
A trestle-style table is visually lighter than a traditional vanity.
Shintaffer designed the vanity with a brushed bluestone top to lend rustic appeal to the main bathroom. Rock-clad walls bring the outdoors in.
GUEST NOOK
Curtains add necessary privacy and softness.
In the second-floor hallway, two beds are tucked into alcoves for visitors.
MUDROOM
An antique case piece adds plenty of storage.
Shintaffer split the clients' antique cupboard into two parts and painted the interior Sienna by Benjamin Moore.
GUEST ROOM
Nature-inspired wallpaper adds a rare dose of pattern.
This playful bedroom is one of two above the barn. Bold paint makes heirloom beds feel new.
DECK
Oversized screens add major mountain breeze while keeping out bugs.
The family loves to hang out here. "The antique wood cladding and rustic stone cobble flooring are a great complement to the rugged landscape," says Shintaffer.
