Big Sky Beauty

 

Although Tom and Mariann Nolan owned a vacation log home in Big Sky, Montana, the construction of a new log and timber home taking place nearby several years ago captured their imaginations. With a style reminiscent of the architecture found in Yellowstone National Park, Bear Basin Ranch seemed the perfect retreat.

“We visited Bear Basin often during the building stage, and we were impressed with the quality and the architecture,” says Tom Nolan, whose primary home is in California.

“It was a pretty special place in a beautiful setting.”

The couple soon learned that Bear Basin Ranch was being built on speculation by Montana investor and developer Bob Olson, who set out to create an exquisite home of unmatched quality and style that would appeal to just the right buyer. The Nolans decided to purchase the home, and it became theirs in January 2008.

Situated at 6,500 feet above sea level, the home is tucked into a four-acre site in Bear Basin featuring dramatic views of the surrounding Spanish Peaks mountain range. With nearly 6,000 livable square feet, the home is tucked into the natural landscape, showcasing beautiful evergreens, native grasses, and a backyard drop-off to a stream, which is a finger of the Gallatin River.

“You have the advantage of listening to the river at night, and the beautiful environment that’s found in Big Sky,” Tom says. “Whether or not it’s a throwback to playing with Lincoln Logs as a young boy, this certainly was a dream come true for us.”

Produced by Durfeld Log and Timber in British Columbia and built by Beartooth Builders of Livingston, Montana, the Nolan home is a log and timber hybrid system constructed out of cedar logs. Heavy sand chinking between rows of thick log planks complements the home’s massive timbers and enhances its rustic charm, explains architect Jamie Daugaard of Centre Sky Architecture, who designed the home.

Following Olson’s vision, Daugaard set out to achieve the architectural style of a mountain lodge and the effect of a ranch cabin reminiscent of America’s national parks, particularly nearby Yellowstone. He designed ceiling lines slightly lower than one might find in most log homes, for example, while keeping a height that would expose the beauty of the roof’s thick beams and trusses. Clerestory windows in the great room allow the warmth of natural light to extend into the interior spaces. Cedar shake roofing with copper accents tops off a look that blends into the home’s surroundings.

“We based the design on the national parks aesthetic but with a cleaner application on materials,” says Daugaard.

The expansive great room, connected to an open kitchen and dining room, is stunning and inviting with massive flared-butt log columns under open beams. Just off this area, the Nolan family and their guests can enjoy privacy in the den or media room while remaining close to the center of activity.

“The open floorplan is really unparalled,” says Nolan. “When we bring anybody through, it’s quite inviting as you walk into the home with almost the entire first floor exposed to open beams and very significantly sized logs.”

A key selling point for the Nolans were the lavish interior design specifications pulled together by interior designer Lisa Marie Odegard of Lisa Marie Design, Inc., in Big Sky, Montana. Odegard carefully planned every interior feature—from cabinetry, tiles, and windows to lighting, paint finishes, furniture, and original artwork—envisioning a style she calls “Rocky Mountain elegance.” The result: a look that will remain fresh and inviting for years to come.

“Rocky Mountain elegance is not something that’s trendy,” Odegard says. “It’s a style that will hold its own over time.”

A blend of unusual and beautiful finishes, such as stone fireplaces that stretch from floor to ceiling and wire-brushed cedar doors and windows, add character and warmth. Every space of the home is accented with one-of-a-kind furniture, finishes, and accessories, such as hand-forged iron door handles, fireplace screens, and hand railings. And each decorative and functional piece, from light fixtures to furnishings, was custom-sized to fit the space. A mix of rich, jewel-toned colors pulls in elements of the home’s stunning outdoor setting.

“I tried to incorporate the textures and colors found in every season in nature and bring those into the home so it feels warm and inviting all year long,” Odegard says.

Carefully planned outdoor spaces extend the home’s living space for the family’s enjoyment. Covered and uncovered patio spaces, a commercial-sized barbeque, and seating areas overlooking the stream on the property provide gathering areas where the family can entertain guests or relax quietly in the peaceful mountain setting.

Though the Nolans weren’t involved in the planning and building stages of Bear Basin Ranch, they have been impressed with the quality of their new log home. They recommend that prospective log home owners do careful research and select the finest materials possible to match the conditions of the area in which the home will be built.

“The quality of the builder is paramount because of unique settling issues [of log homes] and the extreme weather conditions to which these homes are often exposed,” Nolan says. “These conditions require a considerable amount of time and attention to sealing the home. And it’s important to consider the quality of the wood, the age of the wood, and how the wood was prepared.”

Thanks to developer Olson’s vision, the Nolans found the perfect getaway, which they hope to enjoy for years to come.

“We go up to Montana as often as we can to get away from the pressures of work and living in California,” says Nolan. “It gives such a sense of serenity unlike any other place I’ve ever known. We often take vacations abroad, but even then, I’ve often thought that I’d rather be sitting in the backyard of my Montana home.”