Modern Mountain Design: Blending Rustic Elegance with Contemporary Style
Posted 10/14/2024 by Marketing
The Modern Mountain design style is more than just a trend—it's a philosophy that harmonizes the raw beauty of nature with modern-day functionality and aesthetics. The aim is to create spaces that feel inviting, spacious and grounded.
For construction professionals and homeowners who want to create a Modern Mountain-style home, the opportunity is to work with your natural environment as inspiration.
Our team recently had the pleasure of visiting three top building and design professionals in the Boise area, and each one of them spoke about the Modern Mountain style and its prominence in their work. We captured their insights to share with you in this blog.
What Is Modern Mountain Design?
Modern Mountain design is a style that marries the rugged, natural elements of traditional mountain homes with the clean lines and simplicity of contemporary architecture. It embraces the textures and warmth of natural materials—wood, stone, metal—while keeping the overall aesthetic minimal and refined. As for interior decor, natural fibers and leather are commonly chosen.
The goal is to create a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. This can be accomplished through material selection and using large windows that frame vistas and allow natural light to flood into the home.
What sets this style apart is its intentional use of materials and spatial layouts to achieve a peaceful flow.
Achieving the Modern Mountain Look: Insights from Industry Professionals
To bring these ideas to life, builders and designers are incorporating natural elements in thoughtful and innovative ways.
Let’s explore how three industry leaders—Melissa Detweiler of Prominent Homes, Charlie Walk of Blackstone Homes, and Larry Richardson of Larry Richardson Construction—are interpreting Modern Mountain style in their own unique ways.
Prominent Homes: Continuity Between Outside and Inside Spaces
Melissa Detweiler is Co-Owner and Principal Designer at Prominent Homes, a 100% custom home builder whose work has been recognized with awards, including first place in every category at the county’s Parade of Homes.
Detweiler emphasizes the importance of creating a warm and inviting space in their Modern Mountain builds. “People like to feel grounded,” she says.
Her projects typically feature natural materials such as wood, concrete, stone, and steel to evoke this grounded feeling while maintaining a sleek, modern aesthetic.
One of the standout features in Detweiler’s designs is the way she connects interior and exterior spaces. In a recent build, she used our Thermally Modified Wood Collection in Black Forest and Wood Smoke on the front of the house, which complements the wood ceiling of the great room in the interior for a warming effect that draws the eye up, she says.
By using consistent materials both inside and out, she creates a harmonious flow between nature and the home’s exterior and interior.
“When you’re walking up to the house, you’re going to notice that wood. And you’re going to think, ‘Oh, that’s kind of a cool element.’ Then you’ll walk inside, and it will be on a ceiling, and that makes it connect to the outside,” she says.
Blackstone Homes: A Fusion of Styles and Practicality
Charlie Walk, owner of Blackstone Homes, has seen firsthand how the influx of new residents from all over the country has influenced the design landscape in Boise. As people migrate to Idaho, they bring diverse architectural preferences, and the Modern Mountain trend, in some ways, is a reflection of that.
“People like different things. And for me, the modern American style is taking their style, our style, and making it work for the area we live in,” he says.
Walk’s approach to the Modern Mountain trend emphasizes both form and function. In a region like Boise, where the climate can be harsh, selecting the right materials is essential.
Walk has chosen UFP-Edge’s Thermally Modified Wood Collection for its durability and resistance to the elements. In fact, Walk trusted the quality and performance of the wood so much that he used it on his personal home.
For Walk, as a custom home builder, the balance between creating homes that are unique yet recognizable for the brand is key. “As a custom home builder, we don’t want any two homes to be the same,” he says. “But we also want you to be able to drive through a neighborhood and know when you’re seeing a Blackstone Home.”
The Thermally Modified Wood Collection plays a pivotal role in achieving that balance, helping Blackstone Homes stand out. “The wire-brushed texture of the Thermally Modified Wood Collection gives us that texture we’re looking for,” he says.
The natural wood’s versatility—whether installed vertically or horizontally—adds aesthetic appeal, making each Blackstone Home both distinct and timeless.
Larry Richardson Construction: Timeless, Customized Designs
Larry Richardson, a custom home builder with over 30 years of experience, brings a sense of timelessness to his Modern Mountain projects. He has built a brand that is known for high-quality builds.
For Richardson, the goal is to build “forever homes” that remain relevant and functional for generations. “Most homes we build are forever homes, making dreams come true,” he says.
He takes pride knowing that his homes will stand the test of time, and he makes sure to choose materials that will last. He shares why this is important to him on a personal level:
“While the homeowners may buy or sell the house, your name is always associated with it. I take pride in that.”
Richardson has used the Thermally Modified Wood Collection in Back Country, Lost Trail, Black Forest, and Timber Ridge on four separate homes. “Thermally Modified Wood gives an aesthetic feel to the house and a pop,” he says.
Beyond the design, Richardson sees the Thermally Modified Wood Collection as a go-to choice because of its durability and 20-year limited warranty. “Warranty is very important, I’m not going to put something on a home that isn’t going to last,” he explains.
He also commented on his experience installing the product saying that the end matching “makes installation much easier.”
Key Takeaways: How to Achieve the Modern Mountain Style
To achieve the Modern Mountain aesthetic in your own home or build, here are a few key takeaways from these industry professionals:
Natural Materials Are Key
Whether it’s wood, stone, or metal, using natural materials is essential to create the grounded, natural charm that defines Modern Mountain design.
Balance Rustic with Modern
Don’t be afraid to blend rustic, raw materials with sleek, modern elements. This contrast is what gives the style its unique appeal.
Indoor-Outdoor Connection
Design spaces that invite the outdoors in by using large windows, open layouts, and materials that flow seamlessly from exterior to interior.
Keep It Timeless
While trends come and go, the Modern Mountain style thrives on timeless elements like neutral palettes, open spaces, and high-quality materials that age gracefully.
By taking inspiration from the work of builders like Prominent Homes, Blackstone Homes, and Larry Richardson Construction, it’s easy to see how Modern Mountain design offers the best of both worlds: the rugged beauty of nature and the clean, sleek lines of modern living.
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