DOWNTOWN AREA

An atypical downtown lot with direct views of the ski area, sheltered by green space provided an incredible template for the design team at Gerber Berend. The Iowa-based clients shared their nostalgia for early American farmhouses and wanted their new home to embody their lifestyle and elements from places they had lived. 

Most of the original home was removed and replaced with an L-shaped silhouette, that gives the illusion of sequential add-ons over the years, typical of farmhouse architecture. 

White clapboard siding envelops the main house, master wing and a two-story high shed to befit a streamline façade. 

Stone steps lead up to a covered entryway where floor to ceiling glass gives a hint of what lies beyond. The home transcends a warm aesthetic from the thick stone walls on the ground floor, the white oak flooring and soft hemlock ceilings, accented with a mood-inspired color palette. A German smear technique was used on the interior stonework to mimic the impression of century-old European cottages and rural bothies.  

Discrete hallways flow from the entryway to provide an effortless transition between public and private quarters. Expansive windows and doorways in the open-plan living space unfold onto the covered patio and the panorama beyond. The design affords a seamless interplay with the gardens including a hypnotic water feature, which bestows a sensory experience. 

 A stone and steel-clad hearth anchors the living space and complements the Mediterranean style kitchen with its handcrafted mixed material cabinetry. Built-in window seats entice the family and their visitors toward endless hours of relaxation. A custom steel climbing frame in the dining area doubles as a structural feature and hang out spot for the family cats.  

Whitewashed walls wrapped in ebony trim offer a modern backdrop for the couple’s whimsical artwork. A staircase flanked by an intricate slated wood wall and a custom rolled steel railing leads up to the three ensuite bedrooms. Each bathroom depicts personality through custom vanities, playful wallpaper and tile. 

Additional guest space is cleverly hidden in the media den where two sets of built-in bunks are screened by rolling steel doors. A windowed and clapboard clad corridor leads to the master suite, where an enclosed exterior space gives a nod to farm life with its corn crib design.  An outdoor spiral staircase leads to a urbanesque roof garden with views to downtown and Buffalo Pass. 

Every element of the property centers on practicality, purpose and creating moments of pure joy, inspired by its elevated setting.