At Home in Southwest Montana - Spring 2022 by Bozeman Daily Chronicle

At Home IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA SPRING 2022

A S p e c i a l P u b l i c at i o n

of the

B o z e m a n D a i ly C h r o n i c l e Photo by Studio Architects

TABLE OF

Contents WRITTEN BY: HANNAH STIFF MARGO HAFT, WILL BARRET

THE ART OF THE PROPERTY

KITCHEN REFRESH

LOVE THE HOUSE YOU’RE IN

THRILL OF THE HUNT

CHAOS THEORY

ART IN ACTION

THAT FARMHOUSE FEEL

SIMPLY DELICIOUS

DESIGNING MODERN MOUNTAIN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: WHITNEY KAMMAN, HANNAH STIFF, GARY SNYDER, STUDIO ARCHITECHS, METRO CREATIVE CONNECTIONS

SOUTHWEST MONTANA AT HOME 2022

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THE

Art

OF THE PROPERTY

Photos by Studio Architects

STUDIO ARCHITECTS: A Legacy of Collaboration & Unique Design By Will Barrett

an K. Bryan and Leah Shute, managing partners at Studio Architects in Bozeman, have well over 30 years of experience in southwest Montana. Their emphasis on collaboration is strong. They also believe in using any space well, regardless of budget. Together, the duo works with their clients to make sure they’re being heard, and to take clients’ ideas into consideration while incorporating influences of their own. “One of our strong design parameters is just to really enhance the setting that each client has,” Shute says. The Studio Architects team pull from their own experiences alongside a client’s dreams and aesthetics to create a design that fits each project. “It’s not about us creating our own edifices,” Shute

SOUTHWEST MONTANA AT HOME 2022

explains. “It’s about really trying to set off the art of the property itself and letting it shine through. After the last couple of years, haven and home have taken on a lot of different meanings for people. They kind of got redefined and reinvented. Our goal has always been to create a home environment, which is why it’s so important to listen to what they’re telling us, otherwise we’re going to miss the mark for how they live or what speaks to them.” Shute has been designing homes and commercial spaces in Bozeman since 1998. She works closely with clients from start to finish to ensure their vision is implemented. Shute herself pulls inspiration from her time spent studying abroad in Europe, time with family on the east coast, and from traveling the west coast. She says east coast style architecture is “timeless” while the west coast influence can provide lighter ideas and design nuances. Bryan was born in New Orleans, grew up in Michigan,

and moved to Montana in the 70’s. “There’s a lot of different things that we get exposed to throughout life that we can start picking up little pieces of and appreciate,” Bryan says. He has family in New York and St. Louis and has admired their homes and city style. Bryan is also well traveled, both internationally and domestically. Each trip or adventure helps Bryan add layers to his design aesthetic and resonate with clients with vast and style preferences. Bryan has been an architect in Bozeman since 1986. He was a founding member of the original firm in 1993, under a different name.

“

It’s where we go to be safe and to recharge our batteries and get ready to go out and do it again.” Whether working on a tight budget or working on a tight space, the team looks forward to the challenge and opportunity each new project brings. Their adaptability allows them to work with a breadth of both clients and designs.

One of our strong design parameters is just to really enhance the setting that each client has.

Bryan and Shute have been working together since the early 2000s. Bryan founded Studio Architects from a desire to create a boutique firm offering architectural excellence, unmatched customer service, and a collaborative design process, all the while showcasing the talents of the entire team. While Studio Architects team works predominantly on residential properties, they take on commercial work as well when a client requests it. “We do everything from ultra-big projects in Big Sky and the surrounding areas to renovations in the historic district,” Shute says. Today, they’re showcasing for us a newly finished home on Cottonwood Drive in Bozeman. The Cottonwood client was looking for “a loft concept with an industrial design,” the architects shared with us. Connecting four spacious floors from basement to rooftop are hearty Douglas Fir columns, surrounded by a wide wooden staircase and glass ensconced wine cellar. Bathrooms in the home combine sleek black cabinets with gold hardware, concrete sinks and honeycombed floor tiles for a look that is both modern and endearing. The black and gold motif continues through the house and emerges again in a dining room with a wood paneled ceiling and statement chandelier. From the expansive indoor feel at the Cottonwood house, it’s easy to forget the challenges the came along with the project. “Because it has such a restrictive lot, there is no real yard,” Bryan says. “In order to give the client some outdoor space, there was a rooftop deck that was built on the majority of the house.” Utilization of space is a major priority for the Studio Architects team, as the Cottonwood house proves – the lot for the home is a tight 30-feet wide. “It’s about trying to create a space that will enrich the human spirit,” says Bryan. “Homes are our sanctuary.

“We don’t have a defined style,” Bryan says. “We feel strongly in listening to each client’s needs, their site parameters, and the environment that they’re going to be building. (That) demands a unique design application and solution.”

”

This approach allows the Studio Architects team to overdeliver value and style. “We’re trying to really work hard and listen to what they’re asking for, take it in, put it into the mix, and give back something more than they could even dream about,” Bryan says. “Studio Design is not just in the name, it’s the practice. Our collaboration in conjunction with our clients is a part of what makes it work.”

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KITCHEN

Refresh How updating your cabinets can change your entire kitchen @Metro Creative Connection

By Hannah Stiff

itchen Tune Up is a nationwide remodeling service with independently owned franchises in over 30 states. At Home’s Hannah Stiff spoke with Konnie Bright, owner of the Kitchen Tune Up Bozeman franchise to talk about the business and ask a few questions to the kitchen design gurus. At Home: Tell me a bit about how you and your husband Todd got into the business and why you have a passion for helping folks renovate their

SOUTHWEST MONTANA AT HOME 2022

kitchens? Konnie Bright: The Kitchen Tune-Up franchise system contacted us nine years ago when we owned the Sears Hometown store in Bozeman, asking if we’d like to add a cabinet business. Once we learned about the unique services Kitchen Tune-Up offers, we didn’t hesitate and purchased a KTU Franchise. We operated both businesses for six years, then decided to transition to Kitchen Tune-Up full-time in the summer of 2018. We now bring our showroom to our customers in their homes and discuss their ideas. It’s so much fun working with our customers one on one,

learning their needs and vision, and transforming their kitchens into a more functional and beautiful space. AH: Say you have a customer that wants to update or upgrade their kitchen, but they have no idea where to start, what would you tell them? KB: With Kitchen Tune-Up, you do not have to rip out your existing cabinets to get a new look! We have five ways to update your kitchen cabinets. We can “tune-up” existing wood cabinets, paint cabinets, re-door cabinets, reface cabinets, and we also offer all new custom cabinets. Once we discuss the goals our customers have for their space, we help direct them to the best option for their needs. We often give proposals for more than one service so we can cover a wide range of price points. AH: Can you help folks with small budgets? KB: Absolutely! Our namesake one-day “tuneup” service is a great way to refresh stained wood cabinets. We repair scratches, scuffs, and water damage to get your cabinets looking nearly new again. Refacing existing cabinets is our most popular service because you choose new doors in any color and style you like, then we reface the existing cabinet box to match the new doors. This avoids the time, hassle and expense of starting over with all new cabinets. We can even add, subtract, or move existing cabinets to create a better layout in kitchens that just need a little tweaking. Plus, everyone feels great about reusing existing cabinet boxes rather than having them potentially go to a landfill.

for us that more than met our expectations. And, as an added bonus, they are polite, wholly professional, and extremely knowledgeable about their products. They are truly an asset to Kitchen Tune-Up and are tremendous ambassadors for the products (they) sell.” Donna M (Big Sky, MT) AH: What is trending for kitchen designs and materials currently? KB: Everyone wants more storage! Any time we can add storage solutions to an existing kitchen, we are not only changing the look of the cabinets but also adding function with storage. More than half of our refacing projects lately have included adding small cabinets over the existing uppers to take the cabinets to the ceiling. Our client chooses a new door style and color, then we reface the cabinet boxes to match the new tall door that covers both the original cabinet and the added cabinet. This not only gives more storage, but it also deletes the dust trap on the tops of your cabinets and modernizes the look of the kitchen. We love making better use of that space above the upper cabinets! For more information or to request a consultation, visit kitchentuneup.com.

AH: What are some of your favorite customer reviews or reactions when they see their kitchen reno? KB: Our first tune-up job was a kitchen whose owner’s mother had the cabinets custom built in the 80s. They were in rough shape after years of raising a family. When we completed the job, our customer was overjoyed! She got quite emotional and said how happy her mother would have been to see her kitchen look like this again. Her mom had passed a year earlier. We found out how satisfying this type of work could be on our first job. We have almost as much fun as our customers with the before and after transformations. Here’s another testimonial: “My husband and I recently had our kitchen updated by Kitchen Tune-Up in Bozeman, MT. Far too often, as consumers, we only take time to complain about the service we receive. We would like to do just the opposite! Konnie and Todd were absolutely amazing! Not only did they finish our job as promised, they left the house neat and orderly each evening, returned as scheduled each morning and in the end, created an absolutely beautiful new kitchen

SOUTHWEST MONTANA AT HOME 2022

Love

THE HOUSE YOU’RE IN!

Can’t afford a new house? Invest in what you’ve got! @Metro Creative Connection

By Hannah Stiff

ccording to a recent report from the property data company Core Logic, at the end of 2021, U.S. homeowners with mortgages gained $3.2 trillion in equity. That’s more than a 30% increase compared to the same period in 2020. What exactly is equity? In the simplest terms, it’s the difference between the market value of your home and what you owe on it. For example, if your home is worth $300,000 (you clearly don’t live in the Gallatin Valley, but play along with the scenario) and you have a mortgage loan balance of $150,000, then you have equity of 50 percent or $150,000. Tanner Aasheim, real estate loan officer with First Security Bank, spoke to us about how homeowners

SOUTHWEST MONTANA AT HOME 2022

can use the equity they have in their current home to make upgrades, additions and renovations. After all, with soaring home prices, staying put just might make the most sense. “Utilizing the equity in your house is a great tool to provide funding for someone looking to remodel, expand, or just spruce up their place,” Aasheim said. “For the most part there are three primary financing options people can consider.” The three options homeowners should consider, Aasheim said, are a cash out refinance, home equity line of credit and a home equity loan. Check out the nuts and bolts on each option to see which is right for you. CASH OUT REFINANCE “This includes refinancing your existing home loan and originating a new loan at a larger balance than is currently owed,” Aasheim explains. “Throughout this

process, the borrower receives money back at closing to be used to fund the project they are working on.” This option provides borrowers with a fixed-rate option for whatever term they choose, commonly 15 years or 30 years, and provides the best interest rates available in the market, Aasheim says. “For larger projects this tends to be the preferred option,” he says. “But one consideration that often comes up is how does the new mortgage rate compare to the existing mortgage rate. If current rates are higher than the borrower’s existing rate, that tends to lead borrowers to consider other options.” HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT (HELOC) Aasheim says the HELOC is a revolving line of credit that can be advanced, paid down, and advanced again. “It is often a second position lien placed on the property and is ‘stacked’ on top of the borrower’s current mortgage loan,” he says. “Most often these are available on the borrower’s primary residence and have a term anywhere from five years to 15 years, depending on the bank.” The monthly payments are the interest-only portion of the balance that month and typically the interest rate is variable over a period of time. An example includes a 15-year line of credit in which the

rate adjusts quarterly, every three years, or every five years, depending on the borrower’s choice of the available options, the First Security Bank lender explains. “Typically HELOC rates are higher than first mortgage rates and the rates for HELOCs increase the longer the fixed-rate option they choose,” Aasheim says. “This means the three-year fixed rate is a lower rate than the five-year fixed rate option, and so on.” The HELOC provides many benefits in its flexibility. Borrower’s can access the money as needed by simply advancing it into their designated account and the borrower’s payments are interest only. Potential drawbacks of the HELOC include its rate variability and higher interest rate, Aasheim explains. HOME EQUITY LOANS This financial product is a second position principal and interest loan. The rate on this loan is higher than mortgage cash out options and the terms available typically are five years to 15 years. This option is not as widely available in the market compared to cash out options and HELOCs but is one some lenders offer for consideration. To find out more about how to use your home equity to create your dream house, get in touch with a local lender like Aasheim today.

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Thrill

OF THE HUNT

@Metro Creative Connection

Thrifting offers local shoppers great deals on unique finds By Hannah Stiff

s Bozeman home prices continue to climb ever higher and property taxes routinely hike north as well, renters and homeowners are looking for ways to save on just about anything associated with the word “home.” Savvy shoppers know that decor, furnishings and kitchenware can be sourced from a local thrift store for a fraction of regular retail prices. Thrifting, as it’s called, offers shoppers high quality goods at low prices. Local second hand stores like Goodwill, Sack’s, 2nd Hand Rose, and Rethink Thrift sell everything from clothing to games to knick knacks and antiques.

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Thrifting is a bit like a treasure hunt. If you’ve never experienced the thrill of the hunt, check out one of the valley’s secondhand shops. A local favorite is Sacks Thrift Store. This downtown Bozeman shop has been operating in the community for 35 years. Sacks is a nonprofit. The proceeds Sacks receives are given to the Help Center, which operates the valley’s 24/7 crisis hotline. Additionally, when shoppers choose to buy at Sacks, their purchase helps support suicide prevention and intervention, sexual assault counseling, Gallatin County’s child advocacy center, the Hearts & Homes Family Resource Center and telephone reassurance programs for homebound senior citizens or those in crisis. “By donating your used clothes, furniture, toys, books, jewelry or other items you are keeping them out

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of landfills and allowing others to find new treasures at an affordable rate,” Sacks proclaims on its website.

We Know Our Way Around The Block

Who knew those Rod Stewart records you scored at Sacks made such an impact? While the thrill of a bargain and the warm glow of supporting the community certainly draws many to thrifting, we’ve got a few more tips from Sacks sales associate Nicole Buettner and her team to get you started.

For over 100 years, First Security Bank has been serving the Gallatin Valley’s banking needs. Our lenders have the knowledge and expertise to provide you with a variety of home loan options and competitive rates.

TIPS AND TRICKS TO THRIFTING • Set a thrifting budget. • Make a List of what you want and need. • Prioritize what you need and that will work in your life. • Go thrifting frequently; thrift stores put out new items daily.

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• Look all around the store for items that may have been moved by other customers. • Know what will work for you in terms of color, fit, and condition. • Bring a measuring tape to measure furniture or clothing you don’t want to try it on. • Look over the condition of items before purchasing. Buettner also suggests making a mood board or gathering style inspiration before hitting the stores. “Don’t give up after your first try when thrifting, new items come in daily,” Buettner says. “Ask friends to go thrifting with you, or keep an eye out for specific items you are hunting for.” For steeper savings, Buettner says many secondhand shops offer their own sales. “A lot of thrift stores do 50% off days, so watch for those,” she says. “Sacks has ours every first Saturday of the month.” So whether you’re on the hunt for exercise equipment, appliances, or another Rod Stewart album, check out your local thrift store for the best prices and pieces.

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Chaos THEORY

Tips from Professional Organizing Gurus @Metro Creative Connection

By Hannah Stiff

imple, not easy. Organizing your home, that is. If it were easy, we’d all have tidy closets, drawers, garages, cars… heck, even that under-the-sink cupboard would be in ship

shape.

For whatever reason, we stash and keep and hoard things. We pile old receipts in the junk drawer. Beer coozies and shot glasses from long-ago nuptials take up space in a drawer stuffed with manuals for electronics we don’t use (here’s looking at you, air fryer pandemic purchase). While there is certainly a psychology of untidiness to explain our home chaos, there are also overt reasons we’re messy. We are busy. We have young

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kids. We have a long lifetime of keepsakes. We have too much stuff. We keep buying more stuff. For those of us squarely in the middle of hoarding and obsessive compulsive tidiness, perhaps this Spring will be the time we finally get organized. Lest you get overwhelmed before you start, there’s help. Christina Ryan is the owner of the NEAT Method Bozeman, a home organization company serving clients in the Bozeman and Big Sky area. “People have a pain point in the house – the pantry, garage, or the storage unit that keeps collecting stuff – and people have a breaking point,” Ryan says. “Usually it’s not just one space, it’s three spaces and then people say, ‘I need help.’” Ryan and her team get it. As working mothers, they are the dames of disarray on both a personal

and professional level. When the team from NEAT Method swoops in to help, they not only tidy a space, they make it functional and chic. “We’re the interior designers behind the closet,” Ryan explains. A cluttered pantry, for example, looks like an ad for a container store when Ryan and her team are finished. A playroom or craft nook looks less manicartiste alcove and more inspired creator’s space when every paint brush, pencil and paper has its place. While professional organization services don’t fit every budget, NEAT Method has tips for every organizer. 5 ORGANIZING GOALS TO SET RIGHT NOW If you’ve already given up on your lofty new year’s resolutions, you aren’t alone. But that doesn’t mean your goals have to end there. Most resolutions set the bar way too high. And, while we truly believe we’re capable of anything we set our minds to, it’s also extremely encouraging to check things off your list. We’ve put together 5 simple organizing goals that are easy to accomplish and will give you that quick win to set you back on track for the new year. 1. PUT IT AWAY Listen to that voice inside your head that reminds you to put something back where it belongs. Yes, it takes longer to walk into the other room, but the time it will save you when you’re looking for something, is so worth it. Make it a habit to return things where they belong, and you can say goodbye to those last minute treasure hunts as you’re heading out the door. An additional tip is to label bins, baskets, drawers, etc. to make sure the whole family knows where different categories belong.

Someone once said that any single-use kitchen gadget can be replaced by a good knife. Meaning, your apple slicer, vegetable peeler, garlic press, and pizza cutter might be taking up more room than is necessary. We’re not telling you to give up on gadgets, but it might be time to get rid of any duplicates, first and foremost. Once you’ve done that, consider donating any that you no longer use. That’s it! Enjoy a drawer with less clutter and a visual of everything you own. 5. SAY NO TO This one might be the hardest on the list, especially in the midst of a pandemic, but it’s not a hard and fast rule. Take a look at the available space in your home for storing back stock or extras. If this space gets full, you should stop buying bulk items until there is room again. If you live in a tiny apartment, we suggest putting an end to bulk buying entirely. One last thing. If you have an entire basement dedicated to back stock, make sure you have a system for keeping track of everything. The worst thing about buying in bulk, is when you buy items you didn’t realize you already had, or they go bad before you can use them. *These tips were written by NEAT Method for use by NEAT Method Bozeman.

2. OPEN YOUR MAIL OVER THE TRASH Don’t get stuck in the cycle of holding onto mail, catalogs, and paper that you don’t need. Keep your mail drop tidy by opening your mail over the garbage can. Do this every day and you’ll find that you hold onto a lot less. For the items that you do hold onto, implement a divided organizer or letter tray and label each section, “to do”, “to file”, and “to shred”. Everything else should get recycled. 3. STREAMLINE SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR Here’s a quick project. Just focus on your underwear drawer. Empty it out and sort by type. Anything with holes needs to go. If it no longer fits or you’ve stopped wearing it, time to toss. Divide each category in your drawer with drawer dividers. Folding your underwear looks nice but is not necessary, just make sure they’re separated. 4. DOWNSIZE KITCHEN GADGETS

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ART IN

Action

Local artist paints river scenes with fly fishing rods Photos by Gary Snyder

By Hannah Stiff

s Gallatin Valley gallery owner Gary Snyder says, it’s nearly impossible to understand how the talented Ben Miller creates his unique riverscapes without witnessing the artist in action. “Miller starts by setting up a homemade easel on the banks of a river, upon which he places a sheet of transparent plexiglass,” Snyder explains. “Using traditional fly fishing rods, Miller substitutes handmade ‘fly-brushes’ for conventional hooked flies, saturates them in acrylic paint, and casts from over twenty feet onto the plexiglass. Over the course of about five hours, Miller casts over one thousand times, the mark of each cast eventually making up a finished painting of a chosen river.” With a palette of paint to match the mood of the day

SOUTHWEST MONTANA AT HOME 2022

and the river, Miller transforms his transparent canvas into an abstract river of colors. According to Snyder, each river piece is created in reverse, with marks made on the back of a plexiglass panel. When flipped around, the first strikes of paint represent surface reflections and whitewater rills. Those paint marks are then backed by successive deeper color layers. Miller is essentially painting backwards with each river painting. “While his preparation is calculated, the execution must be spontaneous,” Snyder explains. The choice to present the slicked back of the transparent plexiglass gives the viewer the sense that they’re looking into a sheen of water, just as they would if they were in nature gazing at a river. “But the paintings are also defiantly abstract and formal, and resonate with a postmodern experience of seeing through screens - computer screens, smart phone screens, television screens, and more,” Snyder says.

Snyder originally discovered Miller when he found him painting on the banks of the Gallatin River in 2019. Snyder was fascinated with how uniquely Miller was capturing the beauty of rivers. Ever since that first meeting, Snyder has been Miller’s champion, setting up shows for him in 2020 and 2021 at the Story Mill Gallery in Bozeman. Miller’s most famous series is entitled Endangered Rivers. The series is the culmination of the past seven years Miller has spent painting the rivers of the Pacific Northwest. A portion of the proceeds from Miller’s projects help fund Montana river preservation. Preserving rivers is a tall order, one that takes strange bedfellows and connects them, through Miller’s work. “Miller brings together two disparate cultures – fly fishing culture and high art culture – each with much to learn from the other,” Snyder said. “They breathe new life into an art world struggling to balance art and nature on our rapidly changing and endangered planet.” In his own words, Miller says rivers are threatened from several vantage points: climate change, pollution, and humans.

Though he spends most days painting in Montana, Miller’s art is making ripples outside the Treasure State, too. In April, his work will be featured in the profile section of Expo Chicago, an international art fair. The fair opens on the Navy Pier of Chicago on April 7. Locals can see Miller’s art showcased in Snyder’s eponymous Manhattan-based gallery. The 1,800 square-foot space is located at 122 East Main Street in Manhattan, and is open Thursday through Sunday, 2pm to 6pm and by appointment. To check out more of Miller’s work and see the film, head to benmillerartist.com or gsfamt.com.

See Us For All Your GardeninG needs

Miller grew up in eastern Washington, with rivers aplenty that his parents let him explore. Before he moved to Montana in 2016, Miller received a BFA in art from WSU in Seattle and taught art for more than a decade. His work in the Treasure State continues to get noticed. Buyers from the upscale Montage hotel in Big Sky recently purchased one of Miller’s paintings.

“It’s this revelation of a painting being nothing more than a moving palette of colors,” Miller explains. “Well, that’s what a river is, too.”

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Miller is also featured in a new short film titled Rhythms of the River, directed by Manabu Inada. In the film, Miller talks about first falling in love with fly fishing when he was eight years old and his grandpa first taught him to cast. He talks about finding the correlation between a river and a painting and deciding to combine his two loves.

THAT FARMHOUSE

Feel

Give Your Home a farmhouse feel @Metro Creative Connection

armhouse style homes are having a moment. A 2020 survey from Homes.com asked more than 5,000 adults across the United States about their favorite house style from a list that included bohemian craftsman, mid-century modern ranch, French chateau, and Tudor, among others. Modern farmhouse was the runaway winner, as participants in 42 of the 50 states indicated this simple, cozy style was their favorite. Home renovation projects can help homeowners put their own unique stamp on their homes, and such projects can be both aesthetic and functional in nature. The following are some farmhouse design elements homeowners can consider as they look to transform their home interiors with this popular style in mind.

SOUTHWEST MONTANA AT HOME 2022

• Exposed beams: Exposed beams instantly evoke images of a farmhouse. The home improvement experts at BobVila.com note that this rustic renovation project can utilize real wood or faux beams that look like the real thing. Decorative beams that have nothing to do with a home’s structural integrity can be installed by skilled do-it-yourselfers. However, even faux beams are heavy, and BobVila. com recommends homeowners have an engineer assess their existing structure prior to installation. • Distressed wood finishes: Distressing is designed to make something look less than perfect. Distressed wood finishes can be found throughout many farmhouse style homes. Furniture and picture frames can provide the distressed look farmhouse fans are looking for. This is a relatively inexpensive project

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that many homeowners can tackle on their own after watching some online tutorials that recommend the right tools and techniques to get the job done right. • Kitchen sink: Many components combine to create a truly classic farmhouse kitchen. But perhaps no component is more essential than the classic farmhouse sink. The renovation experts at HGTV note that a classic farmhouse sink features a deep, wide basin. Farmhouse sinks are large enough to handle all the dishes that come after a big family meal. Old-fashioned porcelain sinks are worth consideration by homeowners who want their kitchen sinks to evoke a traditional farmhouse feel. • Countertops: HGTV recommends butcher block countertops for homeowners who favor European farmhouse style. Homeowners overhauling their kitchens to create a farmhouse feel should consider installing a large island with a walnut butcher block countertop for an authentic farmhouse feel. Farmhouse style homes are wildly popular. Some simple renovations can help homeowners with a fondness for farmhouse style bring this classic look into their homes.

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Simply DELICIOUS!

A recipe to delight even the most discerning diner. Photo by Hannah Stiff

By Hannah Stiff

hen I asked Daniel Wendell for a recipe, something that evokes notions of the word “home” he quickly came up with his favorite dish: Portuguese chicken chorizo soup. “It’s not fancy,” Wendell said. “It’s just really, really good.” Really, really good is exactly what I was looking for. So I headed to Wendell’s Food Studio off Kagy and we got to work on his favorite homey dish. On an overcast Spring day, it felt fitting to be chopping, stirring, seasoning. Around us, Food Studio staff worked on various dishes for private catering events. Between soup stirs, Wendell finds time to make homemade plantain chips, not the salty grocery store variety, but long, perfectly crisp paper thin slices that evoke thoughts of travel outside Montana. Wendell adds a healthy dash of smoked paprika and cayenne pepper to the simmering meat stew. To finish the dish, he adds a handful of spinach (an

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improvisation if he doesn’t have kale on hand) and we serve up his homey dish. As I dive in, Wendell tells me his Portuguese chicken and chorizo stew is the most requested soup he serves to millionaires and billionaires in the Yellowstone Club. I can taste why. With a little zing, a lot of tender meat, and enough veggies to taste healthy, the stew is a combination made for chilly Montana days. Even the most discerning diner can’t help but be a little smitten with the simple perfection in this bowl of soup. “There’s absolutely zero waste in this soup,” Wendell says. “It doesn’t have anything too crazy in it, so kids will eat it.” Wendell admits he’s certainly not the first person to make the recipe. It reminds me of a Willa Cather quote. “A soup like this is not the work of one man,” Cather said. “It is the result of a constantly refined tradition. There are nearly a thousand years of history in this soup.” I’m just grateful Wendell shared his beloved recipe with me (and all of you). Cheers to your own

iteration of this stew and perhaps the start of a new cooking tradition. Bon appetit! PORTUGUESE CHICKEN AND CHORIZO STEW 1 whole chicken 1 lb. bulk chorizo 3 cups white sweet potato, diced

Bring to a simmer under low-medium heat. Simmer for one hour. Remove the whole chicken and cool. Continue to simmer broth. When the chicken is cool, remove the skin and pick the chicken meat from the carcass. Put bones and skin back in the stock for another hour. Add water if needed. Strain the stock through a strainer. You should have 6-8 quarts when you’re done. Make the soup.

1 bunch of kale, stems removed, roughly chopped

Skim the fat off the top of the stock and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Heat the fat in the large soup pot used for the stock (no need to wash the pot beforehand). Brown chorizo in the oil on medium heat. When browned, turn off the heat, remove chorizo and set it aside.

1 large white onion, diced 2 cups carrot, diced 4 cloves of garlic, minced 1 red or orange bell pepper, diced 2 T smoke paprika (substitute regular if desired)

Turn the heat back on medium and saute onions, garlic, peppers, and kale. Cook until the onions start to brown. Add dry spices and cook one minute longer. Add chorizo, chicken, sweet potatoes and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.

½ tsp cayenne pepper, ground 1 tsp black pepper ¼ tsp nutmeg, ground Cook chicken and make stock. Rinse chicken under cold water. Cover the whole chicken and parts in a large stock pot with cold water. Add 20 peppercorns, 1 bay leaf. Add vegetable scraps: onion skin and tops, carrot peels and tops, bell pepper scraps and three garlic cloves.

Simmer for 30-40 minutes until the sweet potatoes are tender. The soup should thicken as the chicken breaks down and potatoes cook. Add salt to taste and grated parmesan for extra flavor. *This recipe can be simplified by substituting a rotisserie chicken and store bought stock.

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Designing MODERN MOUNTAIN

By Margo Haft

ozeman is booming, yet one thing is here to stay. It’s around us, it surrounds us, and all you have to do is go outside! The breathtaking Bridger Mountain range, exceptional scenic drives all-around, and wildlife scavenging in your backyard; the list goes on. This magnificent community we live in is nothing short of a dream come true. Of all these Montana advantages, being continually immersed by gorgeous scenery is the most exceptional pleasure. And, if you’re lucky enough to live in Bozeman, you too might have considered all the ways it has influenced the way you live. Capturing this awe and bringing these elements inside your home isn’t always an effortless task. With a little bit of guidance, a touch of Big Sky Country,

SOUTHWEST MONTANA AT HOME 2022

and a hint of modern appeal, your home is already on track to that modern, mountain-living dream. Urbaine Atelier, a full-service interior design team, welcomes various suggestions to turn any house into your modern-mountain dream home. Meet owners Rain Houser and Skye Anderson, who are dedicated to the world of interior design, putting their sole focus on clients, and their passion for beauty. The team started Urbaine Home in 2014, and Urbaine Atelier in 2016. “Urbaine Home showcases their curated collection of goods, new and antique, from around the world and expresses their personal style and aesthetic,” according to the designers’ website. “Urbaine Atelier offers full-service interior design and its sole focus is the client and their individual projects.” Now, perhaps you’re wondering, what exactly is the secret to creating a space that is inviting to both

In the Big Sky Country with Urbaine Atelier Photos by Whitney Kamman

modern and mountain aesthetics? Houser and Anderson describe how they appreciate both “subtle luxury and a nod to the local mountain lifestyle.” “We find that these two, very different aesthetics, actually play really well together,” the duo says. “If you have an all-wood cabin with wood furniture, and it’s filled with wood carvings, you miss the beauty of the wood. However, if you can use reclaimed timbers in a ceiling against plaster walls, you suddenly see and appreciate the wood. It is about how to juxtapose elements so they highlight each other. One makes the other more beautiful by their opposite nature.” With both the designers having worked for architects in the past, they have a deep understanding of space, finishes, and an immense love for fine detail.

Why is it that some homes tend to stand out more than others? Urbaine Atelier suggests that not every aspect needs to be a jaw-dropping masterpiece. “Modern mountain lifestyle is casual and inviting,” the pair explains. “It is sophisticated with textures and fibers you want to envelop yourself in. The art is bold and organic shapes warrant intrigue.” While your eyes are drawn to those seemingly effortless details, those eye-catching home elements are no mistake. To avoid the feeling of an overwhelmed space, keep it balanced, sophisticated, and inviting, the designers suggest. When designing a space to include elements of modern and mountain, Houser and Anderson suggest that homes should feel as though the pieces have been collected over time. CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

SOUTHWEST MONTANA AT HOME 2022

Photos by Whitney Kamman

“Our method is to keep the large pieces in a home somewhat neutral and then add interest by layering in interesting and special pieces,” the designers explain. “If everything is fabulous you lose focus and it can feel chaotic. Texture is always a great way to add interest and to keep things from feeling flat. The use of color can be great in artwork, rugs, and accessories when strategically placed. We love vintage and antique pieces mixed with modern lines. It instantly lends character and soul to space.”

Cabinetry & Furniture

The team also offered some suggestions on what not to do with your home décor. “Never purchase ‘matching’ pieces,” Houser and Anderson say. “Whether it is furniture, finishes or lighting, (matching) instantly makes a space feel pedestrian. There is nothing worse than walking into a home and knowing exactly where everything came from.” To really capture a genuine and authentic home design, take your time and have fun with the process. Whether you’re looking for inspiration or planning your future dream home, their online design portfolio offers immense examples of successful home design.

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