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ALTAMIRA FINE ART
TOP ROW: Jared Sanders, Gary Ernest Smith, Duke Beardsley; MIDDLE ROW: Robert Townsend, Theodore Waddell, David Michael Slonim; BOTTOM ROW: September Vhay, Dennis Ziemienski, David Grossmann.
ALTAMIRA FINE ART JACKSON + SCOTTSDALE 172 Center Street | Jackson, Wyoming | 307.739.4700 7038 E. Main Street | Scottsdale, Arizona | 480.949.1256 For more information visit www.altamiraart.com
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KILMAINPAINTING.COM
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SHOWROOM: 1180 GREGORY LANE, JACKSON, WY 83001
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEATURES 27
Design Inspiration, People & Profiles The philosophies fueling Jackson Hole trends, from boundarypushing home design and sublime finishing touches to world-class real estate services and luxury rental properties.
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Natural Integrity With timely patronage of talented architects, a trio of visionary women has facilitated an infusion of modernism in Jackson Hole.
In the Round: Designing in 3-D Three-dimensional programs establish a lexicon accessible to all.
Finishing Touches Valley stylists offer their tips of the trade for making rooms pictureperfect.
Framing the Process Architects and builders sketch the best-case conditions for creating a custom home.
DREAM HOMES 66
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The Height of the New West Expert designers create a masterpiece to match the quality of one of the most unique homesites in Jackson Hole.
ART 100
Jackson Hole’s vibrant arts community celebrates its welldeserved place among the best in the nation.
Modern Tranquility in Alta An environmentally conscious, energy-efficient design grants homeowners peaceful retirement.
102
Timeless East Jackson
76 Mountain Retreat
Mountain modern mixes with traditional to create an in-town oasis.
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immersive, responsive design approach.
A New Look for a Valley
90 Favorite: Teton Pines
Art in Context Art can anchor the aesthetic of a room—a story told in four parts/ interiors.
Jackson Hole Showcase of Homes Owners of some of the valley’s most remarkable homes open their doors to the public.
A Housewarming
80 A spectacular site calls for an
Fall Arts Festival/Western Design Conference
112
Artist Focus: Scotty Craighead A surreal, up-close perspective on the natural world.
128 Advertiser Directory
The Teton Pines clubhouse experiences a complete transformation.
Green Light: Upgrading an
118 Energy-Efficient Home
A checkup of an east Jackson home equips the owner with a doable checklist. 12
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Cay u s e We s t e r n A m e r ic a na
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TAYLOE PIGGOTT GALLERY 62 SOUTH GLENWOOD STREET
JACKSON HOLE WYOMING TEL 307 733 0555 TAYLOEPIGGOTTGALLERY.COM
Particular about excellence
BRIAN GOFF INTERIOR DESIGN
briangoffinteriordesign.com 307.733.3530
JACKSON, WY
PARK CITY, UT
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Cultivating livable, natural, beautiful landscapes that co-exist with wild jackson for over 20 years.
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We know home loans YOUR all that we do) DREAM(it’s HOME AWAITS
homestead Publisher Latham Jenkins Sales Director Mindy Duquette Creative Director Martha Vorel Managing Editor/Copy Editor Liz Prax Features Editor Katy Niner Production Manager Megan Jenkins Graphic Designer Ilka Hadlock
We provide local knowledge and experience to get the deal done, so you can focus on the bigger picture
Call Us or Apply Online Today
Contributing Writers Zachary Barnett Tammy Christel Kirsten Corbett Meg Daly Kelsey Dayton Julie Fustanio Kling Katy Niner David Porter Liz Prax Contributing Photographers David Agnello Scotty Craighead Bruce Damonte Tristan Greszko Audrey Hall Vera Iconica Latham Jenkins Aaron Kraft Mack Mendenhall Sargent Schutt Roger Wade Paul Warchol
homesteadmag.com 215 N. Millward Street | P.O. Box 4980 Jackson Hole, WY 83001 307.733.8319 info@circ.biz circ.biz
Andy Ripps & Doug Doyle 230 East Broadway, Ste 3B Jackson, WY 307-201-6920 www.guildmortgage.com This is not a commitment to lend. Guild Mortgage Company is an Equal Housing Lender.
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Homestead is published annually by Circ Design Inc. Homestead is fully protected by copyright and nothing that appears may be reproduced wholly or in part without written permission from the Publisher. While every care has been taken in the compilation and reproduction of information contained herein to ensure correctness and currency, such information is subject to change without notice. The Publisher accepts no responsibility for such changes or for typographical or other errors.
OUR TEAM Latham Jenkins began publishing Homestead magazine in 2001 after identifying the need for a platform that showcases the talents of the local art and design community. A native of North Carolina, he grew to love the people, culture and natural beauty of Jackson Hole after spending his summers working as a scenic raft guide in Grand Teton National Park. He never left. Melinda Duquette, Circ’s sales and marketing director, has been with Homestead since its inception. With a passion for the diverse beauty of architecture and design, Melinda feels fortunate to forge partnerships with so many of the valley’s multi-talented artisans. A bit of a multi-talent herself, she loves photography and spending quality time with her husband and children.
BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES START HERE
Megan Jenkins is the coordinator of the Jackson Hole Showcase of Homes, now in its fifth year, as well as Homestead’s production manager and a member of the Fall Arts Festival committee. She loves creating opportunities for patrons to experience the residential masterpieces of the magazine. A valley resident of 21 years, she spends most of her time raising her two active children. Author, journalist and editor Liz Iliff Prax is ever grateful to the conservationists who protected (and continue to protect) the lands of Jackson Hole, her “backyard playground” since she escaped East Coast suburbia 17 years ago. In addition to contributing to Homestead and Practical Horseman, she’s helping to expand the TravelStorys app’s audio tour library. A decade ago, Katy Niner sublet her Brooklyn apartment to spend the summer writing in the Tetons; she has been covering Jackson Hole ever since. Her accumulation of Wyoming clips began as a reporter and editor at the Jackson Hole News&Guide, and now continues in her freelance work, supplying words for a spectrum of projects and publications. This issue of Homestead marks a reunion for Martha Vorel after working on the magazine 14 years ago. An Indiana native, Martha studied television and film before moving west. Jackson’s dearth of TV gigs compelled her conversion to graphic design. After leaving the valley for her husband’s stint in graduate school, Martha recently returned to raise her girls.
Open Year Round Monday-Saturday 9-6 208.354.8816 • 2389 S. Hwy 33 • Driggs, ID
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LETTER FROM HOMESTEAD COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY IN SOME LIGHTS, PUBLISHING A MAGAZINE RESEMBLES BUILDING A CUSTOM HOME. Initial conversations soar with lofty ideas. Subsequent meetings anchor concepts in concrete directives. Contracts are drafted, contacts made. Midway through, momentum flirts with stagnation as each team member hammers away. And then, with the print date looming, the final push of details and decisions yields a physical product that everyone takes pride in having produced. Communication is what makes both processes successful. And communication is the muse of Homestead magazine. By interviewing the top architects and designers in Jackson Hole, we hope to provide readers with the tools to better frame their conversations with professionals. On a broader scale, our goal is to create a resource-rich dialogue within our pages and beyond (on our blog, through our sponsored events). As our robust roster of contributors suggests, we enlisted many talents in this issue of Homestead. Such a large team would have been unwieldy if not for its members’ patience, precision and communication. Whether crafting a feature article or remodeling a log home, the open dialogue of details allows us all to connect with the final product more fully and profoundly. We hope the wide range of professionals in these pages will inspire you to find your own team and open your own channels of communication. The Homestead Team
ON THE COVER A TIMELESS, MODERN MOUNTAIN HOME
In a conversation between the past and future, between the outdoors and indoor comfort, the Hoover residence blends tradition with modern design to create a mountain retreat built to last for generations. PHOTO BY DAVID AGNELLO
A HOUSEWARMING
PHOTO BY ED RIDDELL
A striking home, designed by a leading skyscraper architect, issued a challenge to all involved—spurring the new owners to embrace contemporary, and their designers to achieve warmth amid the angularity. Now, the house soars in subtle sync with its magnificent surroundings.
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JACKSON, WYOMING / 307-733-2822 INFO@TWOOCEANBUILDERS.COM W W W .T W O O C E A N B U I L D E R S . C O M
Jackson, Wyoming Denver, Colorado
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307.733.3766 303.339.9910 dynia.com
BUILDING THE FUTURE. R E S TO R I N G T H E P A S T.
G E N E R A L C O N T R AC TO R 307-733-0529 millirontimberwor ks.com
QUALITY CONSTRUCTION INSPIRED DESIGN EXEMPLARY SERVICE UNPARALLELED EXPERIENCE
At New West, we’re known not only for quality construction, but the lasting relationships we build with our clients. And together, we imagine a home as distinctive as they are. In fact, our close relationships with clients recently inspired a new side of our business— New West Property Management—which finds us taking care of the homes we’ve built and providing peace of mind. In everything we do, we bring expertise, efficiency and commitment to our work. This is New West.
265 West Broadway Suite F, Jackson, Wyoming 83001 NewWestBC.com :: 307.203.2460
4 5 1 0 N . L a n d m a r k C i r c l e • I d a h o Fa l l s , I D 8 3 4 0 1 2 0 8 - 5 2 2 - 2 4 8 6 • w i l l o w c w. c o m
We are a boutique real estate firm located in beautiful Jackson Hole, WY, dedicated to our clients’ needs in buying and selling. We focus on clients’ goals in all aspects of real estate—investment property, residential real estate, new construction and luxury rentals. The Trinity Team is ready to work with you and your family. Trinity Real Estate Group Client Driven Real Estate Andria Clancy, Owner/Broker 307-413-5892 / jhclancy@live.com
STAG’S LEAP AT TETON VILLAGE 3555 Curtis Drive Asking Price: $5,995,000.00 MLS #16-3119 www.stagsleapjh.com
• 4500 sq ft of mountain modern luxury • Multi-level living with sweeping valley views • Gourmet kitchen with Sub Zero, Bosch, AGA appliances • 5 en-suite bedrooms • 5 fireplaces • Custom finishes throughout • Outdoor living with a fireplace & hot tub • .80 acre lot at JH Mountain Resort • Estimated construction completion - May 2017
BUILD YOUR JACKSON HOLE DREAM HOME 6.05 Acre Estate Lot in John Dodge 3560 West Brittany Lane, Wilson, WY Asking Price: $3,550,000.00 MLS #17-1
• Teton views • Live water • Amazing pond with waterfall • Wildlife corridor • Abundant trees with privacy • Large building envelope • Plans available
MOOSE CREEK 20
• Turn-key investment property • 2530 sq ft • Multi-level ski home • 4 bedroom/3.5 bathroom • Sleeps 8 • Hot tub • Garage • Fully furnished • Resort zoned • Robust rental income
Ski In/Out Townhome At Moose Creek Lift 3723 Michael Drive, Unit #20 Asking Price: $2,350,000.00 MLS #16-167
DESIGN INSPIRATION, PEOPLE AND PROFILES
DESIGN INSPIRATION A split coffee table in front of the fireplace frames a September Vhay painting that Jenkins-Stireman selected to appeal to the owners’ love of horses.
REFINED WESTERN ELEGANCE 28
INTERIOR DESIGN
JACQUE JENKINS-STIREMAN JJStiremanDesign.com
STORY BY Julie Fustanio Kling PHOTOS BY Tuck Fauntleroy
MELDING TRADITIONAL WESTERN DESIGN WITH A CONTEMPORARY FLAIR IS NO EASY TASK, UNLESS YOU ARE JACQUE JENKINSSTIREMAN, a local designer who executed clear and well-defined objectives to help a Lake Bluff, Illinois, couple with two very different aesthetic styles define Western elegance in their Teton Pines home. “I wanted to incorporate the owner’s personal treasures into the new design of the home,” Stireman says. “Honoring the husband’s traditional Western desires with his wife’s transitional requests was what inspired me. It became the design direction.” Like most of her projects, the custom furniture, fabrics, art and architectural details reflect the personalities of the family who dwells here. From the oversized pewter vase on the claw-footed rent table in the entryway to the iron chandelier above it and sconces along the rotunda-like staircase that leads to the second floor, there is a cohesive and inviting vernacular. On the second floor, thoughtfully weaved-together patterns and textures give dimension to every corner of the well-appointed guest quarters. At the top of the staircase a reading nook with a red hair-on-hide ottoman between two taupe suede chairs references the abstract horse figure painting by September Vhay downstairs. The main attraction is a fun-filled media room with a built-in bar, game table and entertainment center. An old-fashioned slot machine, train-cart coffee table and homesteadmag.com
LEFT: Classic, leather-backed Baker chairs face the hearth in the bedroom, giving a subtle Western twist to the light and airy space. The Paper Mills Pablo wallpaper from Supply Showroom in Austin, Texas, creates the perfect backdrop for a restful retreat. BELOW: The custom-designed, claw-footed rent table, made by PlaneWoodTM, adds an 18th-century appeal to the entryway.
distressed leather bar stools around a bistro table give it a Western-saloon-for-all-ages feel. Much of the woodwork was designed by PlaneWoodTM, a by-design case goods division of Stireman’s company, which has been a passion of hers. “Being able to execute our design vision with this division allows for unparalleled customization for our clients,” she says. The color palette downstairs is stately with deep blue and red hues. Spool chairs with a crisp navy-and-white Thibaut Tigris velvet pattern mingle with a split, quartersawn oak coffee table, highlighting the red horse painting above the fireplace. A contemporary bronze sculpture of the Tetons on the double-height wall in the kitchen also draws the eye upward. Modern Windsor chairs and classic leather stools with contemporary backs are part of one of Stireman’s favorite spaces: the breakfast nook. The Western appeal is most apparent in the study off
The cozy study has become the “it” spot in the house for the homeowners, providing a perfect refuge on a snowy afternoon.
the entryway where a classic-inspired iron gun rack and a striking painting of an Indian chief hearken back to a different era. The Native American textiles outside the office offer another transition to the first floor master bedroom, which mixes the wife’s love of fresh, classic lines with the husband’s passion for the West. Neutral-toned artisan rugs and bouclé chairs in front of another tranquil hearth display Stireman’s “heart first” approach. 29
DESIGN INSPIRATION
BUCKING THE TREND ARCHITECTURE
FARMER PAYNE ARCHITECTS FarmerPayneArchitects.com
STORY BY Kelsey Dayton PHOTOS BY David Agnello + Eric Elberson
Jamie Farmer and Scott Payne love to use natural light when designing houses. This home can be lit entirely by sunlight during the day.
“WE’RE NOT CONNECTING OUR CLIENTS TO A PARTICULAR STYLE ... WE’RE CONNECTING YOU TO QUALITY.”
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~ SCOTT PAYNE
SOME ARCHITECTURE FIRMS ARE KNOWN FOR TRADEMARK DESIGN ELEMENTS OR A CERTAIN LOOK THAT IS APPARENT IN ALL THEIR WORK. Scott Payne and Jamie Farmer proudly reject a signature style. They believe architecture should be influenced by the site, climate and region. “The context informs the style,” Farmer says. It’s a philosophy that allows the newly formed Farmer Payne Architects firm to serve Jackson, where its flagship office is located, as well Louisiana and the South, where Payne works from the satellite office. “We’re not connecting our clients to a particular style,” Payne says. “We’re connecting you to quality.” Instead of following trends, Farmer and Payne try to defy them. They want to create homes that are unique, functional pieces of art. If anything
defines their work it’s high-quality materials and construction and a timeless look, Payne says. Farmer grew up in Jackson and studied architecture at Montana State University. Payne moved to Jackson to work on high-end residential architecture in 2007 after graduating from Louisiana State University. He and Farmer started on the same day at Carney Logan Burke Architects. From the beginning, the two architects shared a passion for landscape-inspired design and admired each other’s work ethic. Both had construction backgrounds. Farmer’s father was a carpenter and Payne studied construction management in addition to architecture in college. As a result, not only do they know how to design and draw, they know how to design and draw structures that are buildable and functional, Farmer says. homesteadmag.com
This Louisiana home design was informed by its setting on an oxbow and built to maximize views. Place is a big component that inspires all of Farmer Payne Architects’ work.
Oxbow Bend Residence melded mountain and Southern styles to create a unique design.
Also designed to maximize natural light, this Jackson home’s modern angles create unique outdoor spaces.
Payne eventually moved back to Louisiana and started his own firm. Two years ago, Farmer started his own company, Caliber Architecture, in Jackson. This year, the two merged their companies to form Farmer Payne Architects. The merger allows them to work together again and compete with larger firms. It is also a testament to the adaptability of their work, as they serve two drastically different regions. While Farmer and Payne officially launched their new firm in January 2017, the two have been designing homes for more than a decade and have strong portfolios that support their vision of quality designs informed by the setting. For example, Farmer designed angular homes on West Hansen in Jackson, using a modern sculptural design complete with a medley of exposed and sheltered outdoor spaces. In Louisiana, Payne gave a progressive spin to one of his projects, the Red River Residence, a traditional brick, Creole-style home featuring antique and reclaimed materials blending with a classic colonial look. “It’s not one size fits all,” Payne says. “We are adaptable and that’s where we find our niche.” 31
DESIGN INSPIRATION
Located in Wilson, with easy access through a private gate, Open Meadows is a short drive from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (background), a worldclass facility replete with year-round activities.
RENTING THE LIFE OF LUXURY LUXURY RENTALS
ABODE JACKSON HOLE AbodeJacksonHole.com
STORY BY David Porter PHOTOS BY Tuck Fauntleroy (courtesy of Abode Jackson Hole)
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YOU SPEND THE DAY SCRAWLING STRATEGY on floor-to-ceiling whiteboards and drafting plans for moving the corporation forward. Instead of traditional office suites, however, you’re enjoying this productive workday at Open Meadows, a large rental property brokered by Abode Luxury Rentals. It offers long, partially shaded decks, an up-to-date office, professionally equipped kitchens and formal dining rooms—all in a master-crafted home. As the last of the day’s sun bathes the Tetons in alpenglow, you and your colleagues relax in the hot tub or sit by the fire, sharing an aged single malt. Perhaps instead you’re in search of the perfect wedding locale where everyone can stay in one location. Located in Wilson, Wyoming, Open Meadows provides the perfect setting for a corporate retreat, wedding or vacation. Visitors
Relax on one of the home’s many decks while keeping an eye on the kids paddleboarding on the property’s private pond.
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“UNLIKE OTHER RENTAL PROPERTY BROKERS, WE DO NOT DABBLE IN REAL ESTATE.” ~ RACHEL AND ROB ALDAY
have access to three buildings: the master home, a guest cottage and a retrofitted barn. There are also basketball and tennis courts for pickup games and a private pond stocked with Snake River cutthroat trout that can be coaxed with the right fly. You can paddleboard on the pond, too. “Unlike other rental property brokers, we do not dabble in real estate,” Rachel and Rob Alday say. The Aldays and their team focus on transparency and honesty with their homeowners and renters, without the distraction of running another business. One aspect particularly important to the Aldays and their clients is cleanliness. Rachel says, “We’re crazy about cleaning. It’s very important for homeowners to know we’re stewarding their property, and for renters to walk into a spotless home when they arrive.” Indeed, cleaning crews triple-check everything before they leave a home. Just as in fine hotels, Abode also offers concierge services at its 17 Jackson Hole properties, from arranging spa treatments to aprèsski bar and hors d’oeuvres services. Renters will find locally brewed beers in the fridge and fine wines on the kitchen counter when they arrive. Abode also provides ski and snowboard delivery and arranges floats and fly-fishing expeditions on the Snake. For the Jackson Hole visitor seeking private lodging for a retreat, wedding or vacation and five-star service, there is no reason to look beyond Abode.
TOP: Enjoy breakfast en plein air with endless views of meadows and mountains. BOTTOM: The great room will accommodate your family, wedding party or board of directors for a musical interlude or the chance to gaze on passing wildlife.
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DESIGN INSPIRATION
MOUNTAIN ELEGANCE DEFINED INTERIOR DESIGN
BRIAN GOFF INTERIOR DESIGN
BrianGoffInteriorDesign.com
STORY BY Julie Fustanio Kling PHOTOS BY Shelbie Goff
In harmony with the home’s superlative surroundings, the entry’s mix of textures and materials gives a warm and inviting feel.
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MOUNTAIN ELEGANCE CAN BE DEFINED IN MANY WAYS. For Brian Goff, an interior designer with nearly three decades of experience, it means fulfilling the owner’s vision in both form and function and reflecting the elegance of nature’s designs to invite the outside in. There is a practicality about Goff’s designs that does not succumb to home fashion trends. He creates for clients but has a special talent for making a home accessible to a larger audience so that it is welcoming to everyone. In this Shooting Star home, which he recently redesigned, creating warmth was essential. “Originally it had a contemporary feel,” Goff says. “Now the interior is more harmonious to the exterior, with an eclectic mix and a casual elegance.” Custom iron lighting softens the mood and gives the home “a more traditional Jackson feel and Old World charm.” The 90-inch-long, tree branch-like chandelier in the entryway is inviting. It draws the eye homesteadmag.com
up to the double-height ceiling and sets a tone for the dimension and scale of the home at the same time. The bones of the house, which was designed by JLF Architects, are so solid that Goff uses the vernacular of the reclaimed wood and stone, the indoor and outdoor fireplaces and an exquisite water feature with a waterfall to create a timeless appeal. After refurbishing the pickled oak and pine floors, he chose red and golden-brown fabrics to play off the wood and moss stone. Subtle references like this connect the house to its roots as part of a large cattle ranch that used to belong to the Resor family. The house now looks out onto a Tom Fazio golf course at the base of the world-class Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Plaid, chenille and Navajo tapestries offer different textures and fabric weights to bring the organic materials to life. “Fabrics give variety and interest to a room,” Goff says. The abundant windows in the three bedrooms and bunk room and
throughout the rest of the home made it clear to Goff that his job was to keep the look and feel of the house close to its natural setting. The long windows and built-in banquettes in the breakfast nook make it one of Goff’s favorite spots in the house. “It’s the kind of house in which you want to be surrounded by warm colors and fabrics,” he says. “The greatest reward was when the client walked in and loved it.”
ABOVE: A very open, shared fireplace connects these two rooms, making the space wonderful for entertaining. RIGHT: A beautiful walnut table and chairs set the tone for this dining space.
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P R I N C I PA L D E S I G N E R S K I M B E R LY R D E A N S A XO N X C U R P I E R
120 E BROAD WAY
MAISONSTUDIO.COM 307 203 2266
Jim Westphalen Photography
DESIGN INSPIRATION
BEAUTY, DESIGNED
ARCHITECTURE
BERLIN ARCHITECTS BerlinArchitects.com
STORY BY Tammy Christel PHOTOS BY David Agnello + Jim Fairchild
The vernacular design of this guest house, encased in regionally reclaimed materials, expresses its rustic environment in an intimate setting.
LET’S SPEAK OF BEAUTY. That’s what is uppermost in Jackson Hole architect Larry Berlin’s mind when it comes to good design. For 39 years he has created beautiful homes in harmony with regional tastes, designing for project sites, not against them. His grounded, sensitive designs have cemented a long and prolific career. This prominent architect’s aesthetic, above all other forms, is truly consistent with Jackson’s singular beauty. Berlin speaks enthusiastically about his work. His passion for creating space is palpable. How does light play upon walls? How do windows—large or small—define space? Most crucial to him is solving how interiors embrace their occupants. “From our earliest projects, I have come from the same place: Whether it is traditional, rustic or what we refer to 38
“MY CONSTANT GOAL IS TO GIVE EACH CLIENT A WELL-DESIGNED HOME THEY LOVE, THAT MAKES THEM HAPPY FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.”
~ LARRY BERLIN
as modern, a beautiful house is one that reacts perfectly to the land it’s built upon,” he says. “It’s about using regional materials, suggesting environmental warmth and staying in sync with local construction methods. That’s how I feel about architecture, and how I continue to approach my homesteadmag.com
Blending the lines between indoors and outdoors, this transparent, hillside home, envisioned by design architect McLean Quinlan, nestles into the earth while embracing the valley vista.
projects. It’s just good design.” Through the decades, he believes, core design ingredients have remained the same. Every Berlin home feels timeless, sprung from the earth it stands upon. “Technology transforms everything, and technology is what’s really changed. We began with hand drafting, moved to utilizing computers and 3-D drawings for construction and presentation. Skype, email—we use it all, but our design philosophy is our bedrock. From our first homes to the present, it’s about organizing active spaces maximizing people’s lives. And, we design warm space. That’s most important. Warmth, to me, involves a combination of drama and intimacy.” Regionalism, imagery, character, natural light, color, positive and negative spaces, texture and geometry are all key components to designing a home Berlin deems worthy of Jackson’s beauty. “That’s really what I try to do,” he explains. “We are building homes that are
complex, but straightforward. Where does the landscape meet the structure? How will we create something at once dynamic and calm? And it’s always a collaboration. With any project, we might work with interior designers, landscapers, other architects, the client, the builder—but we’re all working towards the same goal.” Berlin plans to continue building beautiful homes that stand the test
of time. “My greatest joy is knowing a family wants to stay in their home for generations,” he says with a smile. “Families grow and change, lifestyles change, the people living in the home change. My constant goal is to give each client a well-designed home they love, that makes them happy for many years to come.” This project balances a playful arrangement of spaces and forms within the site.
DESIGN INSPIRATION
KEEPING HISTORY ALIVE
Silver overlaid spur (one of a pair) circa 1920, by Fred Fredholm. The spurs belonged to a Native American cowboy and stuntman, who acquired them during his stint in Hollywood.
GALLERY
CAYUSE WESTERN AMERICANA CayuseWA.com
STORY BY Kelsey Dayton PHOTOS BY Latham Jenkins
TO KNOW CAYUSE WESTERN AMERICANA ONE MUST UNDERSTAND ITS NAME. “The name kind of defines it,” says gallery owner Mary Schmitt. “It means something in the Native American world and the cowboy world.” Cayuse, she explains, is the name of a Native American tribe known for breeding horses in what is now Washington and Idaho. When settlers came west on the Oregon Trail, they replaced the horses and oxen that died along the way by trading for horses with the Cayuse. These horses didn’t resemble the breeds the settlers were accustomed to, like thoroughbreds and Morgans, so they called them “cayuse.” Eventually the word became common slang among cowboys to describe all horses. Schmitt chose the name because her gallery features antiques and artifacts from both the Native American and cowboy worlds, which have captivated her since she was a teenager in California. When her high school friends wanted to see Europe, she wanted to explore the United States and learn more about its history. After college she sold phone systems, but also scoured flea markets for antique spurs and other 40
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items when she wasn’t working. The business potential of Schmitt’s hobby was revealed in 1989, when Butterfields, a prominent auction house at the time, sold spurs and saddles as high-end art for the first time. It caused a major shift in how people saw and valued the antiques of cowboys and Native Americans. Encouraged by this trend, in 1997 Schmitt opened Cayuse in Jackson, a town she’d visited and fallen in love with as a teenager. The shop is part art gallery, part museum, featuring Native American, cowboy and national park artifacts. Schmitt’s collection focuses on horses—a nod to the store’s name—with saddles, chaps and spurs that defined cowboys from the 1850s to 1940s. Her Native American artifacts include saddles, bags and blankets, as well as vintage Navajo turquoise and silver jewelry. Some of the items go back as far as the 1700s.
Mary Schmitt in her showroom.
“I’M REALLY INTERESTED IN KEEPING THE CULTURE OF THE WEST ALIVE—AND NOT IN A KITSCHY FASHION.”
~ MARY SCHMITT
Unlike a museum, the art in Cayuse isn’t behind glass. Patrons can touch a buffalo-hide saddle blanket, feel the exquisite beadwork on traditional clothing and hold an antique pistol. When Schmitt sources new items to sell, she looks for age, authenticity and aesthetics. She’s drawn to Plains Indian items, but also Navajo textiles—saddle blankets and rugs. “It’s one of those cultural bridges that have such a great story, because you find a Navajo rug in almost every historic piece of the West,” she says. Cayuse also carries jewelry and ornate belt buckles crafted by
contemporary artists whose work continues the age-old processes of crafting these items by hand. “I’m really interested in keeping the culture of the West alive—and not in a kitschy fashion,” Schmitt says. Gallery, museum, and shop, Cayuse Western Americana is a uniquely Jackson Hole treasure.
This spectacular longhorn skull was hand carved by Jenny Booth, an award-winning artist of Cody, Wyoming. The piece was named Best of Show at the Cody High Style show, and was considered for Best of Show honors at the Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole.
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DESIGN INSPIRATION
TIMELESS BEAUTY OF PORCELAIN ARCHITECTURAL STONE & TILE astjh.com
STORY BY Kelsey Dayton PHOTOS BY Latham Jenkins
Porcelanosa Ona Natural tile can be purchased at Architectural Stone & Tile, 525 W. Elk Avenue, #4, Jackson, Wyoming.
PORCELAIN CONTAINS THE BEST OF NATURAL STONE PROPERTIES, WITH A FEW ENHANCEMENTS. It’s more polished, more refined and more resistant to scratching. “It makes the perfect surface for interiors,” says Antonio Romero, director of sales for Porcelanosa in Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. As the name hints, Porcelanosa specializes in porcelain. With more than 40 years of experience, the company offers a seemingly endless assortment of colors in finishes 42
ranging from matte to gloss and many variations in between. Its tiles look multi-dimensional, modern and seamless, Romero says. “We deliver the most realistic, high-end finishes in the industry.” Porcelanosa’s designs are modern, yet also timeless, says Alicia DiMarco. She and her husband, Joe, own Architectural Stone & Tile and often work with the porcelain vendor, whose variety of styles includes warm, rustic options for Jackson Hole homes that blend Western aesthetics
with a clean and contemporary look. And they make beautiful accents on fireplaces, creating an elegant, but cozy place to curl up on a Wyoming evening. Porcelanosa-designed tiles perfectly mimic wood or stone, but still have excellent durability. “That’s why people are leaning toward porcelain,” DiMarco says. “It’s so durable, practical and dependable — and also beautiful.”
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DESIGN INSPIRATION
CREATING A NEW LOOK AT HISTORY ARCHITECTURE
POSS ARCHITECTURE + PLANNING AND INTERIOR DESIGN BillPoss.com
STORY BY Meg Daly PHOTOS BY Josh Johnson + Michael Hefferon + Steve Mundinger + Pat Sudmeier + David Marlow
ABOVE: This 12,000-square-foot, ultramodern residence in Telluride, Colorado, provides gorgeous vistas from every angle. BELOW: Another view of the above home: Deeply inspired by its surroundings, the architectural design incorporates soaring, angular rooflines.
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FORTY YEARS AGO, BILL POSS STARTED AN ARCHITECTURE FIRM WITH A HOLISTIC PHILOSOPHY: quality of design, quality of service and quality of life. Since that time he has enlisted a team of professionals who love what they do and love living in the West. Creating seamless transitions from inside to outside, room to room, this all-inclusive architecture and interior design firm prides itself on making livable spaces tailored to clients’ Mountain West lifestyles. There is no single, cookie-cutter Poss design; the firm strives to be responsive to each client’s vision as well as the landscape, respecting every home’s
specific environment. “What I like about Jackson is that it has a history of being very Westernoriented, but now with a more contemporary sensibility,” Poss says. “We like to incorporate historical elements and also give modern interpretations in order to create a new look at history. “For homes in the West,” he continues, “we bring in those broader vistas to capture the romance of, say, looking out a window at a great snowstorm.” Incorporating clean lines, expansive windows and bright pops of color lends a contemporary feel. Another nod toward history can
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“WE WANT THE BUILDING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITE AND GRACEFULLY CONNECT WITH THE LAND.”
~ ANDREW WISNOSKI
ABOVE: Local architectural traditions were reinterpreted to carefully integrate this family retreat, part of an 860-acre working ranch, into the rural site. LEFT: The building exterior of this Colorado compound features native stone, timber and shingle siding in the style of great mountain lodges. BELOW: Breathtaking architecture and a barnwood-and-timber frame interior blend modern and rustic design in this elegant Colorado residence.
be found in an outdoor fire pit, where family and guests gather and tell stories, as humans have done throughout the ages. Poss team members view themselves as instruments to help clients realize their dreams. “We want to create an environment that is unique to our client,” says Melanie Grant, the interior design director. Having an interior design department in-house means a creative crosspollination of ideas can take place. Grant says the working environment is like the relationships they have with clients: collaborative and fun, not stuffy or formal. With expertise in creating regionally and contextually sensitive structures, Poss ensures each building looks like it belongs in the environment. “Architecturally, the
colors and materials are hugely important,” says Andrew Wisnoski, a partner at Poss. “We don’t want buildings to be incongruous with their setting. We want the building to take advantage of the site and gracefully connect with the land.” The Poss team understands how people today want to live within their Western surroundings, and they create spaces for a range of activities suited for their clients’ lifestyles. Poss is recognized for its quality; projects are customized to individual clients’ needs and are built with careful attention to every detail and material selection. In sum, says Poss, “We pride ourselves on creating legacy homes and ranches that our clients can enjoy with the generations coming up through their families.” 45
FEATURE
NATURAL INTEGRITY STORY BY Katy Niner PHOTOS BY Bruce Damonte + Roger Wade + Paul Warchol
McIntosh residence
A SERIES OF FEMALE PATRONS HAS DEFINED MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN JACKSON HOLE AS A SPIRITED SOLUTION TO THE CHALLENGES OF TETON PROPERTIES. Over the past 80plus years, their timely patronage of visionaries has ushered a modern infusion in Jackson. In the 1930s, Helen Resor recruited German architect Mies van der Rohe to create a summer house on her property at the foot of the Tetons. Responding to the rugged surrounds, he designed a conceptual and physical bridge between the site and his structure by perching the living space on cement pylons above a stream and sheathing the pavilion in floor-to-ceiling glazing— Craighead residence
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“YOU ARE IMPRESSED WITH HOW THE MOUNTAIN RANGE MEETS THE VALLEY FLOOR IN A VERY ABRUPT LANDING THAT CREATES A HORIZONTAL EMPHASIS.”
~ STEPHEN DYNIA
RENDERING COURTESY OF DYNIA ARCHITECTS
In 1943, flooding washed away the underconstruction dining hall Mies van der Rohe designed for Helen Resor, forever stymieing the project.
bold moves at the time which made for complete visual immersion in the landscape. Redefining the relationship between architecture and nature, the modernist pioneer established a new vernacular in the valley by offering a contemporary silhouette as a quiet complement to the spectacular. In his lexicon and legacy, the Snake River site dictated early modern, clean lines à la his Bauhaus background. Although the building never came to full fruition, van der Rohe’s concept remains an inspiration to valley architects, particularly in the case of two seminal structures. Like Resor, Sophie Craighead enlisted a new-to-Jackson architect, Stephen Dynia, to design her Kelly home; Doyen McIntosh recruited Casper Mork-Ulnes to realize her residence on West Gros Ventre Butte. In both instances, Craighead and McIntosh extended their connection to place into empowerment of their architects, allowing them to deploy their talents to most effectively respond to the strictures of the sites. Both homes thus honored the landscape itself through responsive structural solutions that proved to be vanguards for Jackson Hole.
UNCOMPROMISED VIEWS The Kelly property drew Craighead and her husband, Derek, from Missoula, Montana, to Jackson in 1996. Set on the hill above town, the spectacular site contained a traditional post-and-beam home, which they initially intended as a summer house. They spent a year in it before deciding to remodel. Having worked on an office project with Dynia, a simpatico former New Yorker, Craighead sought his expertise. Her East Coast roots translated into a traditional English countryside style, whereas Dynia had a distinctly modern aesthetic, having worked at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in Manhattan. “I had never done anything modern,” Craighead says. And Dynia had yet to do a significant residence in Jackson. The couple decided that the property deserved a responsive, dramatic design. “Not just any structure would fit this lot,” Craighead says. “It’s a powerful spot and it deserves a strong, powerful house.” Before committing to a new construction, the Craigheads traveled to their rustic house on a remote island in the Caribbean. Completely open to nature, the house makes no delineation between outdoors
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and indoors. They realized they wanted the same in Jackson. “No line, no separation: We wanted the outside inside,” Craighead says. They returned from that trip and set Dynia loose to design in situ. “We pretty much gave him carte blanche,” she says. “We told him: ‘We think you are talented. Take it from here.’” Channeling the natural eloquence of van der Rohe, Dynia distilled the primary characteristics of the site into a structural schema: Elevated above the valley, facing the Tetons, the property encompassed the alpine drama. “You are impressed with how the mountain range meets the valley floor in a very abrupt landing that 48
creates a horizontal emphasis,” Dynia says. That horizontality—“that desire for the building to somehow parallel the mountain range”—drove the organization of the house into a grid, with each space existing as “its own lens on that view.” The grid grew from a series of 16foot bays, each framed by a concrete slab and column. Because the walls do not extend to the perimeter of the house and the rooms are only separated by pivoting or sliding doors, the windows and ceiling are continuous, which means “getting the most out of the view from every room,” Dynia says. This dynamic simultaneously achieves an intimacy
throughout the open layout. The grid also achieves a gravitas which he traces back to the grounded ethos of traditional log homes. To this day, Dynia sees the Craighead home as his crowning achievement. “The house was trying to be stable and heroic by that grid,” Dynia says. “I still consider it, within the context of my work over the last 20-plus years, as the most important house because of its integrity. The structure is evident, and the way it exists in the landscape is effective. I don’t know if I have done another project with as much integrity—and it has to come back to Sophie herself.”
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STEEP INTEGRATION McIntosh had experienced firsthand the connection to place fostered by a log house, having decamped from California to live in a Crescent H log cabin. In 2007, she decided to live out her interest in contemporary architecture, so started scouting properties with realtor Mercedes Huff. After much searching, she found a parcel perched on a 30-degree slope overlooking the Walton Ranch. Before contacting an architect, she spent time getting to know the site, unfolding a chair in different spots. Enraptured by the panorama, she set out to honor the site with a house integrated into its surrounds. McIntosh knew Mork-Ulnes as the son-in-law of her oldest friend. A bit wary of segueing personal into professional, she was impressed by his international portfolio spanning San Francisco and Oslo—work reminiscent of Renzo Piano. In his initial presentation, Mork-Ulnes referenced Mies van der Rohe’s Resor house as a benchmark by which he would measure his modern contribution, particularly in terms of the relationship van der Rohe forged between the stream and the structure. McIntosh was sold. Thus inspired, Mork-Ulnes embraced the rugged lot, exploring every inch before selecting a building site. Instead of imagining a bulldozed pad at the hilltop, he chose to nestle the house into the slope, an orientation that “maintained the quality of the site,” Mork-Ulnes says. Mork-Ulnes’ low-slung design follows the natural contours of the landscape, a continuous volume that kinks at the corner to honor the profile—a key moment suggested by McIntosh’s son, Montgomery, a landscape architect who also added several native pocket gardens within the house’s skinny silhouette. Even The horizontal orientation of the Craighead house—inspired by the abrupt landing of the Tetons on the valley floor—unfolds in a natural flow, “a continuum of interior and exterior spaces that gives you a sense that you are in the landscape, but also the comfort of a sense of intimacy,” Dynia says.
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the roofline follows the slope, titling with the angle, rather than away from it, which “helps compress the view a bit by creating a horizon line and framing the sky,” MorkUlnes says. Beyond aesthetic alignment, the parallel pitch provides natural lighting and ventilation: A row of clerestory windows facing uphill funnels in morning sun and allows the climbing breeze to course through the house. Mork-Ulnes achieved simplicity amid the complications—as is his way, as was McIntosh’s desire. Eschewing a signature style, he follows a signature approach: By embracing and responding to each project’s challenges, he comes up with unique, often surprisingly simple solutions. “We let the challenges surrounding the project inform the architecture,” he says. “We let the challenges be the solution.” This charge to integrate architecture into nature proved foundational for the young architect. Arising during his early-career throes of commercial projects, the McIntosh home served as his first foray into rural, residential design. “It was a predecessor for a lot of the work we are doing now.” As an avid outdoorsman, he says, “I’ve always had a keen interest in touching the earth lightly. Working in Jackson Hole was a dream commission.” 50
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Six years since its completion, McIntosh remains enamored with her home. As she had hoped, the house exists in harmony with its habitat. “It’s part of the property,” she says. “It’s not obtrusive. It lets the outdoors in.” She describes it as a “seasonally changing painting,” cued by light and nature. “I’m just so enthralled with the view.”
NATURAL CONNECTION Craighead and McIntosh both empowered their architects at pivotal points in their careers. The McIntosh commission came only a year after Mork-Ulnes had founded his own firm. “Doyen was a pretty amazing client in terms of the trust that she put in me at a relatively young age,” he says. “She had thought a great deal about this house, but she wasn’t prescriptive in any way. Even though we had challenges to deal with, she gave us a lot of creative freedom in terms of how to resolve the whole house. It was a fantastic experience working with her.” A glowing review mirrored by McIntosh. For Dynia, the Craighead residence proved seminal as well, providing him with an opportunity to manifest an integrity of place and person. “The challenge and fascination of having the confidence of the owners allows for that kind of emotional response to the site,” he says. “I let the right solutions emerge from the schematic design, the right balance of strength and subordination to the site, a nuanced balance between the power of the house and the power of the landscape.” Dynia equates the character of the house to Craighead’s character. “It’s determined and powerful, thoughtful and considerate,” he says. “It’s a commentary on the nature of the person.” House and human both ameliorate the experience of environment. “Sophie has been so effective in understanding the values of the community and helping it,” Dynia says. Both projects testify to the integrity of place attainable when clients of integrity are involved. “If there is commonality, understanding and mutual respect, the product speaks to that condition,” Dynia says. The homes endure as homages to their rare settings and their visionary occupants.
The very characteristics that drew Doyen McIntosh to the site—the drama of the steep lot, the way the view spreads out—became an architectural conundrum, ultimately resolved through responsive design. “It all became quite logical,” Mork-Ulnes says. “In the end, the house became an honest response to building on a steeply sloped site and the desire to capture the views.”
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PROFILE
MAKING CONNECTIONS THE TEAM AT JHSIR REAL ESTATE
JILL SASSI-NEISON ARTHUR CORONTZES MERCEDES HUFF COLLIN VAUGHN LAURIE HUFF MercedesHuff.com
STORY BY Zachary Barnett PHOTOS BY Ashley Merritt + Tuck Fauntleroy
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LAST FALL, MERCEDES HUFF AND HER DAUGHTER, LAURIE, JOINED JILL SASSI-NEISON, COLLIN VAUGHN AND ARTHUR CORONTZES TO CREATE AN INCREDIBLY DYNAMIC REAL ESTATE TEAM. Not only are the five among the top performers within Jackson Hole Sotheby’s International Realty, but Sassi-Neison and Mercedes Huff are also the past two recipients of the Jackson Hole Realtor of the Year award. To understand how these five realtors have risen to the top in a local industry where 550 agents list themselves as active is to appreciate their inherently high expectations for what it means to serve their clients with honesty, care and attention to detail. But the cause of this team’s success goes even deeper—to an entire algorithm of shared traits, such as work ethic and a passion for their craft in a town where it’s all too common to take “a powder day.” Above all, they are connectors, people with an easy way of making friends. To spend an hour with this group is to know SassiNeison’s commitment to the Sotheby’s office at the Four Seasons Resort since 2005, and of the clients she’s met there who have become friends over the years; of the day Mercedes Huff left Smith College and headed west, and homesteadmag.com
FEAT U RED LIST IN G
FRONTLINE AMANGANI BUILDING SITE WITH PLANS
This 1.14-acre elevated building site offers powerful views across preserved ranchland and up the entire Teton Range. There are drawn plans for a modern and open home featuring: four bedrooms, six bathrooms, a theater room, office and exercise room. The home was designed by Gilday Architects of Jackson, Wyoming, and has been granted preliminary approval. $3,400,000.
of her now nearly 40 years in the business, developing a long-standing referral network; of Laurie Huff’s Real Estate 101 growing up in the back seat of her mother’s car, always knowing she would return after college and put her training to use; and of Vaughn’s above-and-beyond commitment to understanding his clients’ lifestyles in identifying the most suitable properties. Their efforts are supported by team member Arthur Corontzes, the youngest associate broker in the agency. Combine these realtors’ strengths with the bedrock of Sotheby’s International Realty support, training and outreach, and the reason for their success becomes apparent. Indeed, Sotheby’s boasts an unparalleled real estate network of 20,000 agents in 850 offices and 65 countries. This is where connectors thrive.
MERCEDES COLLIN HUFF VAUGHN JILL
LAURIE
SASSI-NEISON HUFF
Views from Amangani building site.
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DESIGN INSPIRATION
HIGH-CALIBER CABINETRY
STORY BY Julie Fustanio Kling PHOTOS BY Tony Ching
Jaxon Ching of Willow Creek Woodworks offers full-service design assistance and builds custom cabinetry with fine details.
WHAT STARTED AS A PASSION PROJECT FOR A CRAFTY CHINESEECUADORIAN IMMIGRANT 21 YEARS AGO HAS EVOLVED INTO A HOMEGROWN CUSTOM CABINETRY OPERATION IN IDAHO FALLS THAT IS QUICKLY BECOMING THE LOCAL PLACE TO GO FOR HIGH-END CABINETS. Jaxon Ching, a self-taught woodworker, founded Willow Creek Woodworks shortly after he moved with his wife and three kids from Napa, California, to Idaho in the 1990s to enjoy a quieter lifestyle. Today, he employs 35 people and his modular designs are making their way into Jackson Hole designer showrooms. Ching learned the business working long hours under a furniture maker in California and found his niche in jobs on the side. Now he has time to fish more and go back to Ecuador, where he is building a house, thanks to his children, who are his succession plan. His son Nikki works in engineering and design; his other son, Tony, works in preassembly; and his son-in-law, Manny Geyer, works at the mill shop. His wife, Dawn, and sister, Denysse, balance the books. Kylee, his daughter, has also worked in the family business. “It’s great that they each have their own craft,” Ching says. “I expect a lot from them and treat them like everyone else in the company. But it’s up to them where they want to take it.” High-gloss laminates feature seamless banding, giving a sleek and fully wrapped appearance.
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CABINETRY + MILLWORK
WILLOW CREEK WOODWORKS WillowCW.com
While the retirement plans are set, the Chings’ sunset years are still a ways off. In fact, the expansion of Willow Creek is just beginning. This spring, they are adding 20,000 square feet to their shop in Idaho Falls, with new equipment to offer a wider range of finishes, like glossy, matte or even suede laminate, and uncompromised edge banding. The new equipment will refine options for everything from kitchen cabinets to built-in media centers, benches, desks, bathrooms and closets. Ching prides himself on offering the community European-caliber cabinets at a better price. “I like the local aspect of it,” he says. Clients compare his work to that of some of the most expensive European cabinetmakers. Tom Stoner, of Tom Stoner Construction Craftsman Inc., says Ching is even more creative. “Jaxon does incredible work and he is very accountable,” he says. After decades of perfecting his craft, Ching appreciates the recognition his work quality has received from clients. He says, “The growth is exciting because now we are being given the opportunity to do a whole house. My goal is to provide the highest-quality product to the client.”
LEFT: Custom-made white oak veneer panels with matching grain give this built-in dresser a solid-oak feel. ABOVE: A fully wrapped leather (yes, leather!) cabinet is inset in stone.
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DESIGN INSPIRATION
ELEMENTS OF A WHOLE ARCHITECTURE
WARD + BLAKE ARCHITECTS WardBlakeArchitects.com
STORY BY Liz Prax PHOTOS BY Roger Wade + Paul Warchol + Douglas Kahn
WITH EXPERIENCE COMES COURAGE—COURAGE TO PUSH BOUNDARIES, TO MELD NEW IDEAS WITH TIME-TESTED FUNDAMENTALS, TO START TRENDS RATHER THAN FOLLOW THEM. Since 1996, Ward + Blake Architects has embodied such courage, integrating structural quality, livability and energy efficiency into a holistic design approach that builds homes to last—and to delight. One of the first characteristics you’ll notice about a Ward + Blake home is the way it blends organically with its natural surroundings. “You can see the layout of the building is pretty much hand-in-glove with what the land is telling us,” says architect Tom Ward. “Basic site analysis starts with topography and ends with orientation.” Factors like wind, precipitation, storm-advancement corridors and solar orientation all play a role.
ABOVE: This living/dining/kitchen space features cherry wood cabinets, a naturally finished cedar ceiling and a Dakota stone-flanked fireplace with a guillotine door and custom-patinaed steel panels and hearth. LEFT: Framed by custom corner-locked cedar siding and a sod roof, this stair pavilion’s large window provides beautiful views of the adjacent terrace and mountains.
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Roof overhangs and other building components manage sun exposure, allowing the home to “respond slowly to seasonal changes, rather than suddenly being sweltering in summer or cool in the wintertime.” “If we address fundamental principles like that, when we start applying technology to heating and cooling a home, the demands on the structure become a little easier and less odious,” Ward continues. The caliber of today’s architectural tools is remarkable, he adds. “One of the biggest things is windows and doors. The ones we’re putting in homes these days are so airtight, if you inverted the houses and put them in Jackson Lake, they’d float!” Installing high-tech systems like a ground-source heat pump, which extracts latent heat from the earth, reduces energy consumption significantly. “Energy conservation is an important part of the equation, but the livable environment is too,” he says. Today’s homes are sealed so tightly that they trap in unhealthy air pollutants, such as upholstery offgasses. To rectify this problem, Ward + Blake installs energy recovery units, which pull domestic air out while bringing fresh air in from outside, exchanging the heat from the former to the latter in the process, so there’s no drop in room temperature. This, combined with humidity control,
Carefully integrated with the site slope, this home avoids skylining by never exceeding 20 feet above the original grade. Cedar siding offers contrast against aluminum storefront windows and architectural concrete. The sod roofs control stormwater runoff and blend the home with its natural surroundings.
makes a home healthier and more comfortable for its occupants. Another design element that Ward + Blake employs with great passion is materiality. For example, its architects consider traditional materials, such as wood and stone, in new and different ways. After experiencing extremely volatile winters like this past one, which brought sudden, dramatic temperature swings, “you start to gain appreciation for more traditional
materials that have stood the test of time,” Ward says. The Ward + Blake team also creates a balanced, pleasing feel in homes by using materials with contrasting textures and colors that aren’t typically used together: rough-cut rustic slate and polished Carrara marble; board-formed concrete and hand-milled cedar siding; manipulated and shaped native fir logs next to concrete and cedar. Ward explains, “When you juxtapose some materials against each other, they both look better and they bring inherent characteristics of each material more to the fore.” Together, all of these elements form a veritable whole—a long-lasting, energy-efficient home that both comforts and delights.
Large roof overhangs control the sun exposure entering high-efficiency-glass windows, allowing the home to respond slowly to seasonal changes; concrete floors create thermal mass for storing passive solar energy.
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DESIGN INSPIRATION
THAT CLASSIC JACKSON HOLE STYLE
WILD WEST DESIGNS WildWestDesignsInc.com STORY BY Kelsey Dayton PHOTOS BY Latham Jenkins
WHEN YOU VISIT WILD WEST DESIGNS, WHAT YOU’LL FIND THERE CAN’T BE CATEGORIZED AS SIMPLY RUSTIC, OR WESTERN, OR MOUNTAIN MODERN. Owner Linda Rumsey explains, “People come from all over the world and expect to see a certain look here—and that look can only be described as ‘classic Jackson Hole.’” Wild West Designs’ Jackson location specializes in furniture with that distinctive Jackson Hole look for the entire home. For those wanting something more contemporary, the company’s new 28,000-square-foot showroom in Idaho Falls, Idaho, offers pieces with industrial and trendy designs. Customers can buy items directly off the showroom floor. At both locations, each piece is unique, high-end and handpicked for Wild West Designs. Most of the items are handmade and manufactured in the western United States. “A lot of our pieces are art,” Rumsey says. “It sets the style of the home. It tells people who you are.” Just as Jackson Hole has grown and evolved over the last half century, so has Wild West Designs. The business began with the design and creation of antler chandeliers in 1972. Made of massive elk and moose antlers, the chandeliers were immediately popular, evoking the feeling of a hunting lodge, or true Western cabin in any room where they hung. It’s a feeling that never goes out of homesteadmag.com
“A LOT OF OUR PIECES ARE ART. IT SETS THE STYLE OF THE HOME. IT TELLS PEOPLE WHO YOU ARE.”
~ LINDA RUMSEY
style, Rumsey says. Still best-sellers, the chandeliers suspended from Wild West Designs’ ceiling are now world-famous and what customers often remember most about the showroom. When the company first started selling antler chandeliers, most of its clients were furnishing large log homes. Rumsey noticed that people were searching for furniture to complement the chandeliers. “If they had antler chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, they needed something on the floor,” she says. “That was a natural progression to go into furniture. There was a need for pieces that had the right look.” Rumsey already knew craftsmen building the homes, so she could anticipate what type of furniture the homeowners were seeking. She selected items that made the homes feel cohesive and cozy, even if they were massive. The company’s progression to the larger showroom in more recent years has been just as natural. Jackson has changed, as have the homes in the area. Western houses are no longer predominantly large log cabins; they now include a range of designs, from those that offer a nod to the classic Western look, to the ultramodern and everything in between. With that evolution, so has the demand for furniture changed. That’s why Rumsey refuses for Wild West Designs to be pigeonholed by any particular style, unless it’s simply classic Jackson Hole. 59
DESIGN INSPIRATION INTERIOR DESIGN
MOUNTAIN GETAWAY TRANSFORMED
WILLOW CREEK INTERIOR DESIGN WillowCreekHF.com
STORY BY David Porter PHOTOS BY David Agnello
Replacing the river rock fireplace with stacked stone and a barnwood mantel provides an updated architectural element for this large room. The barnwood accent was continued on the base of the kitchen island for continuity.
BEFORE
WILLOW CREEK INTERIOR DESIGN OWNER AND DESIGNER COLLEEN WALLS IS INSPIRED WHEN PRESENTED WITH A CREATIVE CHALLENGE. Recognizing that privately owned land in Teton County is becoming more limited, she has focused her business toward the increasing trend of remodeling. Walls and associate designer Lacey Stalter redesigned this Teton Pines cluster home while simultaneously overseeing the update of the Teton Pines clubhouse. Working with 60
the out-of-town partnership that purchased the home, Walls and Stalter conducted all business online through GoToMeeting. They shared design ideas with the homeowners using 3-D modeling software, and then expedited the plan as project managers. To the delight of their clients, the remodel was complete in four months and within budget. The collaboration, says Walls, resulted in a complete transformation from a tired, dated space to an open, mountain contemporary getaway. homesteadmag.com
BEFORE ABOVE: This space was completely redesigned structurally and aesthetically, resulting in a fully functional, open contemporary master bathroom.
BEFORE
Clean lines in furniture and lighting, and a Western flair in the area rug and artwork provide a current look for this dining room.
Simple iron balusters and hickory newel posts, along with the hickory flooring, transformed the existing staircase.
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Three-dimensional modeling encompasses visualizations of every aspect of the home, from the architecture and interior design to the landscape architecture.
IN THE ROUND: DESIGNING IN 3-D
STORY BY Katy Niner PHOTOS BY Latham Jenkins + Veronica Schreibeis Smith
IMAGINE STEPPING INSIDE YOUR HOME LONG BEFORE THE WALLS ARE BUILT. Imagine gazing through the bay windows of the breakfast nook, months before the Pella order is placed. Imagine shifting
what would normally take you a week to synthesize in your brain becomes instant cognition,” says Veronica Schreibeis Smith, CEO and founding principal of Vera Iconica Architecture. Gone are the days of flipping through unwieldy stacks of drawings to get a sense of the structure; now, walking through ideas is as easy as pressing a keypad. “Instead of lugging around huge sets of drawings, you can click on a button, instantly see the structural detail, and then move on,” Schreibeis Smith says. By using building information modeling (BIM) software like ArchiCAD or Revit, everyone involved—from the architect to the client to the structural engineer—
the roofline several inches to better frame the front door, well ahead of any change-order headache. Three-dimensional modeling makes such visualizations possible. “If you fly through a 3-D model,
Everyone involved with the project, including the architect, interior designer and contractor, works within the same model, thereby making it a detailed representation of the final product—accent pillows and all!
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“THEY LOVE THE IDEA OF LOOKING AT THINGS WITH SUCH FREEDOM.” — ELISA CHAMBERS
can picture the project down to the details. No more lost in translation. No more disconnects between disciplines. Everyone is speaking the same language and seeing the same elements. “The communication is better, the collaboration is better, and the coordination between sets reduces the room for errors and omissions,” Schreibeis Smith says. It’s like playing with a dollhouse, says Elisa Chambers, owner and principal designer of Snake River Interiors. Clients can explore the house and experience every room in all three dimensions. “They love the
Elisa Chambers of Snake River Interiors refines a design using 3-D software called ArchiCAD.
this comprehension to be the most important part of the process; she often draws on her master’s degree in psychology to extract clients’ ideas and then act on those articulations. Once designed, the model can become a virtual job site through cloud-based programs like BIMcloud
Within a 3-D computer model, subtle changes or discordant elements can be flagged and fixed with ease.
idea of looking at things with such freedom,” she says. Designers revel in the freedom as well; the software gives creatives the space to realize their ideas in full in far less time, thus easing the stress of the ticking time clock. The time saved designing frees up focus on the front end, empowering designers to fully understand the clients and their needs. Chambers considers
by ArchiCAD, of which Schreibeis Smith was an early adopter (she says she got goosebumps during a conference presentation of the platform). “Putting our designs on a cloud-based server gives access to all of our consultants,” she says. As such, the workflow is seamless. “The drywaller can be working in one room while the plumber is in the neighboring bathroom.”
Discordant elements can be flagged and fixed with ease; changes made with one click and a quick instant message, rather than a redrafting of documents. For example, after doing a virtual home tour, one of Schreibeis Smith’s clients decided a room felt too small and so moved the wall 4½ inches into the garage. “The only other time they would have caught that would have been when their project was framed,” she says. “At that point, moving the wall 4½ inches would have been silly to do for the expense. Now, you can catch things like that in the modeling phase.” Even with BIM, changes are still made on-site. Ultimately, 3-D modeling cannot erase all issues, but it does empower everyone to focus on what matters: communicating well with each other.
No more lugging around blueprints; 3-D models are accessible on any portable device.
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DREAM HOMES
DREAM HOME
A sanctuary within a sanctuary: Large planters breaking up the 12-foot rock wall and 16 tons of boulders set in and around the pond and waterfall give the luxurious master patio a natural feel.
THE HEIGHT OF THE NEW WEST CONSTRUCTION
ZOSKE CONSTRUCTION AspenHomesMT.com LANDSCAPE
BOREAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT BorealJH.com
HOME AUTOMATION
XSSENTIALS Xssentials.com
STORY BY David Porter PHOTOS BY Karl Neumann
THE FRONTIER HAVING LONG AGO VANISHED, WE LIVE IN THE CULTURAL ERA OF THE NEW WEST. The intermountain region remains one of open spaces and breathtaking landscapes where custom home design and construction are thriving. Homes of the New West feature clean lines, reclaimed materials and high-tech audio/visual and climate systems. Mike Zoske, owner of Zoske Construction, is at the forefront of this design-build movement. He brought together a team of experts, allying with Mike and Kellie Wheeler and Drew Weesen of Boreal Property Management and Xssentials project manager Ken Davis, as well as many Jackson craftsmen to create a masterpiece called Lucky 13 Ranch. This stunning home sits atop West Gros Ventre Butte in Jackson Hole, with incredible views of the surrounding mountain ranges and 67
DREAM HOME serpentine rivers. The property owner told Zoske, “Above all, you need to build something that is spectacular yet also fits naturally into the hillside.” The site’s topography, prevailing weather and wildlife activity presented a number of challenges, so the Zoske, Boreal and Xssentials teams approached every move with attention to detail. Although the home is 13,000 square feet, its lines and colors subtly blend into the butte and native vegetation. Zoske says, “Lucky 13 is a special property. We were determined to build something worthy of its natural beauty.” This endeavor was particularly challenging because the chosen site on the 44-acre property was limited to a 2-acre building envelope. Also, in order to comply with Teton County’s skylining regulations, the house couldn’t be built higher than 20 feet above the original grade. “It was extremely difficult to design and build the home the owner wanted within these limitations,” says Zoske. “We went through three design renditions to get it to fit within the envelope.” Consulting firm Verdone Landscape Architects acted as liaison with the county Planning Department to guide the project team through the county’s regulations. “The Building and Planning departments were great to work with throughout the entire process,” says Zoske, adding that he appreciated the inspectors’ professional expertise. “They were like a second and third pair of eyes for me.”
Designed for entertaining, the great room features a custom-made, 12-foot, walnut bar and three 6-by-12-foot windows with very narrow mullions, providing an unobstructed view of the Tetons.
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SITE-DRIVEN DESIGN Before building began in April 2014, Boreal installed 300 feet of wood snow fence and planted 50 spruce trees to shield the area from drifts. Next, the team excavated a significant volume of soil and rock—19,000 cubic yards—to enable construction within the skylining regulations. Ninety-eight soil nails driven 27 feet into the hillside stabilized a steep north-facing slope. Seaton Excavation then expertly placed 380 tons of lichen-covered boulders selected from a quarry near Tin Cup Pass. The hill was further stabilized with native grasses and wildflowers and dozens of aspen saplings and wild rose bushes. Weesen says, “The first summer it looked amazing. By summer 2016, it was a work of perfection: giant boulders poking out of a beautiful sea of grass, trees and flowers.” Zoske worked closely with builders Brad Amundson and Wayne Gaudern, along with the Wheelers and Weesen, to design the perfect home for the site. The resulting
architecture complements the contour of the land, nestling the home within the butte’s slope, draws and ridges. “The views drove design,” says Zoske. The front of the house is of a sawtooth design, with rooms offset at 45-degree angles so that every room has amazing views of the Tetons. Upon entering this extraordinary home, one steps into a warm space designed for entertaining. It includes special finishes like Turkish limestone flooring and birch bark paneling. Zoske incorporated reclaimed materials as well, such as huge, 12-by12-inch fir timbers from a silver mine in British Columbia. Weathered corral boards were split and then installed to panel the central staircase wall. Given the complexity of the architecture, the building codes and all of the other challenges that come with building a fine, custom home, limits presented themselves every day of this project. Amundson reminded Zoske and the team, “Good things happen within limitations.”
ABOVE: Built upon one of the highest home sites in the valley—at an elevation of 7,200 feet—this dream home was designed to withstand Jackson Hole’s punishing winters. RIGHT: Reclaimed bricks from a Dillon, Montana, train depot were laid in the wine cellar.
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LEFT: Custom, mahogany cabinets and a walnut, butcher-block island grace the kitchen. Diners seated at the breakfast bar overlooking the waterfall and pond can watch the sun rise on the Tetons through 9-foot, bifold windows.
Indeed, good things happened at Lucky 13, in part because Zoske assembled exemplary members of the trade. “Craftsmanship in Jackson Hole is second to none,” he says, giving a special nod to carpenter Gaudern, who has decades of experience building in Jackson. “Gaudern has an impeccable eye for detail,” says Zoske. “He was integral to the design-build process at Lucky 13, from framing to finish.”
HIGH-TECH SYSTEMS
Davis says that working closely with the design-build team on the elaborate plans for this project “was a great opportunity to show what Xssentials can do. Because construction was extensive and took time, new technology came on the market after our original design specs were drawn. We were able to change course and flawlessly integrate new and updated systems into Lucky 13.” As the building of the home progressed, Xssentials’ plans evolved dynamically in response to changing
project conditions. Davis and his team worked with the designers as a cohesive unit to control lighting loads, integrate the HVAC system, coordinate with the security team and assure that all of the televisions and speakers were properly located. As a result, the wide array of Xssentials products complements the home’s décor without distracting from it. The team later followed up with the owner to customize lighting scenes in every room.
The body of the house is innervated with a vast home-automation network designed to maximize the homeowners’ comfort, convenience, communications and security. A unified application controls and monitors the home’s lighting, shades, audio/visual features, heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Xssentials’ design team created a home-technology solution that spans the entire house, inside and out. The brightness of all the lights is adjustable; lighting “scenes” can be controlled with a single button press. The window shades are motorized. All of the systems, including climate control and security, can be operated remotely with a smartphone or computer. In total, 21 miles of lowvoltage wire were installed to connect the system. 70
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EVOLVING LANDSCAPE In sync with construction of the home, Zoske, the Wheelers and Weesen allowed the landscape plan to naturally emerge. Weesen says, “The landscape plan was to be an evolving one that created a seamless transition from wild Wyoming to a Jackson Hole outdoor living space.” The primary focal point was the master suite, which was pressed against an untamed wild thicket of aspen, willow and cherry. A unique water feature was designed for the space. The closed-system circulating stream originates in a cascade, and then runs across the master patio, where more lichen-covered boulders surround it. Weesen designed a trap door that would act as the terminus for the stream and create the appearance that the stream was flowing into the bottom of the hot tub. Additional boulders were added as splash rocks for the waterfall, and one boulder was hollowed out to be an outdoor fireplace perched on the water’s edge. One can relax in the tub, take in the scenery, listen to music and never have to leave the patio. Lucky 13 Ranch stands as testament of what a talented team working with an owner’s trust can accomplish: a truly beautiful place that fits elegantly into the surrounding natural and reclaimed landscape, exemplifying the New West. Weesen says, “Every time Zoske added on a new dimension to the house, it would be our task to seamlessly integrate it and not interrupt the flow of the landscape.” The finished product is indeed worthy of its exquisite surroundings—and is undeniably spectacular.
A 7-foot waterfall cascades into a pond adjacent to the hot tub.
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DREAM HOME
MODERN TRANQUILITY IN ALTA STORY BY Julie Fustanio Kling PHOTOS BY Joe Burns + Tony Jewell Photography
CONSTRUCTION
WITH THE GRAIN
BuildWithTheGrain.com
ajwoolstenhulme@yahoo.com
ARCHITECTURE
ROOF RESCUE
NATURAL DWELLINGS ARCHITECTURE
TETON CONCRETE SURFACES
naturaldwellings.com
NESTLED BETWEEN PASTORAL LANDSCAPES TO THE WEST AND RUGGED MOUNTAIN PEAKS TO THE EAST SITS YELLOW ROSE RANCH, AN ALTA NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE A PHILADELPHIA COUPLE STAKED THEIR RETIREMENT CLAIM. Recreational pilot Joe Burns caught a bird’s-eye view of Teton Valley in 2002 while on a solo flight along the Lewis & Clark Trail from Ocean City, New Jersey, to Bend, Oregon. He fell in love with the valley when he stopped for fuel at the Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport and envisioned retiring in this sleepy community. But first, he had to sell his wife, Dot, on the idea. Her first thoughts of life in the West resembled that of Laura Ingalls Wilder in Little House on the Prairie—until 72
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The open floor plan draws in full daylight through the large, energy-efficient, triplepane windows that line both sides of the great room.
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Inset wood floors in the great room mirror the soffit line above, defining the space. The soffit additionally hides high-intensity LED strip lighting, which indirectly illuminates the ceiling.
she met a local group of well-read, outdoorsy women that goes by the name of WHALES (Women’s Hiking And Literary Epicurean Society). After that, she never looked back. Early on, the Burns dreamed of building a rustic log cabin; but in the end, they settled on an elegant, energy-efficient modern design so they could implement the latest technology and lower their carbon footprint. After putting the project on hold when the financial crisis hit in 2008, they finally completed it last August. They’ve now known their builder, Kurt Mitchell, for almost a decade and think of him as a member of the family. Mitchell, a founding partner of With The Grain, has been building custom homes in Teton Valley since 2004, after moving his company from Colorado. Last year, he engaged Todd
Witek as a partner in the company and became a full-service designbuilder. Joe Burns and Mitchell share a passion for construction. “I was looking for a builder who would let Dot and me collaborate on the project,” says Burns. With 42 years of major construction experience, he has worked with many general contractors. Selecting one to entrust with his largest personal construction endeavor was a calculated decision. “Kurt is a straightforward and genuine guy. He has a great deal of passion for building homes and a meticulous manner that I can appreciate. I knew we’d make a good team,” says Burns. His wife is quick to agree. To round out the project’s leadership team, the Burns selected a local architect who advocates for collaboration in a design-build 73
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The dual-island kitchen creates both a welcoming workspace and a natural environment for entertaining.
environment. Meghan Hanson, a Passive House-certified architect based in Idaho and Montana, started Natural Dwellings Architecture in 2008 after working with Carney Logan & Burke Architects in Jackson. She enjoys working with clients to combine their goals with high-performance design elements, including highly insulated and air-sealed structures and passive lighting, heating and cooling options. She received recognition early on in her career for
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an innovative straw-bale house she designed and built for herself. “Joe is a researcher who has a methodical, mechanical mind,” Hanson says. “This house was a wonderful learning experience because all involved passionately believed in utilizing environmentally conscious, energy-efficient strategies.” One of the materials she researched and used in the process is ROXUL insulation, a spun rock mineral fiber comprising basalt rock and recycled slag, a byproduct of steel and copper. It offers excellent fire and water resistance while providing sound absorption and thermal qualities. It was an integral part of a very sophisticated wall system. The exterior of the home’s creative H-shaped design is made of Corten steel and Charwood™ siding, a product made by a Japanese process known as shou sugi ban, which was invented to create weather-, fire- and pestresistant material. In this case, it is just a facade. The real weather barrier is the rainscreen underneath the exterior steel and siding, which brings air up and moisture down. “Meghan provided the most thorough and detailoriented architectural plans I’ve ever seen,” says Mitchell. “They provided a solid foundation for our design-build collaboration.” Inside the house, it is as quiet as a walk in the forest, homesteadmag.com
thanks to the triple-paned windows, an impenetrable air envelope and an exceptional insulation package. With a light and airy feel, the great room boasts large windows with a view of Fred’s Hill at Grand Targhee Ski Resort and two ambiance-building elements—a propane fireplace and a wood-burning stove. Concrete dominates the floors throughout the home. “Joe and Dot wanted the concrete floors to have a light sheen to them, one that would stand the test of time,” says Mitchell. “We selected Teton Concrete Surfaces for their expertise in concrete floor polishing.” The floors create a pattern that, together with the functional yet decorative soffit, frames the open living space. The soffit gives the room an intimate feeling, while also providing a buffer for canned lighting. The home features drywall-wrapped windows and door jambs and a smooth drywall finish. To achieve this labor-intensive look, known in the business as a Level 5 finish, Drywall Solutions craftsmen worked meticulously with genuine concern and care throughout the process.
The home’s low profile and H shape make it inherently stable against gale-force winds. This geometry, combined with its exterior rain-wall system and triple-pane windows, creates an industrial-strength and deadpan-quiet home even under the most extreme weather conditions.
The home’s roof is a blend of Corten standing-seam metal and cedar shakes. Mark Franklin of Roof Rescue seamlessly transitioned between roof areas and from one roofing material to another to provide watertight peace of mind. The south wing of the house was designed for the Burns’ two kids
and grandchildren, with a separate living room, bunk room and guest bedrooms. A walnut guest bed headboard mirrors the shape of the Big Hole Mountains visible through a window above it. The bed frame was cut from the same slab that local woodworkers used for the dining table and a bench in the mudroom. Because of the home’s geometric design, when the guest quarters aren’t in use, the Burns can isolate that portion of the home, turn off its heat and hot water and realize energy savings. Throughout the entire home, a glycol-water mix runs through pipes underneath the floors, providing hydronic heat, even in the garage. A nod to Burns’ mechanical background, the crawlspace floor is concrete, so he can comfortably access the home’s mechanical workings. And, there is a live roof above the entryway where wild grass grows. Every detail has been considered, from making sure the wood grain aligns in the built-in cabinetry to using zinc terrazzo strips in place of the control joints and at the concrete transitions to the maple floor. “When you have homeowners like the Burns participating in the process, the outcome is almost guaranteed,” Mitchell says. 75
DREAM HOME
TIMELESS EAST JACKSON MOUNTAIN RETREAT INTERIOR DESIGN
LANDSCAPE
TRAUNER FAY DESIGNS
FREDERICK LANDSCAPING
CONSTRUCTION
ARCHITECTURE
NEW WEST BUILDING COMPANY
enclosurestudio.com
traunerfaydesigns.com
STORY BY Kirsten Corbett PHOTOS BY David Agnello
fredericklandscaping.com
ENCLOSURE STUDIO
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“ALL OF THIS BRINGS THE BEAUTY OF THE OUTSIDE IN, BEING THE MAIN REASON WHY WE LIVE IN JACKSON IN THE FIRST PLACE.”
~ THE HOOVERS
From rustic, wooden skis to geometric, hide-hair ottomans, carefully layered interior elements create a comfortable yet sophisticated dining area for both intimate dinners and larger celebrations.
SETTLED ON A PICTURESQUE HILL IN EAST JACKSON, THE HOOVER RESIDENCE BLENDS A MOUNTAIN LODGE WITH URBAN CONVENIENCE, MODERN LINES WITH A RUSTIC TIMBER-BEAM STRUCTURE, AND INDOOR COMFORT WITH NEARBY WILDERNESS. It’s the perfect intown retreat for a mountain-inspired family. A hand-selected team composed of Enclosure Studio, Trauner Fay Designs, New West Building Company and Frederick Landscaping contributed its unique talents and finest work to produce this meticulously crafted home. While appearing as one property from the street, the structure cleverly conceals a dual residence. The primary home holds five bedrooms, seven baths, a recreation room, personal library, sauna and hot tub, theater and gym. Mirroring it is an attached three-bedroom, five-bath townhome for extended family. Owners John and Jenifer Hoover originally envisioned a modern
mountain home with an open floor plan, yet they wanted a timeless design. Choosing a traditional timberframe structure met their goals, while providing character and warmth. New West sourced the post-andbeam structure from Colorado Timberframe, where the Douglas fir wood and joints were machine cut with such exactness that only wooden pegs now join them together. Trauner Fay advised builders on just the right color of stain to retain warmth and bring out the wood’s natural grain. A charming entry features a black, iron staircase against a three-story illuminated rock wall. Timber beams extend forward, leading visitors along hickory floors past a small office and into the open living area. Building designer Destin Peters intentionally varied ceiling heights here to create intimacy, strategically revealing some structural beams while enclosing others. He also featured reclaimedpine ceilings in some areas, while in other spaces a more traditional white
ceiling contrasts with the beams. “We felt that all great spaces have an appropriate level of detail,” says John Hoover. “In an effort to make cozy spaces we put thought into how each area would feel.” The dining room’s lower ceiling and stone fireplace protect the space, making it an inviting place to celebrate with family and friends. Though the well-equipped kitchen could easily turn out a multi-course meal, built-in and medium-distressed white cabinets and a marble island create family comfort. Directly adjacent to the kitchen and dining areas, a vaulted ceiling sweeps up two stories with uncovered windows. The design draws your eye to views of the Tetons and the National Elk Refuge, a rarely obtained perspective in town. Throughout the house, a oneeighth-inch inset on the Sierra Pacific windows, provided by View Point Windows, eliminates windowsills. Thoughtful window coverings and skillful landscaping conceal most of 77
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ABOVE LEFT: Natural rock extends in one continuous wall from the ground level to the third floor, making a dramatic statement in the Hoovers’ primary entry, while bringing a bit of the outdoors inside the dwelling. ABOVE RIGHT: Multiple beams meet in this timber-frame intersection, illustrating the meticulous craftsmanship and design inherent to the structure.
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the surrounding development, so a gentle sea of rooftops and forest takes precedence. Although the main living room’s scale is truly grand, Trauner Fay’s inviting touches mix a modern palette of white, cream, grey and black tones with natural wool rugs and sophisticated textures. The iron accents on an ottoman and table decorations echo the entryway and tie the spaces together. Open iron-railing walls overlook the living room from the second floor, sheltering a private library complete with fireplace. An adjacent seating area faces the Tetons. Here, the ceiling trusses are inset with an iron bar, rather than solid wood, to further enhance the view. The master bedroom also opens toward the mountains. A wall behind the bed conceals a circular, walk-through closet, making it easy for one partner to rise early, while the other sleeps in. A children’s bunk room and nursery are thoughtfully located nearby. In the master bath, a light copper tub fills via a ceilingmount spout with a gentle column of water. Travertine tile and a sealed glass door separate the wet bath environment for convenience. Interior designer Kristin Fay employed tumbled and honed travertine in all seven of the home’s bathrooms, designing a unique pattern for each application. This continuity of key materials applies to the transition between the interior and exterior of the building, too. The same flagstone appears on outside porches as in the foyer and pantry floors. Exterior barnwood is also used as an accent wall in the entry powder room, as well as in the dining and entertainment cabinets. The same stone used for the main hearth, fireplaces and interior stone stairway wall is used outside on the chimney and entrance. As the Hoovers say, “All of this brings the beauty of the outside in, being the main reason why we live in Jackson in the first place.” Hickory-and-iron stairs lead from the main floor down to ground level. Designed for casual entertaining, this space homesteadmag.com
features a third fireplace, floor-to-ceiling glass accordion doors that open to a hot tub, and a barnwood-adorned bar. A home theater, designed to acoustic proportions with a surround-sound system, next to a home gym and steam shower, complete the amenities. The home’s three fireplaces were designed to appear as if they rest on top of each other, from ground level, to dining area, to library. However, they each use a separate flue, which required technical expertise in the installation. During summer, generous decks draw the family outside. Sam McGee, owner of Frederick Landscaping, created a paved-rock seating area near the front entrance that provides a relaxing outdoor setting complete with natural gas fireplace. Careful placement of shrubs along the edge of the steep hill draws your eye beyond the nearby rooftops to beautiful scenery. A stream, fed by a 400-gallon ground vault that collects rainwater and recirculates the site’s runoff, provides both a safety measure and the ambient pleasure of running water. The deliberate yet organic landscaping ensures that the family will maximize use of the outdoor spaces during warmer months. With such extraordinary attention to detail, the residence took nearly 1½ years to plan and design. Despite working on a tight site located on a hillside on a curve in the road, the team completed construction, landscaping and interior design in just 14 months. The result is outstanding: an intown oasis designed and built to last for generations.
Thoughtful site planning, combined with shrubs installed to just the right height, creates the ideal outdoor seating area for viewing the National Elk Refuge and Tetons, while camouflaging its in-town setting.
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A HOUSEWARMING INTERIOR DESIGN
WRJ DESIGN
WRJDesign.com ARCHITECTURE
RICHARD KEATING
KeatingArchitecture.com LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
VERDONE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS VerdoneLandArch.com
STORY BY Katy Niner PHOTOS BY Ed Riddell
IS CONTEMPORARY INTRINSICALLY COLD? That was the concern of a couple when they found an architectural masterpiece in Alta, Wyoming. Designed by skyscraper architect Richard Keating, the striking structure felt like a stretch for them, their East Coast roots and their predilection for mission-style furniture. “I thought it was absolutely gorgeous, but the house was essentially all steel, cement and glass,” one of the homeowners says. They turned to their friend Rush Jenkins, CEO of WRJ Design, for advice. His counsel ultimately became the deciding factor in their decision to purchase the 70-acre estate. “Our caveat was: Can modern be warm?” the homeowner says. “Rush assured us that it can be. He told us: ‘I promise you I can make your house feel like a home.’ That’s what convinced us to pursue a purchase.” From the moment Jenkins glimpsed the house—cutting a daring silhouette above the rolling Teton Valley—he 80
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knew it would become a capstone project. Drawing on his background in both landscape architecture and interior design, he believed the residence represented a singular opportunity to design a holistic schema in communion with the setting. “We consider every element in our design by envisioning a world that transcends the distinct components,” Jenkins says. “Everything must come together to create a calm, tranquil 82
environment in harmony with their surroundings.”
CONTEXTUAL COMPLEMENT Honoring Keating’s angular architecture and its roofline reflection of the jagged Tetons, Jenkins imagined the interiors as a warm complement by channeling the wheat fields below the bold home. Also conscious of context, Keating had referenced Alta’s agrarian setting by using the corrugated homesteadmag.com
“HARMONY IS THE ESSENCE OF WRJ—THE FOUNDATION OF OUR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY.”
~ RUSH JENKINS
metal sheathing silos and sheds to create a clean, minimalist stage for an interior vision. Jenkins and WRJ Design Director Nida Zgjani rose to the occasion with an eloquent plan that proved worthy of the architectural statement Keating had made. Upon installation, Keating wrote Jenkins: “I wanted to relate how much I appreciate your firm’s work and the quality of interior design that the house never achieved in the prior owners’ time. … Please pass on to your team my appreciation and thanks.” Keating had sited the house in a particularly dramatic location, with endless views west and south. By his placement, the house serves as an amphitheater for nature: storms
rolling in from the west, the wind whispering through the tawny waves of wheat, the fields changing hues with the seasons. “The house is immersed in the beauty of movement and seasonal change,” Jenkins says. Thus inspired, he pulled this palette inside: the whites and grays of winter as upholstery, the wheat color from the fields as wood finishes, the azure of the endless bluebird sky as accents, the rich brown of the fertile soil as anchoring elements. “The architecture is obviously a statement,” Jenkins says. “The interiors must communicate with the architecture, but also the landscape. All three elements must speak to each other and, through this open dialogue, achieve an overall
harmony. As a designer, I consider the full circle: the architecture, the landscape, the interior. If you get that dynamic right, the house feels harmonious. Harmony is the essence of WRJ—the foundation of our design philosophy. It’s an extraordinary opportunity to have a place where you can retreat and feel nurtured.”
GRACEFUL SANCTUARY Attuned to art, Jenkins incorporated key pieces from the homeowners’ collection, including a landscape painting by their friend and Teton Valley neighbor Scott Christensen. The lustrous oil painting now lives within the entrance hall, its rich composition tying into the textured 83
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leather-and-bronze BDDW console—one of the first pieces picked for the house—and a pair of bubble sconces from Paris found at Ralph Pucci in New York. This serene vignette serves as an interior threshold, setting the tone for the rest of the house: for the majesty to unfold in the open living area, for the tranquility achieved throughout the interior. “Like the unfurling mystery of nature, the house reveals itself in moments,” Jenkins says. Generous philanthropists, the homeowners needed living spaces capable of staging charitable events with many guests, but also cozy evenings with their family. The resulting living room flows with grace between seating and dining areas. Honoring their more traditional past, Jenkins chose several key pieces that translate the gravitas of classic furnishings into sleek shapes, such as the Holly Hunt seamless dining table in a deep walnut and the June Ho game table with its solid bronze trunk and white top. To complement the concrete floors, Jenkins blended in gray, bamboo-silk rugs by Ralph Lauren, low-pile masterpieces that nearly disappear. Rife with such careful pairings, the home feels harmonious. “Your home is your sanctuary, the place you go to escape the troubles of the world,” Jenkins says. “Your home should rejuvenate you.” Two enclaves, in particular, issue invitations to relax and restore. The first is the circle of Janus et Cie handwoven 84
armchairs on the veranda, ergonomic designs that encourage sinking into (no pillows necessary). Guests can sit, sink and soak up the vista with a cup of tea or glass of wine, listening to the owls perched on the fence posts, tracing the pathway that leads to a fire pit imagined by WRJ’s COO, Klaus Baer. The other memorable moment lives inside, in the window bays Jenkins upholstered and plumed with pillows from Turkey. Loro Piana silk-and-linen drapes frame the bay, creating the perfect place to page through a book.
LUMINOUS LANDSCAPING Echoing WRJ’s approach, Brannon Bleggi, of Verdone Landscape Architects, set out to ground and soften the concrete, steel and glass structure without tethering its transcendent architecture. “We wanted to make it seem like it was floating in a sea of native grasses and plants, so that you see bits of the concrete poking up above, like waves lapping against a boat.” This sense of soft movement honored the structure’s form while simultaneously better integrating it with its surrounds. “The big thing was to showcase what the site had to offer,” Bleggi says. The original overgrown shrubbery had made the house feel dark and cold, so Bleggi prioritized light. Rather than homesteadmag.com
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DREAM HOME break up the geometric lines of the structure itself, he allowed filtered sunlight through aspen stands to soften the angles. The element of water was further cultivated by revealing the brook to the south, a natural waterway previously heard but not seen. “We went in and surgically plucked out and poked holes within view of this mass of willows. We opened up peekaboo views into the brook which changed the whole liveliness of the house.” Like WRJ, Bleggi considered texture and palette. “The native plants played well with texture, while allowing
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sprinkles of color to rotate throughout the seasons.” Such intrigue endures: Having lived in the finished home for several years now, the homeowners feel entirely at peace in the space. The warmth they hoped to see in the final product was actually achieved throughout the process. “All projects like this are fun, but there’s always a certain amount of stress involved,” the homeowner says. “This project turned out to be just fun. Rush and Klaus removed the stress for us.”
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“YOUR HOME SHOULD REJUVENATE YOU.”
~ RUSH JENKINS
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RESORT
TETON PINES TetonPines.com INTERIOR DESIGN
WILLOW CREEK INTERIOR DESIGN WillowCreekHF.com HOMEWARES
KISMET FINE RUGS KismetRugs.com CONSTRUCTION
WITH THE GRAIN
BuildWithTheGrain.com
BEFORE
THE TETON PINES CLUBHOUSE IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO RELAX AFTER A DAY OF SKIING OR A ROUND OF GOLF. IN THE SUMMER, CLUB MEMBERS CAN LOUNGE AT THE POOL. Year-round, both members and visitors can enjoy fine dining, including gourmet holiday feasts. Truly a place for the whole family, the club offers children’s programming throughout the summer. The clubhouse staff also hosts many events for valley nonprofit organizations, such as the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, Special Olympics Wyoming and the Community Safety Network. Teton Pines is unique in the Jackson Hole valley: It is a semi-private club that allows the public to access its Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, groomed cross-country ski trails, tennis courts and clubhouse. The Pines—as it’s known by locals— opened in 1987. Last year its membership engaged local designers Colleen Walls and Lacey Stalter, of Willow Creek Interior Design, founded in 2001 by Walls, to give this beloved homesteadmag.com
valley retreat a fresh new look and feel. Willow Creek set out to create a transitional design that would appeal to current, long-term members as well as attract new members to the club. What set its design proposal apart from competing firms’ proposals, says Kevin Getz, general manager of Teton Pines, was “Willow Creek’s professional presentation, which really wowed the design committee.” Stalter used 3-D modeling software to show a 360-degree perspective of the proposed remodel, enabling committee members to visualize the end result. Upon winning the contract, the firm worked closely with the Pines’ membership and staff. “We contract with a limited number of clients per year so that we can offer individualized attention throughout the entire project, from concept to completion,” says Walls. From the outset, she says, “our goal was to update the clubhouse with mountain contemporary colors, patterns,
The resurfaced fireplace was deemed a necessary change, says Walls. “We wouldn’t have felt the remodel was complete if we hadn’t redesigned the fireplace.” The original river rock (above) was replaced with Oakley stone, lending a more timeless look to this centerpiece.
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DESIGN INSPIRATION
BEFORE
The dramatic new staircase, redressed with dark steel rails, walnut and custom-designed newel posts, guides you downstairs from the lobby and into the golf reception area. The With the Grain team reused much of the original staircase structure, thereby adhering closely to the budget.
textures and artwork.” Once the design concept was approved, Walls and Stalter worked as project managers, planning every detail. Architecture and construction firm With the Grain performed the remodel. The team made sure everything was in place, ordering materials well before demolition began February 29th. The clubhouse reopened on May 18th. “We finished on time and on budget,” says Walls. “With a commercial project this large, delays would mean loss of revenue for the Pines. We believe a deadline is a promise to your client.” Willow Creek also collaborated with Kismet Fine Rugs, supplier of custom-manufactured rugs, service and maintenance in Jackson since 1990, to design two large rugs for the updated clubhouse. Working with a globally connected gallery with such a wealth of experience in space planning and blueprint design gave the project team an enriching insight into the ancient art form of rug making. The resulting mountain contemporary rugs effectively drove much of the design aesthetic, from 92
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the geometric shapes that Walls and Kismet Fine Rugs’ owner drew up, to the warm colors and wool textures that resonate with the clean lines in the new furniture, walls and window treatments. Kismet Fine Rugs’ owner followed up in person with the rugs’ manufacturer in Pakistan to assure their quality construction—a service offered to all Kismet Fine Rugs clients who order custom-made rugs. Members have consistently commented that the clubhouse feels completely transformed. The staff has been thrilled with the result, as well; the subtle structural changes that Walls and Stalter implemented have improved the efficiency and entertainment capability of the club. With the Grain partner Todd Witek particularly likes the frosted-glass, moveable walls installed in the dining room, which allow for at least three different room configurations. Getz explains, “We can make it more cozy, open it for large functions, or configure spaces for three concurrent lunch meetings or presentations.” Getz is eager to invite everyone to the new clubhouse at Teton Pines to see why Willow Creek Interior Design, Kismet Fine Rugs and With the Grain have earned praise for the remodeled space. He says, “From the design team and club members, to everyone who visits, we’ve had overwhelmingly positive feedback.”
BEFORE
BEFORE
ABOVE: The existing dining room was underutilized due to unsightly cafeteria-style cabinetry. The cabinets were removed and new finishes were added to create an upscale dining atmosphere.
RIGHT: The tired, dated bar was redefined by applying a walnut veneer and a sleek quartz countertop. LED lighting was inset in the three-tiered cabinetry above the bar, creating an emphasis on the room’s focal point.
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FINISHING TOUCHES STORY BY Katy Niner PHOTO BY Aaron Kraft + Latham Jenkins + Sargent Schutt
FROM THROW PILLOWS TO FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS AND FLAMES IN THE FIREPLACE, the final layer of decorative elements helps coalesce the architectural and interior design, making the space feel (and photograph) like a home—beloved and inspired. Here are some accessible tips from valley experts for finessing your domestic style:
1 JANET MUNRO OF SIMPLIFY • Convey your style in an uncluttered way. Find a home for clutter so you can relax in your space.
• Pair vintage pieces that have sentimental value with newer, modern
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• Mix high and low: Invest in statement pieces that you will love for years to come and then accessorize with budget-friendly finds.
• Don’t be afraid to add pattern and color. Start with a neutral
palette, then add pops of brighter colors. This makes your room versatile across seasons.
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2 DANETTE BURR DIXON OF STYLE JACKSON HOLE • Keep a common theme with color; try to use no more than three colors.
• Tell a story through your styling and props.
• Less is more: Always edit to keep the scene simple and fresh.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF WRJ DESIGN
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3 AMANDA JORDAN OF WRJ DESIGN • Juxtapose contrasting forms. • On a nightstand, make a vertical statement with the only essential—lighting.
• Balance vertical pieces with horizontal components like a tray or books.
• Lend a sculptural aspect to a tablescape. • Keep the palette consistent across all furnishings and props.
4 CHRISTINA ATKINSON OF HOME AGAIN • Statement pieces set the stage. • Keep it simple and quiet so standout features can speak.
• Neutrals bring the outside in. • Mix vintage, one-of-a-kind finds with more current elements.
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Hope - 48x48
turnerfineart.com | Trio Fine Art | Home Gallery | 545 N Cache Ave., Jackson Hole, Wyoming | triofineart.com | 307.734.4444
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INFUSING THE ARTS WITH ENERGY STORY BY Tammy Christel PHOTOS BY Latham Jenkins
FALL ARTS FESTIVAL JacksonHoleChamber.com
WESTERN DESIGN CONFERENCE
IRREPRESSIBLE ENERGY AND ECLECTIC PARTICIPATION DRIVE JACKSON’S FALL ARTS FESTIVAL LIKE A ROCKET. Its enduring vitality ignites Western art markets by bridging iconic history with contemporary trends. “Sheer numbers, great partnerships and intense involvement keep Fall Arts fresh,” says Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce Director of Special Events Maureen Murphy. “Each year we add galleries and new businesses to the mix, everyone
Mark Keathley’s painting, measuring a whopping 70 by 60 inches, hangs in the lobby of The Wort Hotel until it is sold via live auction on Saturday, September 16th, 2017.
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The Opening Preview Party and Fashion Show are not-to-miss highlights of the Western Design Conference. Tickets available at: westerndesignconference.com
working together. Our Showcase of Homes is our newest success! We inspire one another, and that drives Fall Arts forward.” This year marks the second time a Native American-themed work serves as the festival poster image. Terry Ray, the gallery director of West Lives On, represents artist Mark Keathley. “You can see the detail in Mark’s work, and the painting’s West Bank perspective is not your typical Tetons view,” says Ray. “Mark’s at a breakout point in his career; he understands everything about the West’s particular nature. Wildlife, Western, landscapes, people of the West: Mark does it all. That, and the way he uses light, attracts collectors from around the country.” “We were looking for an inspiring festival theme, a new but meaningful image,” adds Murphy. “Terry submitted Mark’s sketches, and we were thrilled.”
Just as thrilling is the electric atmosphere of the Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale, the kickoff of many events held during the week-and-a-half-long festival. Though the WDC Exhibit + Sale, celebrating its 25th anniversary, draws devotees from around the globe, owner Allison Merritt wants to do more: Reach Jackson’s citizens.
Award-winning design by Ellie Thompson & Co.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF WORD PR + MARKETING
WesternDesignConference.com
FALL ARTS FESTIVAL
CALENDAR OF EVENTS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale — Opening Preview Party + Fashion Show 6pm — 10pm FRIDAY — SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH — 10TH Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale 10am — 5pm
More than 30 art galleries open their doors to showcase magnificent art with food and wine during the locals’ favorite Palates & Palettes Gallery Walk.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH Palates & Palettes SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale — Benefit Night 10% of sales to benefit The National Museum of Wildlife Art 4pm — 7pm SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH Taste of the Tetons WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH Mark Keathley Poster Signing SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH Quickdraw Art Sale + Auction
“We want locals to know the WDC Exhibit + Sale is for them as well as visitors. For four days we’re the largest gallery in town offering a range of price points and a multitude of events,” says Merritt. Here patrons can buy direct and meet the artists who create these exceptional works, seeing firsthand why the WDC Exhibit + Sale is truly an experience as unique as its surroundings. Each year, as eager new artists and established participants make connections, fresh creativity springs to life on the spot. Designers contribute cutting-edge contemporary work, recognizable to all discerning markets; but Merritt remains cognizant of rooted traditional Western creativity, the source of everything the WDC Exhibit + Sale has become: a renowned, diverse venue for wearable and fine art, fashion, jewelry, furniture and design. Jackson’s Fall Arts Festival is a potent blend of organic creativity, a bow to Western heritage and exuberant people power. Kinetic and authentic, the festival retains its standing as a consummate Western art experience. LEFT: Nationally, regionally and locally recognized artists demonstrate their skills at the annual Quickdraw Art Sale and Auction, a unique al fresco event. RIGHT: Award-winning design by Rob Hare
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ART
ART IN CONTEXT STORY BY Katy Niner PHOTOS BY Latham Jenkins + Ryan Hittner + Peter and Kelley Gibeon
ART CAN ANCHOR THE AESTHETICS OF A ROOM, WHETHER PROVIDING A PALETTE UPON WHICH TO BUILD OR ADDING A MOMENT OF WHIMSY AMID AN ARCHITECTURAL STATEMENT. When a piece of art is placed in a prime spot, the space embraces a story—ever unfolding, ever treasured. Herein, four takes on how art animates interiors.
DIEHL GALLERY DiehlGallery.com
HOP POP Each piece within this contemporary living space, known as Aspensong, contributes a sense of strong personality, while simultaneously remaining open to possibility. Look closely at the schema set by Jennifer Prugh Visosky of Grace Home Design and see an echoing of outlines, starting with “Bunnies” by Hunt Slonem, reverberating in the Jeff Martin Joinery table, the Studio Van Den Akker slipper chairs, the blocky Sentinel chair and the graceful Holly Hunt Studio floor lamp. Eloquently linear designs, these forms become frames for filling the space with a dynamic lifestyle. Slonem does this in his art by transforming mundane subject matter into an apparatus for meditation. He begins every day by painting bunnies; their rounded figures serve as his creative calisthenics, the process by which he exercises his creativity. He embraces every association with bunnies, from the White Rabbit in Alice’s Adventures 102
in Wonderland—and the magical, continual celebration he hosts—to the luck and multiplicity linked to the mammal. Like Andy Warhol—his peer in the New York art scene of the 1980s—Slonem mines the divinity inherent in repetition; the meditative practice of tracing a form ad infinitum. Born in the Chinese zodiac’s Year of the Rabbit, Slonem sees himself in the bunnies. His daily homage to this subject matter has become an exploration of self within the context of community—just as his “Bunnies” do in Aspensong; they add personality to place, as the homeowner requested. “I just wanted a little whimsy to round the edges of a rather self-important structure,” she says. The bunnies first appeared in wallpaper form inside the elevator. “I told Jen I wanted a surprise when those doors opened—and it does make everyone chuckle. From there, it was a no-brainer adding the ‘Bunnies’ painting.” A harmonious hop from fun to fine art. homesteadmag.com
GOOD LOOKIN’ On a meandering road trip from Jackson back to Los Angeles, painter Robert Townsend fell in love with a flickering neon sign in Winnemucca, Nevada. “The Griddle—Good Cookin’” epitomized the mystique of the Old West—alive and well in the New—that Townsend considers his muse. Its script font, rakish geometry and beachy palette—the sign dazzled him so; he knew on the spot he must immortalize it in paint. “Moments like this are the most enjoyable of my life as a painter, because imagining anything is such a magical experience,” he says. The eye-catching yet unpretentious pop realism Townsend depicts offers “an uplifting snapshot from simpler times,” says Dean Munn of Altamira Fine Art. Drawn to nostalgic icons (think bubble-gum machines and motor-inn facades), Townsend blends realism with mid-century modernism, all rendered with his skillful hand and gift for color.
ALTAMIRA GALLERY AltamiraArt.com
Now, his version of “The Griddle”—painted atop a custom 3-D panel—lives as an illusion of the sign itself, installed high up on the wall of a Teton modern kitchen. Channeling the elevation of its original context, its new placement takes advantage of the 20-foot-high ceilings spanning the great-room layout, a jaunty attraction still beckoning people to stop and eat. Mirroring Townsend’s epiphany, the homeowner fell instantly for the painting: “When I first saw ‘The Griddle’ at Altamira, I instantly thought it would be perfect for one of the kitchen walls in our newly purchased mountain modern home. It adds a touch of whimsy to the décor while balancing the other architectural elements of the space.”
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WRJ DESIGN WRJDesign.com
ABSTRACT ORBIT In theory, “Planets,” a nonconformist painting by Los Angeles-based Bradford Stewart, would seem at odds with the rural vernacular of a log cabin. Not so within the context curated by WRJ Design. Echoing the textural serenity WRJ introduced, the abstract painting complements the subtle layers and natural palette that now define the classic residence. Gracing the river rock chimney, the canvas incorporates the colors coursing through the space, and even transcends the walls to reference the natural world framed by the picture windows: the caramel of the logs themselves, the chocolate brown of the moose bust, the warm grays and creams of the upholstered furnishings, the tender green of spring shoots glimpsed outside, the Tiffany blue of a clear winter’s day. The clanging of his composition seems to reverberate in the studded, steel-and-wood coffee table— custom-designed by WRJ, crafted by Jim Berkenfield—and the charcoal leather arms on the salt-and-pepper linen lounge chairs. His interplay of textures and shapes 104
echoes in the plush surfaces of the real fur pillows, chevron cowhide rug, cashmere throws and Verellen sofa—sheathed in a smoke Holly Hunt mohair. And a Carlo Moretti Murano crystal vase mirrors the intergalactic light he captures in paint. Stewart’s “Planets” sets the vibrant yet harmonious tone of the living room. As a former composer and musician, Stewart paints with the chaotic beauty of contemporary jazz and classical music. Having studied fine art at the San Francisco Art Institute and California College of Arts and Crafts, he now channels his sense of rhythm and movement into large, abstract canvases. When painting, Stewart imagines an overall feeling—not a final product—and never assumes total control of his materials: acrylics, enamels, resins, polyurethane and pearlescent paints. Embracing an organic process, he layers, washes and mixes materials, ultimately achieving a textured composition rich with motion and voice.
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TAYLOE PIGGOTT TayloePiggottGallery.com
LUMINOUS HABITAT After 20 years of musing about butterflies as metaphors—of fragile beauty, of wondrous flight—artist Paul Villinski delved into their biology. With a lepidopterist, he reared native species in the “Butterfly Machine,” an immaculate mobile habitat that reframed their extraordinary delicacy as ecological. “I hope to suggest that the frailty of butterflies, and their utter dependence on appropriate habitat, mirrors our own tenuous condition,” he writes. “There is no separation—we are the butterflies.” No habitat for his sculpture could be more naturally inspired than Becky Benenate’s West Bank home. Her first encounter with “Arcus” was from afar: Dining at Trio, she glimpsed the chartreuse fan within Tayloe Piggott Gallery. “It made me happy,” she says, an immediate affinity she has since translated into a professional partnership with Villinski; under her art imprint Vivant Books, she is working on a boxed monograph of his work, replete with a microinstallation. Her editorial mission—to make art accessible to a wide audience— resonates in her cohabitation with her collection. Every piece fills a page while contributing to the complete portrait of a connoisseur: the crystal bowl by George Bucquet she found in Sausalito that now anchors the butterflies’ radiating flight; the pair of Aero Studio chairs on their third upholstery iteration in 25 years. She remodeled the home with her collection in mind, opening up the living space and establishing a neutral palette upon which her colorful pieces could alight—an aerie for art epitomized by the prime placement of “Arcus” above an Art Deco walnut sideboard, facing a Michael McEwan gear chandelier. Light is the current coursing through her collection: the way artists deploy light to transform,
as Villinski does through the shadows his butterflies cast; the recollections they conjure—of leaves falling, of past lives, like their own, having begun as crumpled beer cans, collected by homeless New Yorkers whom
Villinski hires. More than conceptual meditations, the resurrected insects have become his vocation, and his art has become part of hers. They are the butterflies.
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THE JACKSON HOLE SHOWCASE OF HOMES: INSPIRATION FOR ALL STORY BY Homestead Staff PHOTOS BY Latham Jenkins
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2 1 URBAN OASIS ARCHITECTURE
Howells Architecture & Design
CONSTRUCTION Dembergh Construction
INTERIOR DESIGN Designed Interiors
CABINETRY & WOODWORK Willow Creek Woodworks
2 GRANITE RIDGE MASTERPIECE
ARCHITECTURE
Dynia Architects
CONSTRUCTION Two Ocean Builders
ABOVE: Stephen Dynia (far left) emcees in the home his firm designed on Granite Ridge. The homeowners joined guests during the showcase as well. LEFT: Architect Michael Howells (second from right) mingles in the sleek remodel he masterminded in Wilderness Ranches.
IT’S TO BOTH SATE CURIOSITY AND FACILITATE INTRODUCTIONS TO JACKSON HOLE’S PREMIER DESIGN, BUILD AND ARTISTIC PROFESSIONALS that Homestead magazine hosts its annual Showcase of Homes. Included in a packed September week of Fall Arts Festival events, the tour hits a sweet spot somewhere between design consultation, philanthropic fundraiser and social hour(s). Jennifer Bruno, a local currently building a new home in the valley, visited all four of last year’s stops: a contemporary remodel in Wilderness Ranches; a slope-side family residence; an expansive Western lodge near Grand Teton National Park; and an artist’s studio and historic site in Wilson. She found that speaking directly to professionals and homeowners sparked conversations “from as simple as paint colors to organizing a mechanical room.” Bruno especially enjoyed the
chance to visit sculptor and furniture artist John B. Mortensen’s compound on Fish Creek Road. Conversation ranged from art to the history of the cabin Mortensen and his wife relocated from her family’s ranch in the Wind River Mountains. In fact, this 1913 building is the oldest structure currently standing in Wilson. “Once you walked into his backyard, you felt like you were in a different world,” Bruno explains. Mortensen himself is thrilled that a portion of the Showcase of Homes ticket sales was donated to the Jackson Hole Therapeutic Riding Association, a cherished cause of his late wife. Unique encounters abounded at each station of the 2016 tour: Guests were treated to the sight of migrating elk herds as they drove into the Split-C-Ranch. On the last day, a 500-pound grizzly bear ambled across the yard for a final bow. Builder Jeff Bjornsen fielded 109
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3 SPLIT-C-RANCH CONSTRUCTION Bjornsen Builders
INTERIOR DESIGN Nichols Artistry & Design
LOGS Yellowstone Log Homes
4 ARTIST RESIDENCE AND STUDIO ARTIST
John Mortensen
LOCATION Wilson, Wyoming
LEFT: Once part of the historic Moulton Ranch, the Split-C-Ranch buildings—from main lodge to guest home—honor traditional homestead construction, sourcing timber from the surrounding forests and assembling the central hearth from boulders and Montana moss rock.
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questions on crafting a “cold roof” (important for snowy climes), among many others, relishing the chance to dive deep into the details. Across town—and across aesthetics—interior designer Kate Binger shared her perspective on contemporary living in Jackson while a bartender slung festive cocktails. In Teton Village, guests enjoyed a special treat when the homeowners themselves, a Brazilian couple described by their architect Stephen Dynia as “very gracious,” decided to join in on the fun, too.
LOOKING AHEAD This year, the Showcase of Homes promises to further satisfy curiosity. Homeowners Imaging and Gerry Spence have already generously stepped forward to host one stage of the 2017 tour. Originally completed in 1993 after three years of construction, their home is a testament to Imaging’s eclectic and worldly education, including childhood visits to the Smithsonian, a healthy seasoning of European influence and a design credo to honor setting above all. “I like to make a combination of the past with the present; to be very cognizant of place and how a home and shelter relates to that place,” 110
she says. For Imaging, explaining the ins and outs of her artfully curated home touches on a number of places: antique English doors, Navajo artifacts, a log home influenced by her West Coast and Southern roots. There will be something for everyone. Bruno advises guests to make a day of it. “Grab a couple of friends. It’s a really fun social event and shows you some pockets of Jackson that you might not normally see.” In other words, be ready to be inspired.
John B. Mortensen leads guests through his historic enclave off Fish Creek Road.
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HOME AGAIN NEW • CONSIGNMENT • DESIGN
890 S. Highway 89, Jackson, WY | homeagainjackson.com | 307-739-2232 homesteadmag.com
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THE EPHEMERAL NATURE OF NATURE
ARTIST FOCUS — SCOTTY CRAIGHEAD STORY BY Meg Daly PHOTOS BY Scotty Craighead + Tristan Greszko scottycraighead.com
WHEN ARTIST SCOTTY CRAIGHEAD ENVISIONS A LANDSCAPE, HE DOESN’T LOOK OUT TOWARD OPEN VISTAS AND TOWERING MOUNTAINS. Though he is inspired by the venerable tradition of Western landscape art, from Thomas Moran to the contemporary painter James Lavadour, his gaze falls to the terrain under our soles. By focusing on these oft-overlooked perspectives of
the natural world, he contributes a unique investigation of the land itself. “Not a lot of people focus on what’s under your feet,” says Craighead, who is particularly fascinated by edges where land meets water, like the crusty minerals on the lip of a Yellowstone hotpot— or the feathery blossoms of ice crystals decorating the edge of a stream. On a cold, bluebird day in
Jackson Hole, while many people are swishing down mountainsides, Craighead can be found wading in the Snake River, taking photographs of ice. He utilizes macrophotography— photographs of very small things displayed at larger-than-life size—to create images for his multimedia collage work. For his ongoing series, “Ice Chronicles,” he uses a special format camera, hip waders and kneepads to get down to the level of the ice and capture the prisms and shapes he finds. “I’ve seen the ice change as I’m out there,” he says. “There’s a constant ebb and flow. I go out the next day and the shapes and formations are different.” The ephemeral nature of nature becomes the subject of his work. Though the singular images he creates can be knockouts on their own, that’s not always where the artmaking stops. Back in his studio, he may decide to create a kind of collage. First he enlarges the image, prints it, and then “shatters” it—cuts it into abstract geometric shards. He then reassembles these shards into what he calls abstract landscapes, compositions that look as if they could be found in nature but are just slightly unusual. Craighead prefers to work at a very large scale: 3 square feet or larger. He covers the finished collage with a clear acrylic paint, adding texture and gleam to the flat surface.
Intricate layers of ice crystals form a surreal, abstract terrain in this image by Scotty Craighead.
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TRISTAN GRESZKO
The artist created this invented landscape by collaging together geometric fragments of his photographs of a Yellowstone hotpot.
“By examining nature up close, I think we can learn so much so fast,” he says. “Nature has the answers we as humans need right now. We can look to a plant’s structural system for cues on how to build an efficient system. In nature, there is always a harmony between give and take. It can teach us how to create responsible relationships in human life.” At 28, Craighead is at the beginning of his career. He has shown his work locally at Teton Artlab, the Jackson Hole Land Trust and Daly Projects, and he has an upcoming exhibit at the Center for the Arts in December as well as a December group show at Visions West in Denver.
For the Center for the Arts exhibition he has decided to show stand-alone images from “Ice Chronicles” rather than collage work. The images he has captured are surreal and unusual enough to warrant close contemplation on their own. He says searching for compelling ice shapes and forms is like hunting for rare, temporary gems. He wants to draw viewers into that heightened experience. “The state of mind I get from going out and photographing the ice is like a meditative practice. What I try to do is bring people into that.”
Craighead employs hip waders and knee pads to capture striking, otherworldly images of ice.
TRISTAN GRESZKO
“By taking an aspect of nature and deconstructing it and then reconstructing it, there’s an element of surprise,” he says. Form out of chaos. Inherent in the work is a tension between site specificity and universality. It’s hard to imagine capturing a more precise location than the tiny edge of an ice formation at a particular spot on the Snake River. Yet, when printed, the image exists out of context and is relatable to the viewer’s location and experience. Craighead has been gazing at, cataloging and digesting the topography of the Jackson area since he was a child. Raised in Kelly, Wyoming, he spent his youth tromping around the mountains and rivers of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and is now an avid climber and angler. His family has deep roots in the region: His grandfather, John, and grand-uncle, Frank, made important contributions to grizzly bear research in the 1960s. Scotty’s father, Derek, founded the wildlife research institute, Craighead Beringia South. (His mother, Sophie, is featured in “Natural Integrity” on page 46.) Being up close and personal with nature is as natural to him as breathing. He hopes his art will inspire viewers to take a more intimate look at nature, deepening their sense of connection to it.
The four-panel piece, “Ramble,” is a serene meditation on melting snow and riverside ambling.
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FEATURE
FRAMING THE PROCESS
When orienting his own home, architect Bruce Hawtin concentrated solar collection and outdoor socializing on the south-facing side, thereby maximizing access to the sun. He also maximized the mechanics of his house by investing in innovations such as a ground-source heat pump, all of which he will pay off in seven years of energy savings.
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STORY BY Katy Niner PHOTOS BY Audrey Hall + Mack Mendenhall (for Hawtin Jorgensen)
IN THE REALM OF A WRITER, RARELY DO SOURCES CHOOSE THE SAME WORDS TO DESCRIBE THE DESIGNATED SUBJECT. And yet, two sources interviewed herein began the discussion about the custom-home building process with the identical phrase: “Lay bare your priorities.” Despite the amorphous topic, architect Tom Ward and builder Jason Dunlop both value an honest expression of priorities. Dunlop sketches his initial questions: Is this a legacy project? Or an investment property? What is the primary purpose of the home: to serve as a sanctuary or a base camp for adventure? Ward’s preliminary inquiry involves listening to both site and client, and creating an inventory of attributes. “It’s a rather nebulous barrage of input at the front end of the process,” he says. “It’s up to the designer to filter all of this and prioritize. You have to do a lot of detective work.” And the inquiry should be reciprocal, he says. Clients should investigate the architect’s priorities: peruse the firm’s website, glean its vocabulary of materials and its design philosophy. The research phase is the most important, according to architect Bruce Hawtin. His approach involves walking the site, assessing the sun, scouting the surrounds and visiting other homes as models. Only after asking “150 questions” will he put pencil to paper. Arne Jorgensen, Hawtin’s partner, describes the process of building an energy-efficient home in analogous language: “You must have a frank discussion of values.” For instance, adult children’s annual visits may not necessarily warrant an extra bedroom. Would resources be better invested elsewhere? Jorgensen finds that expectations of homesteadmag.com
payback—often applied to energyefficient elements—hinder the wider discussion of sustainable building practices. No one ever asks, “What is the payback on this countertop?” he says, “because they want the countertop. We never start the design discussion that way, so why should we talk about community-design issues in that manner?” As Jorgensen outlines, clients, architects and contractors must openly discuss how the budget relates to priorities. “A frank discussion of the project’s cost is going to bracket the thought process and [approach],” Ward says. A modest budget can streamline the process. “You are going to have to limit your decisions to a small handful of topics. Others aren’t relevant. Good design can be a consensus of restraint: What you don’t do is just as important as what you do.” Lay bare your values and priorities; be frank about budget and scope. All four professionals’ parallel conversations reveal several dynamics underlying the process: the need for transparent communication and the fundamental intimacy of building a home—as clients reveal lifestyle details (sleeping habits, bathroom rituals, etc.). Beyond the client-architect relationship, intimacy must exist within the team. Dunlop describes the third-wheel dynamic that can occur when a client foists a builder on an architect’s design. Better alignment can be achieved through a variety of means, including early engagement of the architect and the builder, an approach that maintains the distinction between
The design-build approach appeals to certain people: While driving to a prospective homesite, Jason Dunlop of JLF Design-Build walked a savvy client through the integrated process, explaining, “We are holding ourselves accountable to each other.” The client then paused longer than necessary at a stop sign to respond, “This is exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
professionals and creates a clientdriven dynamic. Another option is design-build, which brings to the table an established collaboration between the architect and builder. Even with integration, communication can be challenging, “because we all use different portions of our brain to get through life,” Ward says. He recalls one client responding to a presentation on the philosophical goals of the house by saying, “I have no idea what you are talking about, but you seem to be very enthusiastic about it, so I’m all in.” In terms of sustainable building practices, the language barrier can extend to the seemingly invisible aspects of the house, like heating and ventilation. “Most people have given thought to the questions about scale and function,” Hawtin says. “But the technical aspects of the house are not things that anyone thinks about.” The architect thus becomes a translator, interpreting the client’s values into functional solutions. “It takes a massive leap of faith to hire an architect and manage the end result,” Ward says. “We are using someone else’s money to create our masterpieces. You have to respect a client who is willing to do that.” Trust should suffuse all phases: The client must trust the architect;
the architect must trust the builder; and the contractor must trust the subs. Such trust hinges on constant communication. “Communication is paramount throughout, as well as transparency,” Dunlop says. “If you say the tile is going to be done on the first of February, even if it’s done on the second, you must tell the client.” Dunlop often references a happiness chart: Everyone is enthusiastic at the start and remains so well into demolition. But as soon as the drywall and dust appear, frustration sets in—and it lingers long after the crew leaves. Only when the clients have lived in the home do they register complete happiness. For Dunlop, this pattern underscores the need for empathy: “A builder and architect must be empathetic,” he says. “I get why you are mad. I understand. Here’s why this happened. When there is silence, the natural tendency is to fill it with our worst nightmares.” Ultimately, building a home requires forging relationships with everyone involved, based on trust, transparency, empathy and patience. The process relies on people working and reasoning together. “It’s cogitative,” Ward says. “What you get out of the process is what you put in it.” 117
FEATURE
GREEN LIGHT: UPGRADING AN ENERGYEFFICIENT HOME STORY BY Katy Niner PHOTOS BY Richard Reese + Latham Jenkins Oftentimes, many of the items on an audit-generated to-do list are quick, weekend tasks like recaulking beams.
HOUSES NEED HEALTH CHECKUPS TOO. Knowing this, architectural designer Richard Reese enlisted Scott Paulson of Resource Efficient Solutions to perform a physical exam of his 13-year-old home in east Jackson. Having designed the abode with energy efficiency in mind, Reese knew upgrades could be made to his “well-lived-in and wellloved� family home. He met Paulson through a referral from Phil Cameron of Energy Conservation Works (ECW), a joint powers board that partners with the town of Jackson, Teton County,
Lower Valley Energy and citizens to steward energy conservation in Jackson Hole. Through its no-interest home loan program, ECW has helped 100 homeowners valleywide increase their energy efficiency. When Reese designed his home in 2003 (and hired John McIntosh of Snake River Builders to build it), he implemented the sustainable innovations he tracks at his eponymous Reese Design Studio. He used sustainable materials like cork, bamboo and marmoleum flooring, and Parallam beams. He bought bathtubs from Teton Habitat
Necessary repairs of the solar array compelled Richard Reese to do an intensive energy audit of his 13-year-old east Jackson home.
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Architectural designer Richard Reese with Lilly.
ReStore and sourced the reclaimed fir trim from an old agricultural building in Idaho. He chose foam insulation, high-grade windows and doors, and Energy Star appliances. He installed a heat-recovery ventilator, radiant heat and six solar panels (from Victor, Idaho-based solar provider Creative Energies) above the front porch. Reese turned to Cameron after the second of his six photovoltaic solar panels failed last summer (the first failed because the glass on the panel shattered; the second shortcircuited—a rare but known flaw in that model). Even for someone like Reese, who had made good decisions
from the get-go, Cameron determined that a range of repairs and upgrades would help improve his home’s efficiency. “You don’t set it and forget it,” Cameron says. “The technology evolves and our understanding of the building science evolves. Everybody can do something to be more energy efficient, from behavioral changes to more significant investments.” To start, Reese needed to examine his house’s health. Taking advantage of Lower Valley’s offer to split the cost of an intensive energy audit, he commissioned Paulson. The ensuing report was fascinating for the ecominded Reese: a detailed analysis replete with geothermal imaging showing air leakage, resulting in a list of projects he could do himself, on weekends or when time allowed. Such nuance surprised him, especially after having approached the checkup as merely a means to fix his ailing solar array. “The reality is that the best projects tend to be the least interesting,” Cameron says. “When it comes down to it, less glamorous steps—like plugging the holes, insulating the space, caulking your windows—can often save as much, if not more, energy than renewables.” Reese considers these kinds of fixes to be intuitive yet instructive, like when your doctor tells you to stop eating chocolate cake. For instance, Paulson’s thermal imaging isolated cold spots where the weather stripping needed reinforcement. Other recommendations were more revelatory. For example, the
placement of the game-meat freezer in the hot mechanical room made the freezer inefficient. Combined with the new solar panels—a $10,000 investment subsidized by Lower Valley and paid off through Reese’s energy bill over five years—these seemingly minor repairs add up to a doubling of electricity savings. And the process itself produced little waste: Reese donated the four still-working original solar panels for reuse. “The process opened my eyes to the notion that you can always take small steps,” Reese says. “You’re not stuck with your existing home.” His home now has a new lease on life: “We’ve rounded the Monopoly board and are back on Go.”
The thermal image report, produced by Scott Paulson of Resource Efficient Solutions, revealed points of air infiltration, like these two leaks at the corners of the door and the adjacent window.
YOU CAN DO IT ENERGY CONSERVATION WORKS (ECW) WELCOMES ALL INQUIRIES RELATED TO ENERGY CONSERVATION AND EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS. Whether clients are motivated to make their homes more comfortable or efficient, reduce their monthly bills, or do something good for the environment, ECW—working closely with Lower Valley Energy—helps them achieve their goals. “If we complete a project that hits one of those marks, it helps everyone,” says Phil Cameron, executive director of ECW. “As a cooperative utility, greater efficiency helps keep all of our rates low.” Having just hit the 100th home loan milestone—a marker equivalent to a $750,000 community investment—ECW and Lower Valley will soon roll out a business-oriented loan program. “We’re taking the lessons we’ve learned from the 100 homes and doing the same thing for businesses,” Cameron says. Also in the works: a database of trade allies, as well as a series of training programs on timely topics like lighting and heating. To learn more about how ECW can help you improve the health of your home, visit energyconservationworks.org or call Cameron at (307) 732-8515. 119
Audio Video Specialists
avswy.com 307.733.6043
LIGHTING | CONTROL | AUTOMATION | SHADES | SECURITY | NETWORK
RESOURCE
PROVIDING PEACE OF MIND 4SIGHT SECURITY
4SightSecurity24-7.com STORY BY Liz Prax
4SIGHT SECURITY IS A 24/7 OPERATION FOR FOUNDERS MARK AND JANEAN BLACKBURN, WHO ARE USED TO GETTING CALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. Oftentimes it’s because of an accidentally triggered alarm—once even from bats setting off motion detectors—but the Blackburns’ response is always the same: prompt, professional and reliable. Based in Idaho Falls and covering eastern Idaho, western Wyoming and West Yellowstone, Montana, 4Sight offers the latest smarthome technology—from flood sensors, moisture-level monitors and pet-immune motion detectors to crib and pet cameras—all voiceactivated or controlled remotely via any electronic device. Its staff can wirelessly connect multiple locations, such as barns and gates, on any property. “You can unlock a door, turn 122
your lights on and off, adjust your thermostat or even open your garage door from anywhere in the world,” Janean Blackburn says, adding that clients have even watched moose and foxes outside their vacation cabins via high-definition, pan-tiltzoom cameras. For business owners, she says, products such as keyless access control, which allows management to add or delete users electronically, and nearly invisible pinhole point-ofsale cameras, which help to prevent loss, provide both convenience and peace of mind. “When you own a business, you can’t be everywhere at once. We want to be your trusted ally.” Another popular service that 4Sight Security provides is jobsite surveillance. Not only do the temporarily installed cameras discourage thefts of equipment and materials, but the solar-powered
“WHEN YOU OWN A BUSINESS, YOU CAN’T BE EVERYWHERE AT ONCE. WE WANT TO BE YOUR TRUSTED ALLY.”
~ JANEAN BLACKBURN
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mobile units can also record construction progress—from beginning to end—for the creation of time-lapse videos. If Wi-Fi access is available, project managers can log in and watch their projects in real time. The Blackburns have even used their high-definition surveillance cameras to help police identify thieves. Many police and fire departments, as well as school districts, have hired 4Sight to install systems. The company has also donated more than $30,000 worth of equipment in the past year to local municipalities. Mark Blackburn explains how 4Sight found its niche in the security system market: “Typical security companies install a one-size-fits-all analog system and walk away without any follow-up or warranty. Our philosophy is completely different. We approach each project with a clean slate, taking into account the client’s needs and budget while engineering an easy-to-use system that provides relentless reliability. We only use the highestquality digital equipment designed to withstand our harsh climate.” Being a direct dealer for top companies such as Honeywell, Hikvision, Sony, Brivo Access Control and Axis gives 4Sight a competitive advantage, as does its first-rate customer service and full, five-year warranty. Each installation is professional and seamless, says Blackburn. “This is where we really shine. Our crew has literally installed thousands of cameras over the years and
High-definition surveillance cameras can be mounted on any aspect of your home or business, inside or outside.
there isn’t much we haven’t seen. When we’re finished, you will not see any exposed wires or evidence of the install whatsoever.” Quality. Reliability. Peace of mind.
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RESOURCE
PLANNING HEADACHES CURED JORGENSEN ASSOCIATES ENGINEERING, SURVEYING & LAND USE PLANNING jorgeng.com
STORY BY Kelsey Dayton
Abbie Stanford, Francesca Paolucci-Rice, Ron Levy and Brendan Schulte (NOT PICTURED: Robyn Lunsford)
EVERYTHING THAT MAKES JACKSON SO SPECIAL— the stunning scenery, the open spaces, the wildlife—is protected through town, county and state development regulations, which can make planning a new construction project, whether a single house or an apartment building, a formidable task. Jorgensen Associates, a planning, surveying and engineering firm in Jackson, has recently expanded its planning services to help guide people through all stages of planning a project, from understanding changing regulations to filing the proper paperwork. “We guide local landowners, developers and citizens through the arduous process of interpreting those regulations,” explains Brendan Schulte, a Jorgensen senior planner. Schulte is one of five planners on staff at Jorgensen, 124
along with longtime employees Francesca Paolucci-Rice, Abbie Stanford and Robyn Lunsford and the more recently hired Ron Levy. With this expansion in planning staff, Jorgensen can help more clients through the planning steps. Whether you are a landowner wanting to develop a water feature or simply build a home, or a business interested in creating workforce housing, the planning procedures can be like traveling to another country where everyone speaks a different language, Schulte says. Jorgensen’s full-service planning assistance provides the translation you need. With a large staff of engineers and specialists, planners have easy access to experts in-house, making the whole process seamless.
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Amy Staehr, Partner
Erika Nash, Partner
Chris Reimer, Partner
LONG REIMER WINEGAR BEPPLER LLP LEGAL SERVICES lrw-law.com
STORY BY Kirsten Rue
LONG REIMER WINEGAR BEPPLER LLP IS A BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM BASED IN JACKSON, WYOMING, WITH THE EXPERTISE AND SOPHISTICATION OF A FIRM WITH NATIONAL REACH. Our experienced and dedicated staff of 15 attorneys is licensed in multiple states and takes a collaborative approach to working with clients, with each other, and with our clients’ trusted advisors. This team is your expert in real estate, trusts, and navigating Wyoming’s unique tax and estate benefits, wherever you may be resident.
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION EXPERTS LRWB’s attorneys have a nuanced understanding of every stage of your real estate transaction. We’ll walk you through, step by step, and provide clarity, expertise and efficiency. Our firm can advise you on financing, construction, development, corporate involvement, tax implications and investment potential for your real estate transaction.
ESTABLISHING RESIDENCE IN WYOMING? Our firm can advise you on establishing domicile here in Wyoming and making the most of our state’s tax and business benefits. We take a team-based and personalized approach to each client and like to say, “We’re here to help, not to take over.” We know you have valued advisors in your home state, and we offer an integrative strategy to create the best outcome for you.
YOUR JACKSON HOLE AMBASSADORS The LRWB attorneys know Wyoming and Jackson Hole. More importantly, we have roots in the community and the state. Our partners and staff attorneys have served in leadership positions or on boards at organizations including the Wyoming State Bar Foundation, the College of Law Advisory Board, Equal Justice Wyoming, the Teton County Library Foundation Board and many others. There is no better partner for your introduction to the valley.
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PROFILE
FRESH AIR AND FEWER TAXES LONG REIMER WINEGAR BEPPLER LLP lrw-law.com
PRESENTED BY
LATHAM JENKINS — LOCALE Locale.com
STORY BY Julie Fustanio Kling PHOTOS BY Latham Jenkins
IT IS USUALLY THE MOUNTAIN VISTAS, THE PRISTINE RIVERS AND LAKES, THE OUTDOOR RECREATION AND THE ABUNDANT WILDLIFE THAT ATTRACT SECOND HOMEOWNERS TO JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING—not the tax benefits. But if you want to protect your family’s wealth and find a better quality of life, there’s a lot more to consider. Wyoming is the second most tax-friendly state, behind Alaska, according to a 2016 Kiplinger Report. With a local sales tax of 5.6 percent on average, Wyoming has the 9th lowest property taxes in the nation and very favorable trust laws.
Chris Reimer explains the Wyoming tax benefits. A specialist in tax law, he helps clients realize the benefits of living in a tax-friendly state.
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“MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE IN WYOMING SIX MONTHS AND A DAY TO BE A FULL-TIME WYOMING RESIDENT.”
~ CHRIS REIMER
As one of a handful of states with no state income tax, the tax-free zone encompasses trust income, capital gains, individual as well as corporate income, and estate and gift tax, according to Chris Reimer, a partner at Long Reimer Winegar Beppler LLP in Jackson. Reimer says there are many ways to take advantage of tax laws that are greatly overlooked. First and foremost, he suggests homeowners consider a trust to acquire a house, because certain Wyoming trusts can protect homeowners from estate taxes for generations. “The lightbulb I’ve seen over and over again is when I suggest setting up a dynasty trust here,” he says. “Even when they know the next generation is not going to live here, they can use Wyoming trusts to minimize the transfer taxes on wealth.” Most of Reimer’s clients are in their 50s and 60s, looking to create a new lifestyle for future generations. “They are planning to retire soon, but they don’t want to be in traffic. They want to be out in the woods. Jackson has that unique charm and Old West flavor.” The tax benefits are just a bonus. However, they need to be navigated carefully. Homeowners moving from states that have income taxes fall into one of two camps, he says. Eastern states tend to homesteadmag.com
count how many days you live in them to determine if you can claim another state as your primary residence. Western states tend to look at circumstances like where you spend holidays, where your doctors and financial planners live, and where your children go to school. Either way, “It’s not about being a resident of Wyoming, it’s about not being a resident of another state,” Reimer says, adding that many states that collect taxes from affluent people audit them to see where they are spending their time. “Most people don’t know that you don’t have to live in Wyoming six months and a day to be a full-time Wyoming resident,” Reimer says. In fact, Wyoming doesn’t measure how many days you spend in the state to be a resident, Reimer says. After you acquire a residence, you can obtain a driver’s license and, thereafter, register to vote. Reimer calls it the “trifecta,” and laughs when he explains: “It’s harder to get a fishing license than a driver’s license in Wyoming.” Many second homeowners boost their Wyoming profiles by joining a board of one of its many nonprofit organizations or giving charitable contributions. Considering the tax benefits, it’s no surprise that Teton County often rates among the wealthiest zip codes in America. According to the Associated Press, Wyoming has a well-deserved reputation among the business-savvy and is consistently rated in the top tier of fiscally sound state governments, boasting an AAA rating from Standard & Poor’s. To compare Wyoming to other states with no state income taxes, like Alaska, Nevada, South Dakota, Washington, Texas and Florida, is to see that Wyoming has the market cornered, Reimer says. “In this realm of the Rocky Mountain West, Jackson Hole doesn’t really have a competitor.”
There are many reasons to consider a home in Jackson Hole — from the stunning location to the laid-back lifestyle to the financial benefits of living in an income tax-free state. Locale offers expertise in all three areas — real estate services, local lifestyle insight, and relationships with financial advisors who can offer indepth guidance as you search for more than just a home. Get started at Locale.com
LATHAM JENKINS Real Estate Sales Associate 307 690 1642 Latham@Locale.com
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2017 ADVERTISER DIRECTORY ARCHITECTURE Berlin Architects 20, 38 275 Veronica Lane Ste 200 PO Box 4119 Jackson, WY 83001 307-733-5697 BerlinArchitects.com Dynia Architects 1085 W Hwy 22 PO Box 4356 Jackson, WY 83001 307-733-3766 Dynia.com
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Enclosure Studio PO Box 9605 260 E Broadway Jackson, WY 83002 EnclosureStudio.com
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Farmer Payne 30 Architects 260 W Broadway, Ste A PO Box 381 Jackson, WY 83001 307-413-3276 FarmerPayne Architects.com Kinsey LLC 114 1070 Elkrun Lane, #60 PO Box 12258 Jackson, WY 83002 307-203-2852 KinseyArch.com Natural Dwellings Architecture PO Box 1563 Driggs, ID 83422 NaturalDwellings.com
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Poss Architecture + Planning and Poss Interior Design 605 E Main St Aspen, CO 81611 970-925-4755 BillPoss.com
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Ward + Blake 56 Architects 200 E Broadway PO Box 10399 Jackson, WY 83002 307-733-6867 WardBlakeArchitects.com
BUILDERS/ CONTRACTORS Dembergh 4, 108 Construction 1230 N Ida Lane #7 PO Box 1636 Wilson, WY 83014 307-733-0133 DemberghJH.com JH Builders 6 970 W Broadway Ste 216 PO Box 642 Jackson, WY 83001 307-734-5245 JHBuildersInc.com Mill Iron Timberworks 23 3955 Antelope Lane PO Box 10970 Jackson, WY 83002 307-733-0529 MillIronTimberworks.com New West Building 24, 76 Company 265 W Broadway Jackson, WY 83001 307-203-2460 NewWestBC.com Seven Generations 94 Construction 2205 South Park Ranch Rd Jackson, WY 83001 307-413-1909 7GConstruction.com Teton Heritage 130 Builders 160 W Deloney Ave PO Box 4819 Jackson, WY 83001 307-733-8771 TetonHeritageBuilders.com
Two Ocean Builders 21 PO Box 11424 Jackson, WY 83002 307-733-2822 TwoOceanBuilders.com With the Grain 72, 90 PO Box 1289 Driggs, ID 83422 303-886-2800 BuildWithTheGrain.com Zoske Construction Bozeman, MT 59718 406-581-2444 AspenHomesMt.com
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Western Design Conference PO Box 7889 Jackson, WY 83002 307-690-9719 WesternDesign Conference.com
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GALLERIES & ANTIQUES
CABINETRY & CUSTOM MILLWORK Willow Creek 25, 54 Woodworks Inc. 4510 Landmark Circle Idaho Falls, ID 83401 208-522-2486 WillowCW.com
ENGINEERING & PLANNING Jorgensen Associates PC 1315 Hwy 89 South Ste 203 PO Box 9550 Jackson, WY 83002 307-733-5150 JorgEng.com
Jackson Hole Showcase of Homes 215 N Millward Ave Jackson, WY 83001 307-690-8256 JacksonHole Showcase.com
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EVENTS/ ORGANIZATIONS Jackson Hole 100 Fall Arts Festival Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce 307-733-3316 JacksonHoleChamber.com
Altamira Fine Art 7, 103 172 Center St PO Box 4859 Jackson, WY 83001 307-739-4700 AltamiraArt.com Cayuse Western 13, 40 Americana 255 N Glenwood St PO Box 1006 Jackson, WY 83001 307-739-1940 CayuseWA.com Fighting Bear Antiques 375 S Cache St PO Box 3790 Jackson, WY 83001 307-733-2669 FightingBear.com
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Tayloe Piggott 14, 105 Gallery 62 S Glenwood St PO Box 1435 Jackson, WY 83001 307-733-0555 TayloePiggottGallery.com
Turner Fine Art 545 N Cache St Jackson, WY 83001 307-690-9632 TurnerFineArt.com
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HOME AUTOMATION Audio Visual Specialists 1155 Gregory Lane Jackson, WY 83001 307-733-6043 AVSWy.com
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Jackson Hole AV 1010 South Park Loop Rd, Ste #2 Jackson, WY 83001 307-733-2629 JacksonHoleAV.com
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Xssentials 66, 106 160 W Deloney Ave, Ste B Jackson, WY 83001 307-201-7040 Xssentials.com
HOMEWARES Azadi Fine Rugs 55 N Glenwood St Jackson, WY 83001 307-734-0169 AzadiFineRugs.com
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dwelling 80 W Broadway Ste 104 PO Box 4027 Jackson, WY 83001 307-733-8582 DwellingJH.com
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Home Again 111 890 S Hwy 89 Jackson, WY 83001 307-739-2232 HomeAgainJackson.com
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Kismet Fine Rugs 89, 90 150 E Broadway PO Box 6368 Jackson, WY 83002 307-739-8984 KismetRugs.com Rocky Mountain Hardware 485 W Broadway Jackson, WY 83001 307-732-0078 RockyMountain Hardware.com
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Twenty Two Home 45 E Deloney Ave PO Box 4778 Jackson, WY 83001 307-733-9922 TwentyTwoHome.com
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Wild West Designs 58 140 W Broadway PO Box 2726 Jackson, WY 83001 307-734-7600 WildWestDesignsInc.com
Forsyth & Brown 11 Interior Design 1160 Alpine Lane, 2C PO Box 12285 Jackson, WY 83002 307-200-6608 ForsythAndBrown.com Jacque Jenkins- 28 Stireman Interior Design 1715 High School Rd Ste 210 Jackson, WY 83001 307-739-3008 JJStiremanDesign.com Maison Studio 120 E Broadway PO Box 4912 Jackson, WY 83001 307-203-2266 MaisonStudio.com
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Snake River Interiors 9 164 E Deloney Ave PO Box 1552 Jackson, WY 83001 307-733-3005 SnakeRiverInteriors.com
Willow Creek 60, 90 Interior Design Showroom 115 E Broadway PO Box 4696 Jackson, WY 83001 307-733-7868 WillowCreekHF.com
Trauner Fay Designs 76 3490 Clubhouse Dr Ste 103 Wilson, WY 83001 307-733-0902 Traunerfaydesigns.com
WRJ Home 80, 104, 132 Design Studio + Interiors 30 S King St PO Box 910 Jackson, WY 83001 307-200-4881 WRJDesign.com
Willow Creek 60, 90 Interior Design 115 E Broadway PO Box 4696 Jackson, WY 83001 307-733-7868 WillowCreekHF.com
INTERIOR DESIGN
WRJ Design 80, 104, 132 30 S King St PO Box 910 Jackson, WY 83001 307-200-4881 WRJDesign.com
Brian Goff 16, 34 Interior Design 665 N 4128 E, Ste 1 Rigby, ID 83445 307-733-3530 BrianGoffInterior Design.com Designed Interiors 3 80 W Broadway, Ste 104 PO Box 4027 Jackson, WY 83001 307-733-8582 DesignedInteriorsJH.com
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LANDSCAPING & LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Boreal Landscaping 17, 66 PO Box 124 Moose, WY 83012 307-730-2508 borealjh.com
Frederick 76, 88 Landscaping PO Box 4562 Jackson, WY 83001 307-730-0037 Fredericklandscaping.com
Boreal Property Management PO Box 124 Moose, WY 83012 307-730-2508 BorealJH.com
MD Nursery and 19 Landscaping 2389 S Hwy 33 Driggs, ID 83422 208-354-8816 MDLandscapingInc.com
REAL ESTATE
Mountainscapes, Inc. 2 PO Box 8948 Jackson, WY 83002 307-734-7512 MountainscapesJH.com
LEGAL SERVICES Long Reimer Winegar 125 Beppler LLP 270 W Pearl Ave Ste 103 PO Box 3070 Jackson, WY 83001 LRW-Law.com
MORTGAGE SERVICES Guild Mortgage Company 230 E Broadway Ste 3B Jackson, WY 83001 GuildMortgage.com
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MOVING & STORAGE Black Diamond 114 Moving Co. 615 Elk Ave Ste D Jackson, WY 83001 307-739-8553 BlackDiamondMoving.com
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Abode Jackson Hole 32 125 East Pearl Ave Ste 4 PO Box 1890 Jackson, WY 83001 307-264-1616 AbodeJacksonHole.com
17, 66
Kilmain Painting Inc. 1180 Gregory Lane Jackson, WY 83001 Kilmainpainting.com
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STONE & TILE
Architectural 42 Stone & Tile Fall Arts Festival Locale: 126 525 Elk Ave, #4 Jackson Hole Real Estate PO Box 6710 Latham Jenkins Jackson, WY 83002 1925 N Moose Wilson Rd 307-732-1819 Wilson, WY 83014 astjh.com 307-690-1642 Locale.com Porcelanosa 43 601 S Broadway, Ste W Rob DesLauriers 34 Denver, CO 80209 JH Sotheby’s 303-802-3210 International Realty Porcelanosa-usa.com RobDesLauriers.com The Team at JH 52 Sotheby’s International Realty: Mercedes Huff, Laurie Huff, Jill SassiNeison, Collin Vaughn 3415 N Pines Way, Ste 103 Wilson, WY 83014 307-690-9000 MercedesHuff.com Trinity Real Estate Group LLC Andria Clancy 307-413-5892 JHClancy@live.com
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RECREATIONAL Teton Pines 3450 N Clubhouse Dr Wilson, WY 83014 307-733-1005 TetonPines.com
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SECURITY SERVICES 4Sight Security 122 101 Park Ave Ste 5 Idaho Falls, ID 83402 208-403-1434 4SightSecurity24-7.com
SERVICES Independent Jets 877-501-JETS (5387) 307-690-2813 IndependentJets.com
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SPECIALISTS Clearwater Restoration 64 PO Box 7635 Jackson, WY 83002 307-699-3377 clearwaterrestoration.com Colorado Timberframe 76 303-444-5012 ColoradoTimberframe.com Drywall Solutions Unlimited AJWoolstenhulme @yahoo.com
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JB Mechanical 1565 W Berger Lane Jackson, WY 83001 307-739-1719
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Montana Reclaimed Lumber Company PO Box 741 Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730 406-763-9102 MTReclaimed.com
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Roof Rescue RescueYourRoof.com
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Teton Concrete 72 Surfaces Facebook.com/ TetonConcreteSurfaces Viewpoint Windows 76 208-854-1877 ViewpointWindows.com
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JACKSON HOLE, WY
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BIG SKY, MT Photo by David Agnello
www.tetonheritagebuilders.com
Welcome Home
Your Trusted Resource for Contemporary and Antique Rugs
55 N Glenwood St
(Across from the Wort Hotel)
Jackson Hole
307.734.0169 www.azadifinerugs.com JACKSON HOLE I SCOTTSDALE I SEDONA I SEDONA NAVAJO I TELLURIDE I KONA
INSPIRED BY THE NATURAL WORLD. INFORMED BY THE REST OF IT.
DESIGN STUDIO & INTERIORS
wrjdesign.com 307.200.4881
Artwork by Rakuko Naito