THE GREAT ESCAPE 55

For designer Kylee Shintaffer, this project in Montana was all about creating a place where one family could truly get away from it all

- ALI HEATH

Surrounded by magnificent aspen, cedar, tamarack and pine trees, this secluded new build in Bigfork, Montana, is as striking as it is effortlessly natural luxurious, yet rooted by a rustic minimalism that connects it seamlessly to its environment.

The antithesis of city living, the property, a five-bedroom home with separate two-bedroom barn, was built as a dream escape for new empty-nesters - a Texas-based couple in their fifties. Located in their favourite holiday destination, it was designed as a place to disconnect - large enough for their four college-age children to all stay; for them to pursue the outdoor life they love; and a space for them to eventually retire to,' says Seattle-based creative director and principal designer, Kylee Shintaffer.

The secret to the home's success is the combination of rustic and refined: the exterior, a mix of rough-sawn cedar planks, finished in a cool, light-grey wash, contrasts gently against warmer reclaimed wooden timber rafters and trusses, a striking steel roof and dark-stained windows. While inside, white-washed cedar panelling offsets darker timbers that add character and depth. "The constant push and pull of light with dark, rustic with modern, bridges the two design ideas and stops the home from feeling too perfect or formal,' says Kylee.