Refined and Rugged from The Construction Group
Luxury cabin in Lakeside showcases sleek fusion
The Construction Group Montana’s Mission Cabin was the first stop on the September 2015 Parade of Homes, an annual weekend-long tour of the most exceptional homes in Montana’s Flathead Valley—and there is a good reason it was voted ‘Best Curb Appeal” for the event.
While many home buyers hope to find a balance between Montana rustic and modern sleek, few homes strike the perfect equilibrium between the two aesthetics. Led by Terry Leiser, The Construction Group Montana has a combined 50 years’ experience in construction. They prioritize locally sourced materials and are known for their application of contemporary Montana style. Kalispell-based Karen Cramer, of Beckman’s Fine Furnishings, and Julie Berquist, an interior designer working with TCG Montana, exclusively to curate their Lakeside Club homes, worked from the building’s strong bones and style to seamlessly blend tradition and innovation.
For the Parade of Homes, Karen Cramer, of Beckman’s Fine Furnishings, aimed to complement The Construction Group Montana’s vision with furniture and art that blended everything going on in the home with the outdoors.
The 2,501-square-foot home with two master suites is the inaugural centerpiece of the Ridgeline Luxury Cabin series. It overlooks Flathead Lake and is a haven for fine living. Adorned with mossy Chief Cliff exterior rock, it fits right into the rugged scenery Big Sky Country is famous for. “We threw in some rustic elements, but kept it sleek,” Berquist said. “Just trying to get that balance and switch it up a bit through a combination of the materials and colors that we used.” Modern touches include quartz counters and a curved island top in the high-end kitchen, as well as porcelain tile with glass and marble accents in the bathrooms.
DESIGN STYLE
Berquist incorporated modern comforts in these contemporary spaces, but added rustic reminders like barn doors to the bathrooms, which introduced a hint of natural richness. Brushed chrome lighting fixtures liven up the wood floors and finishes, which were treated with a custom stain of sleek gray and warm brown. “It’s a recipe that we made through trial and error,” Berquist said of the stain. “And everybody that came into the Parade of Homes noticed how unique it is.”
That is partly due to the engineered oak Berquist used, which is a sturdy hardwood with deep natural coloring. Wire-brushed to emphasize the grains in the wood, the floors are a richly textured, grounding element. For the Parade of Homes, Karen Cramer, of Beckman’s Fine Furnishings, aimed to complement The Construction Group Montana’s vision with furniture and art that blended everything going on in the home with the outdoors, as she said. “Then we made it upscale, refined.” Working within the modern-rustic fusion theme, Cramer used teak pieces, reclaimed wood, upholstered leather, and comfy seating to emphasize the home’s inviting appeal.
One space she focused on was the central living area, which flows from the kitchen to an open-room concept. A cozy fireplace anchors the 12-foot-high space. Cramer designed the patio, which features a gas fireplace, to extend from the heart of the home right into nature via an entire wall of a Sierra Pacific bi-fold, glass door system. This encourages a playful flow between indoor and outdoor life, and Cramer’s design decisions highlighted the mixed materials and spaces.
Despite the beautiful, unique furniture and the craftsman-style design, Berquist said, “It’s the fantastic views that really make the Mission special. You stand out on that patio and it’s breathtaking—Flathead Lake and the mountains.” Her approach is key to the Mission’s successful design.
Because The Construction Group Montana set out to create a quality home while keeping in mind a true appreciation for the natural surroundings, their work reflects a matching, organic beauty. •
Leave a comment