Custom home in the country

Custom flair abounds in this Montana home

Story and photos by David Reese/Montana's Finest Homes

When Marc Daniels, owner of Big Mountain Builders LLC, opened his company in Montana, he wanted to make a statement. 

He has built dozens of high-end homes in California, ranging from Meditterranean influences to Tuscan styles, so he wanted this home to reflect Montana. He and his clients came up with a home that combines country styling with European flair that fits the Montana landscape, all while giving a nod to sophistication. Abundant use of wall coverings and finely upholstered furniture gives the 5,500-square-foot home near Whitefish a refined look. This plays nicely off the rustic, dry stack rock fireplace and the timber-frame accents in the main living area.

Hand-scraped hickory floors from Glacier Hardwoods run throughout the home. Glacier Hardwoods created the woodworking at its own mill and did the installation of the durable hardwood. Daniels was the general contractor of the home, while Ashley Lake Construction did all the framing and timber frame work. 

The home overlooks about seven acres in a semi-wooded setting . A corral system winds around the property, so the owners’ horses can be watched and enjoyed from nearly every window in the home.

The interior designer came up with a color scheme of reds, tans and greens, with abundant use of wallpaper textures and patterns that play off upholstered furniture and deep carpet.

Shawn Kelly, owner of Rustic Mountain Cabinetry, says the owners of this home were set on a country-style kitchen so together they chose a knotty alder with an antiqued process for the cabinets. “We did a four step process to antique the wood, “ says Kelly. “We use only the best quality wood and high end hardware. We can even coordinate the countertops if a client is looking for turnkey. We do everything from crackled plaster to euro-finishes.”

The kitchen is a showpiece of its own. A brick surround was created for the oven, while a large island made of knotty alder and painted with a red patina makes for a handy work area. The island balances well with the sea foam green granite countertops. Just down the hallway is a laundry room where the brick flooring was brought up from a San Diego masonry yard. Behind the home is one of the interesting attributes that Big Mountain Builders created — a potting shed that makes a handy retreat. 

Marc Daniels started Big Mountain Builders in 2007 after years of custom home construction in the San Diego area, following in the path of his father, who was also a builder.

“This was a great home to work on,” Daniels said. “It really reflects what Montana is all about.”