A 2,800-Square-Foot Crested Butte Home That Redefines Mountain Modern Design

A new home puts an updated twist on town traditions.

7 hours ago

Laura Beausire,

Exterior with a View With meadow and mountain views on the edge of Crested Butte, the house combines a contemporary layout with vintage charm, including reclaimed wood as an ode to the town’s historic architecture. | Photo: James Ray Spahn

Sometimes strong rules can inspire outside-the-box creativity. For example, the mountain town of Crested Butte is a registered National Historic District, with strict design guidelines for building new homes, including a maximum size of 2,800 square feet. Fortunately, Crested Butte-based architect Andrew Hadley is well-versed in modern interpretations of the local historic vernacular. “Because I’ve done so many houses in town, I try to find a way within the very, very strict design guidelines to create unique details,” he says.

So, when a family tasked Hadley with designing a new home on the edge of town with majestic views of Crested Butte mountain, he accepted the challenge. Hadley coined the term “Crested Butte Swank” to describe the home’s style. “It’s a mix of contemporary living in sort of a rustic, historic mining style that Crested Butte has,” he says. Built by Hargrove & Kidd Construction, the home has a standing-seam metal roof, reclaimed wood and cream-stained cedar clapboard siding, plus the perfect small-town front porch.

Living Room Exposed beams and trusses add beauty to the vaulted ceiling, with an African beaded chandelier from Kanju, armchairs from Design Wright Studios and a vintage Moroccan rug. | Photo: James Ray Spahn

Heidi Sherratt and Kelly Gallen, of Crested Butte’s Interior Visions, devised space-savvy and stylish solutions to fit the family’s lifestyle. “They are all about family and friends and wanted to create a home that was warm and welcoming, with spacious rooms for gathering and cozy rooms for relaxing,” says Gallen. Large windows frame mountain and meadow views, and the designers integrated reclaimed wood and stone to lend natural texture and a touch of vintage charm.

Innovative elements—including a bathtub alcove, bedroom window bench, dining banquette and a triple-decker bunk room—make use of every inch of space. And an oversize kitchen island provides ample seating for guests. “We don’t often have the space to do such a large island, and it really works for both the space and the family,” Sherratt says. “When the house is full, there are things going on every side of it—cooking, cocktailing and gathering.”

Entryway A Shades of Light black wicker sphere hangs above a Kathy Kuo Home Ivy bench. | Photo: James Ray Spahn

The designers and homeowners collaborated on a mix of contemporary and rustic fixtures, furnishings and materials to create a comfortable, laid-back mood. Says the homeowner, “We’ve leaned towards a fun, boho feel throughout our house and steer away from traditional designs.” Funky finds—including unexpected fabrics, pillows, vintage rugs and offbeat light fixtures—provide sparks of boho spirit, in harmony with a calm color palette of blue, chocolate, cream and gray.

The living room’s comfortable seating surrounds a stone fireplace, beneath a vaulted, wood-beamed ceiling. Kain Leonard, of Rocky Mountain Masonry, took particular care to produce wide grout lines on the home’s handsome stonework.

Kitchen Custom cabinets and Italian basalt countertops are matched with a Miseno Inferno porcelain sink, Brizo Artesso faucets and Ironwood sconces by Hammerton Studio. Custom pendants by Cisco light the oversize island. | Photo: James Ray Spahn

When snow flies and winds blow, drifts can reach halfway up the first story, but this house is designed to weather the storms. “In the winter, the home transforms into a cozy retreat in the middle of a winter wonderland,” the homeowner says. “We hope guests feel a sense of calm and relaxation when they stay with us, and are as happy staying at home after a long day of adventuring as they are wandering into town a few blocks away for a great meal.”

Bunk Room Custom, triple-decker wooden bunks were designed to welcome a full house, including integrated drawers and wall niches for phone charging. | Photo: James Ray Spahn