Wapiti Valley Residence with breathtaking views

Wapiti Valley Residence is a private home situated in the Wapiti Valley of Wyoming near the east border of Yellowstone National Park. The residence was designed by STUDIO.BNA Architects in collaboration with studioryker, completed in 2007.

From the architects, “The wapiti valley landscape is vast, the weather is dramatic, and the changing light and seasons provide for an endless transformation of phenomena. The prominent stone figure of the China Wall resides over the land breaking up an otherwise near constant pitch downward to the river below.

The landscape in which the Wapiti Residence is situated is exposed and revealing. The series of structures that comprise house, gym and guest house were developed to blend into the landscape, but not disappear. Slipped between the seasonal drainages, native grass, and sage brush, the building forms are strong on the land like the China Wall, itself.

Without apology, the simplified architectonic forms expressed through walls of rammed earth, steel, and teak screen, sheltered by a butterfly canopy, are at times the drama of the valley, and at others a shadowy figure in the land.”

Photos: Matthew Millman

Fireside Resort luxury ski cabins in Jackson Hole

Fireside Resort features an innovative new perspective on mountain town lodging in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The luxury resort offers 19 ski cabins that reflect the heritage of the valley’s original homesteader cabins. That rustic appeal is then combined with understated elegance and modern conveniences. Every cabin is designed to offer a combination of rustic and modern aesthetics. Designed by WheelHaus, the cabins are a “Wedge” design which features an angled roof, starting low above the bedrooms and builds to 17 feet in the living room.

Trapezoidal windows grow similarly from back to front, offering natural light while maintaining privacy. The front of the cabin is almost entirely glass. A large sliding glass door opens to a private deck. Each cabin has one bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen/living room and a private deck. The ceilings and exterior side are covered with reclaimed Wyoming snow fencing.

The bedrooms feature a king size bed with two side tables and linen lamp style sconces. The kitchen/living room was designed to offer both comfort and functionality. The mini-kitchen is fully equipped with concrete countertops and modern rustic cabinetry. A large bomber leather sofa, two cowhide ottomans, two barn wood side tables, custom made wrought iron lamps and railroad cart coffee tables make up living room furnishings. A mini-high efficiency gas burning fireplace warms the room. Mounted above the fireplace is a flat screen HDTV and attractive, colorful art brightens every room.

The fully appointed bathrooms are small yet functional with custom vanities with concrete countertops/sinks and quartzite floors. An additional bonus for those that don’t want to vacation without their pets, the cabins are pet friendly!

To stay in one of these luxurious cabins, rates run from $289 per night, from here.

Enchanting Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch

The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch is nestled on 15,000 pristine acres of a 19th century working cattle ranch in Saratoga, Wyoming. The luxury resort, designed by Simeone Deary Design Group, is the perfect destination for high end group retreats, destination weddings, and exclusive family escapes. From extraordinary accommodations and gourmet meals to a pampering spa and exciting array of outdoor activities, Brush Creek Ranch offers something for everyone and nearly everything is included in your stay. Togetherness comes alive on shared adventures throughout your stay. Evenings are spent celebrating the day’s adventures around a blazing campfire as the sun sets over the mountains.

The feel of the ranch is like visiting a friend’s home, from the self-service wine cellar where couples can enjoy a hand-picked bottle on the wraparound porch of the lodge or take glasses back to personal cabins. A “boot-free zone” the main lodge offers slippers to guests, with a 38,000 square foot living room, beverages in a cooler and fully stocked “help yourself” bar, as well as a well-appointed spa with 24-hour steam room, sauna, and workout facility and elegant locker room facilities complete with chenille robes- heaven on earth is found in the wild west of Wyoming. Even the private dining room in the main lodge has elegant touches such as leather floors, antler chandeliers, and a walk-out porch complete with fireplace.

The resort offers nine luxurious Log Cabin Residences offering all the comforts of home from plush furnishings, refined Western decor, modern amenities and stunning views of the sprawling ranch landscape. The Cabin Rooms and Suites offers 12 restored rooms that artfully blend the authentic character of the hand-hewn log cabins with lush, refined modern comforts. Each features a unique theme from windflowers of the ranch landscape to the character of the cattle ranching heritage of Bruch Creek. The Trailhead Lodge offers 13 refined Western rooms featuring 28-foot ceilings, huge open-hearth fireplaces, grand dining room and refined Western library.

Magee Homestead is a secluded hideaway comprised of a private lodge and collection of seven historically restored cabins in a tranquil, creek-side setting tucked amidst rolling meadowlands and natural rock outcroppings with dedicated staff ideal for intimate gatherings. The walls of the luxurious Wyoming ranch are bedecked with a trophy hunt collection overlooking a Steinway seven-foot grand piano, hand-carved billiards table, poker tables and two indoor fireplaces. Outdoors, the Magee lodge features a spacious outdoor dining and entertainment patio with an outdoor fireplace and expansive views.

Pricing for this all-inclusive retreat starts at $780 per person, per night with a minimum 3-night stay, from here.

Rustic stone dwelling in a peaceful setting

This gorgeous compound in Wilson, Wyoming, adjacent to the Snake River, has been designed by Carney Logan Burke Architects. The John Dodge Compound is melded into a dense forest with open meadows with a blend of present day architecture and European heritage. In the architect’s words, “by emphasizing heavy stone and concrete masses, the design effects an expression of permanence suggestive of the traditional European country chateau. As a counterpoint to the dense materiality and massing of forms, the residence breaks down into three discrete volumes for garage, main living quarters (including a yoga studio), and master suite. Large expanses of glass lead to outdoor terraces, both elements serving to reflect the idiom of outdoor living in the American West. The residence reinforces its connection to the natural environment through integration of architecture and landscaping: a waterway extends from a pond at the sites north end and terminates in the south-facing courtyard, where it creates a contemplative focal point for the home’s entry.” The home also features sustainable design elements such as radiant floor heating, geothermal heating, responsibly harvested lumber, insulated concrete forms and high-performance windows.

Visit the website of Carney Logan Burke Architects here.

Extraordinary home immersed in the mountains

The Peaks View residence, designed by Carney Logan Burke Architects, is located near Wilson, Wyoming, in a grassy meadow, adjacent to the Teton mountain range. The design solution for the project had to satisfy two conflicting goals: the finished project must fit seamlessly into a neighborhood with distinctly conservative design guidelines while satisfying the owners desire to create a unique home with roots in the modern idiom. Within these constraints, the architect created an assemblage of building volumes to break down the scale of this 6,500 square foot home. This trio of buildings wrap around a south-facing courtyard, a warm refuge for outdoor living during the short summer season in Wyoming.

The roof of the living pavilion extends to create a covered outdoor extension for the main living space. The exterior is clad primarily in cedar siding; two types were used to create pattern, texture and depth in the elevations. While the building forms and exterior materials conform to the design guidelines and fit within the context of the neighborhood, the interiors imparts a well-lit, refined and warm character. Wood, plaster and simple detailing and materials completes the interior. Display for a Kimono was deliberately incorporated into the entry. Its influence on the interior can be seen in the delicate stair screen and the millwork which is conceived as simple wood containers within spaces. Ample windows provides excellent daylight and a connection to the site.