21 Nov Western Design: At the Woodline

ARCHITECTURE | KA ARCHITECTURE
CONSTRUCTION | LOHSS CONSTRUCTION
LANDSCAPING | SOLSTICE LANDSCAPING

Vicki Podberesky and Peter Lauzon’s home is nestled into an aspen forest like a proverbial fairy tale — a cozy cabin, whose lighted interiors beckon visitors to come in out of the cold, snowy night. Its solid and timeworn presence graces the smallest of clearings on several acres, where they had their design and construction team make just enough space to position the home amid the trees. A hidden spring at one end of the property draws elk and deer to drink and graze while Mount Blackmore in the Gallatin Range and Granite Peak in the Beartooth Range rise in the distance.

Outdoor living designed on the south side of the cabin ensures maximum seasonal usage when the weather grows warm. During the winter, fresh snow muffles the forest as purple skies frame the secluded site.

Although located within the Spanish Peaks Mountain Club in Big Sky, Montana, their land at the end of a cul-de-sac is large enough that there are no nearby neighbors, so the modest home feels secluded and private. Montana moss rock and reclaimed barnwood on the exterior speak a rustic language, with only the slightest of contemporary detailing provided through exposed steel on large glass windows and doors. At 3,600 square feet, the couple’s cabin in the woods is a far cry from their 1920s Art Deco-inspired home in Los Angeles. “Being from LA, we don’t see a lot of trees,” Podberesky says. “We just fell in love with the property in the middle of the forest.”

While the couple interviewed many professionals, they chose architect Keith Anderson of KA Architecture and builder Chris Lohss of Lohss Construction to design and construct their home, reserving the interior design for themselves. The architect specified fixed finishes, such as countertops, and recommended specialty contractors like Northwood Cabinets to build custom cabinetry, and the homeowners sourced lighting and furnishings that spoke of an uncluttered backcountry design with a modern hint.

Architect Keith Anderson painted the artwork, Between Heaven & Earth, that hangs above a vintage console in the foyer, gifting it to the homeowners upon the home’s completion.

“I encouraged Vicki to personalize the interiors and add her special touch,” says Anderson. Podberesky was excited to take on the design; though a practicing attorney,
she holds an undergraduate art degree and never gave up on the idea that she would get a chance to immerse herself in a design project at some point.

“I appreciate Keith so much for what he brings to the table,” Podberesky says. “He is caring, sensitive, open to dialogue, and he was willing to go on a journey with us.” 

Their back-and-forth collaboration on the home’s architectural design allowed the couple to make changes along the way to best suit their lifestyle. “We wanted a longer dining space for family gatherings,” Podberesky explains. “Keith changed rooms so it would work. He and the builder reworked other spaces as the walls were going up, opening up areas or changing wall sizes as needed. It’s one of the reasons we loved the process so much; the architect included us in the creation of our home, which allowed us to make the spaces our own.”

Ten-foot-tall cabinets and a 16-foot-long stone island give the kitchen presence. Its weight centers on the dark countertop, with reclaimed lumber, open shelving, and weathered-steel details beneath beam-lined ceilings.

An architect with artistic sensibilities, Anderson begins every project with a series of drawings and color sketches to help the client visualize the home and more easily make decisions. Only after the manual iterations are completed does he move to technology — computer drafting and video walk-throughs of the proposed home. “Keith took us to see flooring options and made suggestions based on each plank’s lightness, darkness, and rusticity,” Podberesky says. “He then took those samples back to create mockups for us. Having visuals like the texture and color boards helped us add design touches that were unique; they created reference points for us that helped us make choices. We could easily see how raw steel offsets soft wood tones, or how plaster on the walls catches the light in a certain way.”

The music room is homeowner Vicki Podberesky’s favorite spot: a cozy alcove off the primary suite with dropped ceilings and a freestanding Malm fireplace that heats the space.

In the interiors, the architect employed a natural-materials palette — reclaimed and new wood, limestone, and plaster — as a foundation for the homeowner to showcase her design style. The home’s restrained rusticity provides a backdrop for a neutral color scheme energized with lively prints and textures. Podberesky chose a dynamic patterned rug for the living room, for instance, that animates the achromatic, but highly textured, furnishings. A clean-lined contemporary sofa from Croft House in Los Angeles mixes with vintage finds — a leather lounging chair and an antique side chair and coffee table — to compose an uncluttered aesthetic.

The straightforward palette gave Podberesky a chance to bring in statement pendant lighting to hang over the dining room table. “I had my eye on some Italian glass fixtures for that spot,” she says.
The Foscarini pendants she chose were hand-created in the famous Murano region of Venice, Italy, the glassblowing capital of the world. They impart the feel of a deep heritage while also exuding a modern vibe.

The builder removed just enough of the surrounding aspen and pine trees for the home’s projected footprint so the owners wouldn’t lose the feeling of being in the forest. At winter dusk, the house glows like an ember, its light pooling across snow-topped pines and underscoring the site’s seclusion.

The materials and color palettes flow across the open floor plan. Podberesky began the adjacent kitchen’s design by choosing a brown tile by Heath Ceramics, which is laid in a stack bond pattern to enhance the clean look. Anderson used the tile as his baseline for choosing the wood in the room. The tile’s sleek finish blends with cast-iron pendants, a bonderized steel vent hood, nubby upholstered bar stools, wood-grain cabinetry, plaster walls, and an earthy Cambria countertop for visually interesting textural variety.

“The neutral, rustic backdrop allowed me to use art and rugs as the focal points,” Podberesky explains. “It was a way I could add warmth to the design.”

Under a blanket of dappled winter light, a vintage Swedish wall hanging and mid-century modern Plycraft lounge chair mix with a new Lawson-Fenning bed and Rejuvenation sconces for a storied look.

The architect also incorporated elements to fit the couple’s specific interests and lifestyle. Since they have extensive collections of art, books, and vinyl records, he included plenty of wall space for hanging artwork and designed bookshelves in many rooms for displaying collectibles. One such room that the couple calls the music room is a favorite, and an area they specifically requested from the architect. It serves as an anteroom to the primary bedroom, with dropped ceilings, built-in shelves, and a Swedish Malm fireplace in a cozy nook that is simultaneously open and snug. “I love to spend my mornings in there with coffee, a view of the trees, and music,” Podberesky says.

The primary bathroom’s freestanding tub looks over the hidden spring that refreshes local wildlife.

While cozy interiors were a focus, the open living room faces south, gathering the warmth of the sun throughout the year. It was a natural extension to design outdoor living that could be used for several months of the year on this side of the home. Huge windows open from the living room to overlook a broad stone terrace, complete with a hot tub and steel planters that impart LA flair for a modern touch. A private firepit and nearby community hiking and biking trails complete the experience.

Podberesky knew from the beginning that she would spotlight handmade Italian lighting in the dining room. Foscarini Murano-glass pendants and an elongated layout anchor the room’s simple, modern-rustic palette. “I enjoyed shopping for the pendants that personalize this space,” she says.

“We had never built a home before this one,” Podberesky says. “We had peace and serenity about the process because of our team. We don’t regret one choice we made; it was a very thoughtful process, with curated spaces that we actually use. The final design is simple but warm, with mountain and forest views and a balance of hard and soft surfaces. It’s joyful to think we have created a place where our family can come for generations.”

The living room looks over an expansive outdoor terrace, where homeowner Peter Lauzon can be found grilling and smoking meat when entertaining family and friends from Los Angeles.

Dana W. Todd is a professional writer specializing in interior design, real estate, luxury homebuilding, landscape design, architecture, and fine art.

Charles Stemen is a photographer and creative director whose artistic vision bridges architecture, adventure, and outdoor storytelling. Based in Bozeman, Montana, his work celebrates the spaces and landscapes that connect us all to the Mountain West. Off the clock, you’ll find him on the Ridge at Bridger Bowl or exploring nearby ranges.