The design of this 2,400-square-foot “lodge” by Cushing Terrell is a personal reflection of the homeowners’ sense of style, life experiences, and love of the land. With steep topography at the back of the lot and incredible views all around, the house would have ordinarily been situated in the center. But, this would have impacted a large field where deer and elk come to feed. So, instead, the family chose to leave the field natural and untouched. Tucked into the far side of the lot with minimal disruption to the site, the residence was named Fat Deer Lodge by the family’s daughter.
The living spaces are oriented toward views of Trapper Peak. So, no matter where you are in the home, you have a framed view of the mountain via large windows.
The house was intentionally designed to look minimal from the front and blend into the tree line. In comparison, the back of the house is expansive with “walls of glass” that create a tree-house-like feel.
The goal was to design an intimate home, just the right size for their living style. The open, sweeping shed roof and windows that look out into the trees and the mountains beyond give the feeling of a much larger space.
While the home incorporates nods to a Montana aesthetic with rough reclaimed wood beams, it is very modern. A simple material palette, white oak floors, and tall ceilings anchored by a floor-to-ceiling fireplace create an open, light-filled space.
Cushing Terrell design team
Jesse Vigil (Project Manager))
Charlie Deese (Project Architect)
Ryan Markusen (Architectural CADD Technician)
Project Team
Architecture: Cushing Terrell
Contractor: Garber Construction Inc. / Chuck Garber
Structural Engineer: Cushing Terrell
Mechanical Engineer: Subcontractor to Garber Construction
Electrical Engineer: Cushing Terrell
Photography
Heidi A. Long / Longviews Studios
Here is more of Cushing Terrell’s work: A Vacation Home in a Montana Mountain Valley
