They say nature is the ultimate muse, so it’s no surprise that a California-based author couple sought their ideal writing nook nestled deep within the mountains.
“This mountain home is designed as a creative retreat,” says Eric Logan, AIA, partner at CLB Architects, the visionary behind the project. The couple, both authors who also run an independent record label in Mill Valley, wanted a nature-focused getaway in Wyoming to fuel their writing – a place welcoming to both family and their Irish wolfhounds.
Nestled against an aspen grove at the foot of Wyoming’s scenic Teton Range, the 35-acre compound comprises three distinct structures: a main house, a guest house, and a dedicated writer’s studio. Each is carefully positioned to complement its specific location within the landscape.
“The property encompasses diverse ecosystems, with old-growth forest merging into stands of young pine and aspen before transitioning into rolling meadows,” Logan notes.
“The architecture embraces this, with open sightlines and sweeping views of the Grand Teton, the local wildlife, and the surrounding forests and meadows.”
The 6,000 square foot main house anchors the compound with its clean, rectilinear form grounded at the edge of the forest and meadow. Conceived as a “geologic remnant”, the house seems to grip the surrounding trees, its centre receding while its corners rise skyward.
The entrance makes a dramatic first impression. Built over a lowland creek, this area features a transparent floor section, while the charred Shou Sugi Ban exterior, textured with overhangs and openings, further underlines the home’s connection to the surrounding landscape.
Inside, the charred wood gives way to warm Atlantic cedar, complemented by the vibrant hues of Atlas rugs by Kyle Bunting x Douglas Friedman. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame panoramic views, blurring the lines between indoors and out.
HSH Interiors, who also designed the couple’s Mill Valley home, created an interior that reflects their bohemian spirit. A custom, tattoo-inspired bas-relief concrete fireplace anchors the living area, complemented by a Delavega sectional sofa.
A striking Stilnovo-style Murano glass and brass chandelier by Jean-Marc Fray illuminates the dining area. In the lounge, a vintage-inspired chandelier by Johanna Grawunder dialogues with a Campana Brothers Bolotas sofa, set against a custom Aqualille hand-painted wallpaper mural by HSH Interiors. The main house also includes three bedrooms, four bathrooms, a laundry room, and a spacious mudroom.
A short walk from the main house is the 1,577 square foot, three-bedroom guest house, echoing the main house’s architectural style. Further into the woods, the 580 square foot writer’s studio is enveloped by aspens. This two-storey structure offers a living space on the first floor and a dedicated writing space on the second, making for a perfect writing nook immersed in the tranquillity of the trees.
Throughout the compound, a sophisticated mix of wood, steel, bronze, custom-cast white concrete, bleached cedar, travertine, and onyx adds a sense of refined rusticity. The primary bath features Italian limestone floors, a monolithic bathtub, and a water-jet cut from a single block of limestone.
An earth-toned colour scheme, accented with mustard, blush, and burgundy, provides a backdrop for the couple’s art collection, which includes a floor sculpture from Future Perfect; vintage finds from 1stdibs; a LED word art installation by Robert Montgomery; a mirror and stone wall sculpture by Chen Chen & Kai Williams; rugs by Marc Phillips; a custom light fixture by Rosie Li/Remains Lighting; and more.
A work done “in concert with the landscape”, as Logan puts it, this dwelling is a dream come true for any writer. With a fourth structure under construction, this mountain sanctuary continues to evolve into the quintessential writer’s retreat.
Photography: Matthew Millman; Douglas Friedman; Aaron Kraft
