Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1513541
20 | SIGNATURE MONTANA "We incorporated stone as a textural element on all sides of the fireplace in the great room and integrated a hidden coat closet behind a wooden plank," Shute notes. A two-sided wood-burning fireplace brings a coziness to the 675-square-foot cedar deck. e stone structure is flanked by a hot tub on one side and a siing area on the other. Veneered plywood sheet panels provide an elegant yet cost-effective finish to the deck ceiling. Shute is passionate about integrating sustainable elements into her designs, and the Big Sky Meadow Home is no exception. One such example is the structure's thermal barrier comprised of a six-panel sustainable building element that sandwiches 10-and-one-half inches of foam between sheets of oriented strand board. Sections of the exterior are clad with an exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS) for insulation and water-resistance purposes. In addition to an aached 950-square-foot, three-stall garage equipped with a dog wash station, the Big Sky Meadows Home also boasts two laundry rooms, a wet bar, a large walk-in master bedroom closet with bifold glass pocket doors and a skylight, and terraced landscaping complete with stone staircases and boulder retaining walls. "We used the line of the porcelain tile floor to guide the eye towards the windows and to enhance that directional quality towards the outside view," Shute explains. "You see the same view from the glass walk-in shower, which has its own window. And because of the positioning, there is still privacy." In addition to the home's in-floor geothermal radiant heating system, four gas fireplaces add serenity and warmth to various living areas, such as the master bedroom. e fireplace in the recreational area of the daylight basement features a concrete hearth, while the one in the study is clad with steel panels. S MT Holly Matkin is a native Montanan who lives with her husband at the foot of the Elkhorn Mountains. She covers a wide variety of topics as a freelance writer for multiple local and national publications, and especially enjoys writing travel, history, and human interest pieces. The study features a built-in work area and a gas fireplace with access to the cozy outdoor sitting area beyond. Heated concrete floors and a wet bar make the daylight basement an enjoyable recreation area.