A splash of white from the darkened Montana forest — this residence isn’t scared to stand out. But there’s much more to the home than its distinctive exterior. Geothermal heating, a passive solar design, a rain-catching water method and rooftop solar panels are simply a few of the ecofriendly considerations that lessen this home’s carbon footprint. Marty Beale and his team at Mindful Designs carefully incorporated innovative and environmentally friendly methods, in a stunning home that reflects the customer’s contemporary and somewhat whimsical style.
at a Glance
Who resides: A household of 4
Location: Whitefish, Montana
Size: 3,500 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 5 baths
Mindful Designs, Inc..
Several areas border the south side of this site. The dearth of trees allows the low winter sun into the home, helping to warm it.
Mindful Designs, Inc..
On top of the biggest level roof, a 40- by 30-foot deck provides 360-degree views of the Stillwater River and surroundings. A system that is water-catching below allows runoff to become a pond.
Decking: Tigerwood; furniture: clients’ own
Mindful Designs, Inc..
The exterior is motivated by the clients’ love of the Greek shores. The stucco works well with the continuous exterior insulation on the walls and roofing. The brown section holds the staircase.
Mindful Designs, Inc..
On the floor, a polished and stained concrete floor has enough mass to catch warmth from sunlight. In-floor underfloor heating and above-code spray-foam insulation from the walls keep the home comfortable year-round.
Mindful Designs, Inc..
The kitchen is set off from the remainder of the home. One of the clients wanted a space where she could cook and prep meals privately, without being bothered by guests. The island and countertops are barely visible from the kitchen entrance, also, so the jumble is easily hidden.
Forest Stewardship Council–certified bamboo closets have a dark grey zero-VOC stain. The habit cement island adds color and a whimsical touch. A four-panel bifold glass door on the right opens to a shaded exterior dining room.
Kitchen Cabinets: Jerry Short Custom Cabinetry; island: custom green concrete combination; countertops: concrete; hood: Ventahood; faucet: Danze; espresso maker, oven, stove: Miele
Mindful Designs, Inc..
A 9-foot-tall and 21-foot-wide sliding glass pocket door sits on the south wall. During warm weather the doors can completely disappear into the dual exterior walls. During winter sunlight filters in through the insulated glass and warms the cement floor.
Mindful Designs, Inc..
Although underfloor heating is the primary heat source, Mindful Designs also installed a couple of propane sealed nonelectric fireplaces, such as this one from Spark Modern. Since the home has such great air circulation and insulation, an air conditioning unit was not necessary.
Mindful Designs, Inc..
The clients’ playful, minimalist style could be understood in either the furnishings and the design.
Above the fireplace, a small-flat screen TV hangs onto a roller frame for art.
Mindful Designs, Inc..
Forty percent recycled shingles lines the walls onto the second and first floors. The clients opted to use all-zero-VOC paints from Mythic Paints.
Beale and his team used nearby, sustainably harvested larch wood for the upstairs bedrooms. A number of the upstairs bedrooms also have sky tubes to get natural light. Much like skylights, they let the light, but a room of air helps control the room temperature.
Past the bed in this master bedroom, three panes of glass pivoting hardware direct into the master bathroom.
Wall paint: Monorail Silver, Mythic; pendants: Hunter Design
Mindful Designs, Inc..
Concrete floors has been used in the master bedroom for easy maintenance. Water-saving fittings and low-flow toilets help reduce water waste.
Wall tiles: Bedrosians; bathtub: Americh Contura; windows: Tilt and Turn, Unilux
Mindful Designs, Inc..
At a downstairs powder room, Beale and his team designed a pedestal for a Kohler sink from a piece of ironwood the clients had collected — it once helped hold up a bridge in Indonesia.
Mindful Designs, Inc..
Doors and the windows in the home exceed Energy Star criteria. Solar panels on the roof help produce electricity. The residence is linked to the local power grid, and the owners were the first in the region to sell power back to the power business.