Nestled just outside Kalispell, Montana, Ashley Lakehouse is a 3,000-square-foot family cabin designed by Workaday Design and constructed by Eisenhart Builders in 2022. This modern take on the vernacular cabin style blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings, creating a retreat that’s perfect for multi-generational gatherings.
The design features two gabled structures connected by a sleek glass hallway, offering a balance between privacy and breathtaking views. The home is a harmonious marriage of functionality, comfort, and modern aesthetics.
Exterior: Blending with Nature
The exterior of Ashley Lakehouse is clad in matte black finishes, ensuring it blends effortlessly into the surrounding forest. This minimalist palette creates a dramatic yet understated presence amidst the tall pines. Narrow windows along the approach to the home provide glimpses of the sparkling lake while maintaining privacy. On the lake-facing side, expansive glass walls invite the beauty of the outdoors inside, offering panoramic views.
A covered patio anchors the main living and bedroom spaces, complete with a double-sided fireplace. This central feature creates a cozy ambiance for both the indoor living room and the outdoor patio, making it a favorite spot year-round. Several small seating zones flow from the patio down to the lake, enhancing the connection to nature.
Interior: Bright, Warm, and Inviting
Inside, the home’s design is as thoughtful as its exterior. To combat Montana’s long, gray winters, the interiors feature bright white walls, radiant concrete floors, and warm white oak accents. These elements brighten the space while adding warmth and texture.
Pops of colour are strategically introduced, with blue and green tones reflecting the hues of the adjacent lake and forest. For example, the main cabin’s terrazzo backsplash incorporates blue stone aggregate, while the guest cabin, tucked deeper into the woods, leans into green accents.
The Heart of the Home
The primary gable houses the kitchen, living, and dining spaces, forming the heart of the home. A retractable glass wall opens the main living area to the lake-facing patio, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor experience. Adjacent to this communal area is the main bedroom suite, designed for ultimate relaxation with stunning lake views.
Guest Cabin and Multi-Generational Design
The second gable is designed with utility and comfort in mind. It features a guest room, media room, and an ingenious bunk room that’s perfect for the grandkids. Each of the four built-in bunk beds is designed to feel like its own mini room, complete with white oak nightstands, reading sconces, and storage shelves. This cozy yet practical space reflects the home’s overarching goal: to create a welcoming environment for multiple generations to gather and make memories.
Kids’ Bathroom: Playful and Functional
The kids’ bathroom is a playful and inviting space, blending functionality with vibrant design elements. The centerpiece is the Nood Co Pill Basin in Copan Blue, paired with sleek white tapware. The walls and floors are clad in white square mosaic tiles, creating a bright and cohesive backdrop. A cheerful yellow shower curtain adds a pop of color, complementing the custom timber vanity and floating shelf. The integrated bath makes the space practical for younger family members while maintaining the home’s cohesive design aesthetic.
Powder Room: A Statement of Style
The powder room showcases a thoughtful mix of materials and textures, featuring Nood Co’s Bowl Cylinder Basin in Mid Tone Grey with a Copan Blue Tray. Deep green subway tiles with white grout, timber paneling, and polished concrete flooring complete the mid-century modern design. The space is a perfect example of how even the smallest rooms in Ashley Lakehouse are crafted with intention and style.
A Contemporary Take on the Cabin
Ashley Lakehouse reimagines traditional cabin design, blending modern architecture with timeless materials and thoughtful functionality. The result is a family retreat that’s equally suited for peaceful solitude and lively gatherings. From its matte black exterior to its warm, light-filled interiors, the home reflects its stunning Montana surroundings while standing as a testament to contemporary design.
January 08, 2025
Anastasia Ignatova
