Architecture: Locati Architects & Interiors | General Contractor: North Fork Builders | Distributor: Montana Sash & Door
Eclectic Farmhouse
Set on 147 acres near Bozeman, Montana, Over Yonder Farm began as bare farmland and has transformed into the homeowner's primary residence with fully functional agricultural buildings. The goal was to remain faithful to a traditional farm and homestead layout, while incorporating modern and Scandinavian influences.
"When we began the process of interviewing architects and builders, we found ourselves looking at portfolios of homes we were trying to avoid – the typical, heavy-handed log and rock home prevalent in Montana. When we met with Greg Dennee of Locati Architects, we knew he could provide us with a home that would break that mold. In time, we also partnered with North Fork Builders who already had the experience as well as an appreciation for the modern, rustic home. We knew it would be a challenge to merge all the styles I love – industrial, Scandinavian, modern, rustic – into one seamless home for our family of six," recalls Anne Olson.
We knew it would be a challenge to merge all the styles I love – industrial, Scandinavian, modern, rustic – into one seamless home for our family of six.
Reconstructing Present as Past
The house was designed to give the impression that it was constructed over time, by utilizing a rustic log cabin, weathered and white clapboard siding and stone structures, along with modern additions including the great room extension and black framed windows.
The home's interior is a blend of open-plan living and more traditionally defined rooms. Waxed plaster or white paint started as a blank canvas and was warmed up with natural materials such as wood and stone. The floors are lightly white-washed and sealed with a matte finish. Plaster returns on the windows and modest trim on the door frames and baseboards emphasize the clean lines that run throughout the house.
And no Scandinavian home would be complete without a wood stove in the kitchen!
Repurposing Found Objects
The team took advantage of local flea markets, antique shows, as well as Craigslist, chairish.com, and eBay to source a variety of unique items incorporated into the house. The mudroom boasts fiberglass chairs rescued from Bozeman's old Greyhound Bus Station. The two iron posts in the great room are from an old gas station in Illinois. The music room's barn doors are made from steel windows from MSU's old science building, and the master vanity is a converted factory workbench from Texas. Other antiques sourced locally include a dough bowl converted to a sink, gym lights, various old doors, and a steel window hung horizontally in the master from a torn down building in downtown Bozeman.
…we couldn't be happier with our home and the experience for our family was fulfilling and unifying.
Upcycling Structures
Not only were found objects incorporated into the home, but portions of other structures were upcycled as well. A cabin from Wyoming was reassembled and now houses the powder and laundry rooms. The wood beams and platform bed in the master bedroom, as well as the kitchen island, were created from reclaimed barn wood from Anne's family farm in Minnesota originally built in the mid-1800s.
"I must confess, I never wanted to build a house; the thought of picking out every faucet and light fixture was overwhelming to me. But being on the other side of it we couldn't be happier with our home and the experience for our family was fulfilling and unifying," said Anne.
Photos © Longview Studios, Inc.