Stellar
Nestled into the side of a mountain in the foothills west of Fort Collins CO, this home gives mountain views a whole new meaning.
To achieve the homeowners’ desire for floor-to-ceiling windows in just about every room, we started by constructing a steel superstructure anchored to the granite bedrock. And then we basically filled it with wood and windows.
Speaking of windows, huge sliding windows open up the kitchen to the covered outdoor kitchen, blurring the lines between indoors and out. Upstairs, the observation deck accesses the same view, only from above the pines.
On the practical side, the exterior and interior wood lap and tile siding, with local stone accents, are both Nichiha brand products made from fiber cement. Nichiha siding is both fire resistant and weather resistant to give the homeowners peace of mind in the Colorado Front Range’s dry, sometimes challenging, climate.
Similarly, the tongue-and-groove ceiling and soffit woodwork is Pakari, a wood product made by thermally modifying (i.e., baking) wood to make it more durable and fire resistant as well.
The ballasted roof, accented by custom metal facia and built to handle the load from wet spring snows, also reduces the opportunity for flying embers to snag should a wildfire erupt near the home.
This grand home isn’t without comforts, either. In-floor radiant heat keeps it toasty when it’s chilly out, and an EPA-approved wood-burning fireplace provides warmth and ambiance without nasty emissions. A full home automation system senses motion and turns on the lights as one progresses from room to room. And the two home offices make use of custom built-in desks and storage to frame the view. Who needs artwork?