Full Circle Lodge, A family house on Bitterroot - The Munsterman ...
Full Circle Lodge, A family house on Bitterroot - The Munsterman ...
Full Circle Lodge, A family house on Bitterroot - The Munsterman ...
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130<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Full</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Circle</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Lodge</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<strong>The</strong>re<br />
are few things more elemental than a circle of st<strong>on</strong>es<br />
placed <strong>on</strong> the ground to cradle a fire. With all that shifts expo-<br />
nentially around us, scattering our attenti<strong>on</strong>s and energy, a fire<br />
ringed by lichen-textured chunks of rock remains powerful in<br />
gathering us close, and keeping us together.<br />
In northwestern M<strong>on</strong>tana, nestled in a cove of Little<br />
<strong>Bitterroot</strong> Lake, is a home that centers <strong>on</strong> just such a fire circle.<br />
Between the <str<strong>on</strong>g>house</str<strong>on</strong>g> and the lakeshore, at the base of tall pines,<br />
resides a ring that has been rebuilt and strengthened from its<br />
primitive beginnings. Family and friends have gathered for<br />
years at this site, and with the creati<strong>on</strong> of the Engel home at<br />
Crystal Cove, the traditi<strong>on</strong> carries <strong>on</strong>.<br />
A <str<strong>on</strong>g>family</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>house</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Bitterroot</strong> Lake<br />
finds the balance between retreat and guest<str<strong>on</strong>g>house</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Story by Alethea Schaus Photography by Heidi L<strong>on</strong>g<br />
“It was very important to us to keep the original fire-pit<br />
in its locati<strong>on</strong> that we enjoyed next to the lake while camping,”<br />
explains Helen Engel. We centered our great room off of the pit<br />
to bring in a feeling of every<strong>on</strong>e who has camped before us.”<br />
From the natural rock balc<strong>on</strong>y entrance of the home<br />
overlooking the great room, a striking view of the lake and tall<br />
pines shines through expansive south-facing windows. You are<br />
drawn outdoors to the lake - an innate feeling of c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> to<br />
lakeshore st<strong>on</strong>es, water, and pines. <strong>The</strong>re are birds-- ravens,<br />
eagles, lo<strong>on</strong>s, Canada geese. <strong>The</strong>re are smooth beach st<strong>on</strong>es to<br />
palm and a clear expanse of water that settles the mind.<br />
“One of the things that we really wanted to accomplish<br />
Below: <strong>The</strong> fire pit near the lake remains a central gathering space for the Engels and their loved <strong>on</strong>es.<br />
Opposite: Uniting the home with its surroundings, designer Dale <strong>Munsterman</strong> designed a solid structure of timbers and st<strong>on</strong>e. Creating spaces that integrated<br />
indoor-outdoor living was a priority to the Engels; they enjoy the covered patio and fireplace that overlooks the lake until the snow flies.
Big Sky Journal HOME<br />
131
132<br />
Utilizing the skill of Flathead Valley’s R & R Builders, the Engel’s selected comforting<br />
elements for c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> materials: post and beam c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>, logs<br />
and st<strong>on</strong>e.<br />
with this home is to be living <strong>on</strong> the lake and bringing the<br />
outdoors in and the indoors out,” says Helen. “We wanted a<br />
building site that would fit into the land and blend in with the<br />
nature that we enjoy. We were very careful to try to preserve<br />
the original ambiance and terrain, while adding in the rest of<br />
our favorite elements.”<br />
According to the Engels, they spent days walking the<br />
property with designer Dale <strong>Munsterman</strong>, before initiating<br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>. <strong>The</strong>y returned to the same place, to the fire circle,<br />
which was then in its primitive state, to chat about things and<br />
to gaze up the hillside. So<strong>on</strong> it was evident that they had found<br />
the place, or rather, the place had found them.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are smooth beach<br />
st<strong>on</strong>es to palm and a clear expanse<br />
of water that settles the mind.<br />
“We felt that while sitting around the fire circle, we had<br />
found the “sweet spot” of the property,” says <strong>Munsterman</strong>.<br />
“With that in mind, we oriented the great room and entry axis<br />
with the fire circle. This allowed us to situate the home in an<br />
existing saddle, which minimized the soil disturbance and<br />
amount of trees that had to be removed.”<br />
From the st<strong>on</strong>e beach below the home and fire circle, the<br />
view stretches uninterrupted down the lake. An island just<br />
offshore hosts tall p<strong>on</strong>derosa capped with an enormous eagle’s<br />
nest. <strong>The</strong> couple’s property extends hundreds of yards down<br />
the shore, all wild trees and open water. Natural landscaping,<br />
by Bruce Boody Landscape Architect, Inc. of Whitefish, weaves<br />
in with rock walkways leading up to the outdoor patio facing<br />
the lake. An enormous Jacuzzi tub sits <strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong>e side of a two-<br />
sided outdoor wood fireplace while an outdoor grilling and<br />
dining area, complete with propane heaters mounted above,<br />
occupies the other.<br />
While the Engel home is grand, roughly 4,000-square-<br />
feet, it is unpretentious.<br />
Although David and Helen had spent many years remod-<br />
eling and learning what appealed to them, Crystal Cove was<br />
the first home they’d built together. A principle goal, accord-<br />
ing to the Helen, was “to build a <str<strong>on</strong>g>house</str<strong>on</strong>g> that was comfortable,<br />
grand and unpretentious, but without a lot of wasted space.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> couple is quick to celebrate <strong>on</strong>e of the best aspects of<br />
the project--- the dynamic team that made it possible. Together<br />
with M<strong>on</strong>tana/California/Idaho Designer Dale <strong>Munsterman</strong>,<br />
M<strong>on</strong>tana Builders Chuck and Brad Roberts of R&R Builders,<br />
M<strong>on</strong>tana/Idaho Log Homes, and M<strong>on</strong>tana decorator Maureen<br />
Cordoza of M<strong>on</strong>tana Expressi<strong>on</strong>s they feel they truly have<br />
achieved a master crafted <str<strong>on</strong>g>house</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
“Spending many years vacati<strong>on</strong>ing at Lake Tahoe with<br />
our <str<strong>on</strong>g>family</str<strong>on</strong>g> and children, we had always dreamed of building<br />
a home <strong>on</strong> a lake to enjoy together and have as a retreat,” says
Even the kitchen overlooks Little <strong>Bitterroot</strong> Lake, where the <str<strong>on</strong>g>family</str<strong>on</strong>g> enjoys preparing large meals for visitors and relatives. Deep copper sinks in the central island<br />
and window area are offset by an ir<strong>on</strong> trimmed copper hoot; cabinets were installed by Old World Cabinetry of Whitefish, Whistler Tile and St<strong>on</strong>e of Kalispell supplied<br />
the granite.<br />
Helen. “We loved the rustic mountain homes rich with logs,<br />
beams, trusses, st<strong>on</strong>e and natural light. <strong>The</strong> post and beam,<br />
craftsman style and cozy cabin feeling were our allure.”<br />
Chuck Roberts of Flathead Valley based R & R Builders,<br />
has been building custom homes in the west for over 30 years.<br />
After semi-retiring, he returned to the craft with his s<strong>on</strong> Brad<br />
about six years ago forming R & R Builders. Chuck first met<br />
David and Helen while working <strong>on</strong> a home, for a different<br />
builder at that time, for some of their <str<strong>on</strong>g>family</str<strong>on</strong>g>, also <strong>on</strong> Little<br />
<strong>Bitterroot</strong> Lake.<br />
“I’ve really gotten to know David and Helen <strong>on</strong> a per-<br />
s<strong>on</strong>al level,” says Roberts. “And that helps so much with the<br />
design.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Engels are the most <str<strong>on</strong>g>family</str<strong>on</strong>g>-oriented people I’ve<br />
worked with over the years — I’ve met the parents, the sib-<br />
lings — for them, <str<strong>on</strong>g>family</str<strong>on</strong>g> is everything. From the beginning,<br />
David and Helen kept saying that the kitchen had to be big<br />
enough for every<strong>on</strong>e. And after all of our effort in building,<br />
they are really going to use the home and enjoy it — and that<br />
feels really good.”<br />
After enjoying the lakeshore, a tour of the home begins<br />
with the kitchen. On the way in from the patio, a giant antique<br />
cowbell hangs from a sculpted ir<strong>on</strong> bracket <strong>on</strong> the dining room<br />
wall. It <strong>on</strong>ce hung from the str<strong>on</strong>g neck of a Swiss Brown, its<br />
t<strong>on</strong>e unique to the ears of its herdsman. <strong>The</strong> couple found it<br />
years ago while traveling in Switzerland.<br />
<strong>The</strong> dining room is open <strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong>e side to the great room,<br />
outfitted <strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong>e end with a bar—complete with a refrigerator,<br />
a small wine cooler, and a deep copper sink. A large shining<br />
silver bear sits atop the bar, ready to hold a full magnum of<br />
champagne.<br />
<strong>The</strong> kitchen is made for entertaining, and in force. Helen<br />
is <strong>on</strong>e of 10 siblings and the couple welcomes gatherings of<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>family</str<strong>on</strong>g> and friends often. Centering the space is an enormous<br />
Big Sky Journal HOME 133
134<br />
granite-topped island. Helen and David worked with Whistler<br />
Tile and St<strong>on</strong>e of Kalispell, handpicking the slabs, both for the<br />
kitchen and dining room. Deep copper sinks made in Mexico,<br />
supplied by Old World Cabinetry of Whitefish, are set into the<br />
granite, matching that in the dining room bar. Drawers pull out<br />
with ample shelf space for pots and pans. All the amenities are<br />
here, ready for a gang of chefs to c<strong>on</strong>vene.<br />
In c<strong>on</strong>trast to many large homes that marry the great<br />
room and kitchen/dining room spaces, the Engel home main-<br />
tains a separate kitchen.<br />
“I can be in here with the music turned <strong>on</strong> and dancing<br />
around while I cook while others are enjoying something else<br />
in the other room,” says Helen.<br />
Wide stairs climb up from the kitchen, flanked by book-<br />
shelves set al<strong>on</strong>g the wall for treasures. <strong>The</strong> entry from the<br />
Clockwise from above: Custom millwork trimming the doors and windows<br />
of the home invoke a sense of old Craftsman style, an ir<strong>on</strong> railing was cast<br />
to resemble tree branches and the parchment faux painting <strong>on</strong> the walls<br />
throughout the <str<strong>on</strong>g>house</str<strong>on</strong>g> was applied by Eureka Painting, Inc.<br />
<strong>The</strong> master bathroom is a sanctuary that overlooks the forest above the lake.<br />
<strong>The</strong> dining room opens <strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong>e side to the great room, combining the social<br />
elements of entertaining.
<strong>The</strong>re is a definite feeling of drama here, as <strong>on</strong>e pauses below a massive moose and<br />
elk antler chandelier before descending into the great room and dining room<br />
garage is here, and a bench with peg racks sits ready for coats<br />
and boots in the winter seas<strong>on</strong>. Off of the landing is a large<br />
laundry room with open counter space, cupboards, and a fold-<br />
down ir<strong>on</strong>ing board against the wall. A window offers views<br />
of larch and pines against a blue sky. <strong>The</strong> couple enjoys turning<br />
this space over to guests when they stay while they shift their<br />
use to a stackable washer/dryer in their master bathroom.<br />
Another wide flight of stairs leads from the landing up to the<br />
upstairs hallway and guest bedrooms. All of the walls in the<br />
home are painted in warm, earthy, t<strong>on</strong>es and faux style, by<br />
Eureka Painting, Inc. Helen describes the feeling as “being<br />
hugged.” Skylights, which are automatic and will close if they<br />
sense rain, channel natural light into the wide hallway. In this<br />
hallway, the high-set windows and wide, dark wood trim<br />
around the doors and windows str<strong>on</strong>gly invoke the feel of an<br />
older craftsman style home.<br />
Each of the three guest bedrooms have been designed<br />
to welcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>family</str<strong>on</strong>g> and friends in full comfort, with full closet<br />
space and full bathrooms. Each has its own theme — <strong>on</strong>e is the<br />
“Mountain Woods” room, another a cozy “Bunk Room” with<br />
two log bunk beds for kids, and the third is the “Western”<br />
room. Each bathroom is likewise themed to match the room,<br />
down to the drawer pulls. Outlets have been designed into<br />
the drawers for c<strong>on</strong>venience. Each room has its own log-railed<br />
porch offering a view into the pines and to the lake below.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Circle</str<strong>on</strong>g> 79 On Reader Service Card<br />
Past the bedrooms, a set of stairs leads back down into<br />
the main entryway—a natural rock balc<strong>on</strong>y that looks into the<br />
great room. Above, two-foot diameter double-stacked rough-<br />
hewn log beams run toward the wide south-facing windows.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is a definite feeling of drama here, as <strong>on</strong>e pauses below<br />
a massive moose and elk antler chandelier before descending<br />
into the great room and dining room, or c<strong>on</strong>tinuing <strong>on</strong> to the<br />
master bedroom. Ir<strong>on</strong> railing cast to resemble tree branches<br />
lines the curving rock wall that cradles the great room below.<br />
Big Sky Journal HOME 135
136<br />
<strong>The</strong> Engel’s master bedroom and bath suite is, like the<br />
rest of the home, outfitted with the amenities the couple<br />
enjoy— “we’re major ambiance people,” Helen says — auto-<br />
mated room-by-room music, modest flat screen televisi<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
wireless access, lighting that can be adjusted via remote. While<br />
they enjoy hosting visitors, they enjoy just as much a sense of<br />
retreat.<br />
An immense natural st<strong>on</strong>e fireplace reaches high<br />
to the double-stacked beams above.<br />
Windows that look out to the lake surround a Jacuzzi<br />
tub in the bath. His and her’s sinks and toilet rooms were<br />
important to the couple, and a “do-up” table for Helen was a<br />
must, complete with lights. C<strong>on</strong>sistent throughout the home is<br />
an efficient and creative use of space – this holds true again in<br />
a room just off of the master bath. With a wood floor, speak-<br />
ers, and <strong>on</strong>e wall a huge mirror with a dance barre, Helen can<br />
do yoga or dance. And hidden <strong>on</strong> the wall behind the mirror<br />
Beautiful, innovative, energy-efficient windows and doors.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Circle</str<strong>on</strong>g> 80 On Reader Service Card<br />
remains evidence of the creative process — various samples of<br />
paint color from which they chose their final finishes.<br />
Returning to the heart of the home, descending into the<br />
great room. <strong>The</strong> home has the ease of a smaller cozy cabin. <strong>The</strong><br />
curving rock wall of the balc<strong>on</strong>y entry way serves as a partial<br />
wall embracing <strong>on</strong>e side of the room, while the wide south-<br />
facing windows overlooking the lake offer a degree of passive<br />
solar heating in the winter. An immense natural st<strong>on</strong>e fireplace<br />
reaches high to the double-stacked beams above. A flat panel<br />
televisi<strong>on</strong> is mounted to the right of the fireplace and folds<br />
away into the wall when not in use. <strong>The</strong> furnishings are well<br />
made, unique and works harm<strong>on</strong>iously, yet are unpretentious.<br />
But what’s most noticeable about the Engel’s lodge at<br />
Crystal Cove is that it is a home made for <str<strong>on</strong>g>family</str<strong>on</strong>g> and friends,<br />
to use and to enjoy, together.<br />
Four locati<strong>on</strong>s serving you in<br />
M<strong>on</strong>tana and Northern Wyoming.<br />
P e l l a W i N d o W & d o o r S h o W r o o M S<br />
2520 Grand Ave. Billings <br />
1001 Oak St. Bozeman <br />
1825 Hwy. 93 S. Kalispell <br />
2800 S. Reserve St. Missoula <br />
H