A reader named Alicia wrote me about the house in Montana she built on 180 acres near the small town of Ennis.
She says, “It’s a pretty special place. Kind of rustic but with a bit of English country style. It’s tucked in a forest of Cottonwood trees, but we have unobstructed mountain views of the Madison range from the front door.”
She found my blog while searching for photos of the house from On Golden Pond: “We recently purchased a little cabin in the mountains out here in Montana and my decorating plan for it is similar to the home in the movie, only with a bit more Adirondack-rustic thrown in.”
That means selling this one first, though. Take a look!
A House in Montana with Rustic English-Country Style
“Jack Creek flows just steps away (full of brook trout!), and there’s a private pond nearby.”
The house has 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, and 3,100 square feet.
“The centerpiece of the living room is the rock fireplace. It is wood burning, and we use it as the main source of heat in the winter (and occasionally in the summer too…this is Montana, after all!).”
“All the fixtures in the main areas of the house are created from antlers. They are shed naturally every winter by deer and elk. A company based right here in Ennis creates these magnificent chandeliers.”
She says, “I love a library-dining room, so I lined the walls with overstuffed bookcases. I found the awesome stove at auction….it is not hooked up, but hopefully a future owner will take the time to do so, as it would be such fun to enjoy a dinner on a snowy evening with the stove blazing!”
“The windows showcase the view of the pond, and all the animals that visit it…most often, moose and deer.”
I love her kitchen, which she says is her favorite room in the house: “It functions beautifully, and believe me, we put it through its paces every day! The farm sink is a true antique.”
“My mother was an avid collector of Blue Willow, and I love being able to display a small portion of her collection.”
“The contrast of the rough and rustic next to things that are more fragile and refined is interesting to me. I also feel a need for color, warmth and softness when there is so much wood throughout the house.”
“I ADORE dark walls….they just disappear! I can put anything with it and it always looks beautiful. The budget didn’t allow for wood paneling in the bedrooms, so I had to settle for drywall. But it gave me a place to play with more color.”
She had fun decorating the bathrooms: “I found this great old window with its original advertising painted on it. It makes a great mirror, although it can be hard to see a good reflection of yourself. Fortunately, my son is 13, so he doesn’t care how he looks! The old dentist’s chair is fun to sit in and recline.”
“I love to use antiques,” Alicia says. “They add so much character, and the scratches and dents
from our active family only add to their patina!”
“I never like a bathroom to look all white and sterile….I want it to look like a REAL room! I had fun with the master bath creating a library feel. The oriental rug, bookcase and wood vanity really make it fun to be in there.”
“The game room (a.k.a. the man cave) is a fun place for all of us to hang out with friends.
The couch folds out for guests and there is stove in the corner for cozy heat.”
The Laundry Room:
“Thanks to our special location, we see abundant wildlife including moose, dear, elk, bear, bobcats, antelope, river otters….the list goes on and on.
“A barn, chicken coop, and tree house complete the homestead. Our home is about 60 miles from Yellowstone and just 15 from Big Sky Ski Resort.”
“Our land, as well as all the surrounding Ranchlands, are protected in a conservation easement that guarantees no future development will take place. This paradise will remain intact for all future generations.”
I love it when readers share their house stories with us. Thanks to Alicia for sharing her house in Montana with us!
Visit Prudential Montana Real Estate for all the photos and details about the property.
Wonderful mix of antiques. The kitchen sink is so perfect for the charm factor alone. The crowning points that put it over the top for me are the spectacular pond (would totally love to watch the animals come to it) & the rainbow shining from above. Truly magical.
“Magical” is a good work to describe it!
This a stunning home. I love it! I am not usually a fan of so much wood paneling, but it is so perfect here. The kitchen is great, I have my cabinets painted the same color! I really like her idea of making the bathroom looks less “bathroomy”. Love her use of patterns in rugs, quilts and game boards. The more I look the more I love, and the location is to die for!!!!! I can’t imagine selling this home…and if I had $1,999,999.00 I’d buy it in a heartbeat.
Absolutely awe-inspiring. I love every square inch of this place! I can’t believe anyone would want to give it up!
I told her I want her to share her new cabin with us when she gets it decorated. I can’t wait to see what she does next! 🙂
Stunning home, really well decorated, and the setting is from a picture book. I could imagine spending many hours around that huge dining room table with the family! Best of luck to her.
I love that big dining table!
Well that is just fantastic! I love this house, especially that first interior shot. She did such a great job of decorating, and the views are amazing. I still prefer ocean over mountains, but if money was no object and I could have both, I’d go for it!
I love it all!
Okay, so you had me at Rustic English-Country Style.
The exterior was totally my taste, with the dark wood, the chinking + red accents.
Man, do I love red!
Meanwhile, that library bathroom really makes a gal want to ramp up HER game, doesn’t it?
I’m loving the red with the wood, too. So cozy!
Gush! Gush! GUSH!!! This house and property is SO amazing!!! That porch and that creek are calling my name;) Tooooo Beautiful and peaceful:D
“Peaceful” is a good word for it. I don’t think I’d get much work done if I lived there. I’d be too busy staring out the windows… 🙂
Stunning place!
Wow – just wonderful! Love her western rustic + English country aesthetic. Love her mix of antiques and her library rooms – cabinets and shelves full of books lend such comfort and enticement to a room. I’m sure though, like you, Julia, that I’d spend most my time staring out the windows!
Gorgeous place! Does anyone else notice that they’ve used two different dining room tables? I know I’m weird, but stuff like that is distracting to me! OCD anyone? 😉
You’re right! I like them both. Maybe one of them has already made its way to their new cabin in the mountains? 🙂
Wow, Ci….you are good! I hadn’t noticed the table switch-up. I think I prefer (at least in this setting) the more casual, harvest table, as opposed to the drop-leaf.
I noticed that, too! Like them both, but I love that large drop-leaf table! The listing photo also shows a sleigh bed in the green bedroom instead of the Old Hickory style log bed. Wonder if it’s made its way to the cabin, too?
Good eye, Carolyn! I hadn’t noticed the different beds. Need to look again! 🙂
What a beautiful home. It’s location is a little bit of paradise!
This is breathtaking, what a treasure they have in their hands. Why sell it? I would buy it if I could!
Hi Julia! Another special post!!! That is just an amazing setting!!!! Alicia did a wonderful job, I always love a mix of rustic and feminine! Well done! I can’t wait to see her next project! Thank you both for sharing!
This lady’s sense of style really inspires me. This home is beautiful and timeless. It’s obviously decorated in her own personal style, rather than any trend from a magazine anywhere. I love it when people can create something that is truly unique, and beautiful. I drool for that red couch, and so many other elements. Our home is also a mix of English (or rather made up European) and log cabin style in a lovely natural setting. Now what are you supposed to do with that? She’s show that the only answer is to make it up yourself. Hats off!
I agree, Wendy, I love the originality of this place! It reminds me a bit of a bed and breakfast I stayed at once; the main difference being that the log cabin B and B was furnished completely in the English Lodge style, whereas this is a wonderfully eclectic mix of rustic and traditional. Alicia should be a designer!
Oh my goodness! This is gorgeous. I wish it was near me and not so far away, I would buy it.
The library-inspired bathroom is AWESOME. 🙂
you have a fan in Missoula Montana too!!
I’d love to visit Montana someday. It looks so beautiful!!