Big Sky Mountain Retreat Makeover

Photography by Whitney Kamman and Kevin Chartier Photography

OPENING SPREAD: The remodel lightened up the original space and capitalizes on the breathtaking views of the Spanish Peak Mountains.

Randy and Gretchen Kendrick both grew up skiing, and now it is one of the ways they enjoy spending time together away from their busy jobs as CEO and COO of the successful industrial real estate firm, Xebec, which Randy founded in 1996.  Their search for a mountain retreat started in Colorado and Utah, but they were turned off by the crowds, so they set their sights on Jackson Hole, Wyoming, or Big Sky, Montana.  “We took a road trip and stopped in Jackson first, but all of the places we looked at were too far from the ski resort,” Randy remembers.  “So, we came to Big Sky, found this place, and fell in love.” 

Their three-level home, which is built elegantly into the topography, is an original production build in the resort community of Spanish Peaks Mountain Club with beautiful views of the Spanish Peaks Mountains.  “The way the sun lights up Spanish Peaks in the afternoon is a stunning effect,” describes Randy.  

While the home’s location was perfect, the layout and dated finishes didn’t quite suit their needs.  The couple loves to cook and entertain, so they knew they needed to expand the kitchen.  They also wanted to incorporate some elements that would reflect their work in logistics development and real estate, including stunning structural steel I-beams and a feature wall of perfectly cut steel plates affixed with high-tech flush screws laid in an attractive brickwork pattern in the new mudroom.  “It is really remarkable and ties in so nicely with the structural steel,” Randy says.  

Another catalyst for the remodel was an amazing three-piece rawhide chandelier that resembles Native American drums in various sizes that the Kendricks thought would make a stunning statement dangling from the massive log at the peak of the ceiling in the great room.  “That really got us started,” Randy says of the signature chandelier, which is just one of the many Western touches that makes the home unique.  

The chandelier hangs above a beautiful custom dining table, which was a collaboration between Cameron Marcoux of Montana Metal Art Company and woodworking artist Jesse Vint.  The table features a beautiful wooden top and steel legs and is flanked by upholstered gray chairs.  “Jesse is an incredible woodworking artist who is known for taking plain slices of wood that he floats into resin—it’s like the wood comes alive,” says Randy.  

These gorgeous cowhide chairs in the living room were a request from the owner. The artwork on the reclaimed mantel is by musician Chris Coleman—a tribute to the owner’s love of music and his extensive guitar collection.

Randy designed the glass-and-steel wine wall in the dining room, which stores best-loved bottles at a precise temperature and angle.  The beautiful custom cabinetry surrounds a captivating piece of buffalo artwork by Southwestern contemporary artist David Fredrick Riley who is known for tackling traditional subject matter in a modern way that balances realism with abstraction.  The painting is centered between and above climate-controlled custom wine cabinets.  The Kendricks liked the wine wall so much that they replicated it in their home in Newport, California.  

The couple assembled a team of professionals with deep roots in the region to make their vision for the remodel a reality.  It included architects Jamie Daugaard and Mariya Provost of Centre Sky Architecture, interior designer Kathy Tatom of Tatom Design, and builder Taylor Graham.  

The new palette of textures and colors in the home enlighten the initial space while still maintaining the rustic Montana feel.  Original logs were stripped down and refinished in a soft tannish-gray hue, and all of the planking on the ceiling was painted a fresh white color.  Reclaimed woods were brought in for the posts, ceiling planks, and cabinetry.  All of this is offset by fresh new white oak flooring and resized windows and doors that usher in the natural light and frame the gorgeous mountain views.  

“We tried to marry up soft white colors with the grays and tans of stone and reclaimed woods, and then you get that black punch from the raw steel, which is very live and interactive,” says Daugaard.  “All of these elements mesh together to give this home a really cool look.” 

The owners designed this custom wine wall that showcases the enchanting buffalo artwork by southwestern contemporary artist David Fredrick Riley.

Interior designer Tatom agrees.  “I love how we lightened it and made it updated but in keeping with the Western Montana flair.  We kept it warm with the steel, stone, and reclaimed timbers—it’s rustic but updated elegance.  Everything is very natural.” 

Those rustic Montana elements are on full display in the kitchen, which was expanded to make it “live bigger” and be more functional for the couple.  The heart of the home features reclaimed barnwood custom cabinets, a handmade creamy white subway backsplash, and a custom steel hood that compliments the steel wall feature in the entryway.  Tufted leather swivel barstools add a sophisticated element, while the honed and leathered granite countertops in a dark gray shade are both pretty and practical.  “We absolutely love those countertops,” says Randy.  “They have this matte finish that you can set pots on, but you can’t mess it up.” 

The hand-forged stairway leads to the reimagined master suite. The wall above the stairway was the perfect perch for the massive piece of art by renowned photographer David Yarrow.

The home’s original front porch was enclosed to create a sizeable and functional mud room that became a grand entryway for the home.  This space is full of windows, lots of storage, and includes a feature steel wall that hints at the industrial elements that are to come throughout the house.  

“The beauty was we only added five feet in two directions in the original kitchen and then enclosed the front porch and all of the sudden it’s this grand kitchen, dining, and entryway,” explains Tatom. “This beautifully updated Mountain cabin takes on a modern look while still maintaining the rustic feel of the West.  We worked hard to source reclaimed materials, Navajo rugs, and local art to create a unique Montana experience,” she describes.  

The upstairs bedrooms and loft in the original floorplan boasted the best views in the home, so that area was reconfigured to create a grand primary suite, complete with an exercise area, sitting room, en suite, and a spacious home office.  “When COVID hit, we had this beautiful office, and it was a game changer for us,” Randy recalls.  “Our business really took off during COVID, and we needed the remote workspace in order to keep up with the demand.” 

The original porch was enclosed to create this beautiful and highly functional entry room.

The rustic theme is carried into the master suite, which boasts reclaimed timbers in the ceiling, a Montana stone fireplace, and a custom reindeer antler chandelier.  To protect the views in this new suite but still allow for privacy, a glass and steel separator was installed at the top of the pretty stairway, which features reclaimed timbers finished with a warm brown wax and hand-forged steel railing.  

The master bathroom is a spa-like space with just the right amount of rustic elements. The tub sits atop a collection of smooth black stones that were hand-placed to create a Zen-like effect. 

Artwork is as central to the home as the natural mountain touches are.  In addition to the original buffalo painting, a huge David Yarrow original photograph adorns the stairwell—one of only a few of the artist’s works that is printed in color.  In the living room, a piece by musician and artist Chris Coleman of the bands Kings of Leon and Luna Halo is perched on a reclaimed timber mantel, a nod to Randy’s passion for playing guitar and his extensive vintage guitar collection.  

“This house has been such a blessing.  Everyone that comes in it is impressed—it’s like they just don’t expect it,” says Randy.  

Pendleton linens add a Western flair to the sophisticated primary suite.