Press, Awards & Industry Recognition

He eventually found the perfect spot on which to build his long-term home: 14 acres of riparian forest. It didn’t have the amazing mountain views that many homeowners covet, but it did offer an abundance of privacy. There were two existing structures on the property—a little guesthouse and a barn-like RV garage. He briefly toyed with the idea of remodeling the guesthouse and living there, but it was too small to be a gathering place for his family and all the friends who would inevitably be invited for long ski weekends.

As he began assembling his architecture and design team, the homeowner kept refining his vision. He wanted a home that was simple and casual with a definite “mountain-masculine” look. Because there were no mountain views, he wanted the pond to be the focal point. He was clear about having a home that would be the right size for himself and his dogs but would also “feel good when I have a full house.” In addition, he was definite about avoiding any wasted space. “I want to use every room and every piece of furniture—not just walk by it every day,” he says.

Christopher Lee, principal of Jackson, Wyoming-based Design Associates Architects, whose firm dates back more than 50 years, remembers those first client meetings. “The homeowner didn’t want anything too flashy,” he says. “He wanted to refurbish and update the two existing structures and, as we designed the main house, he wanted to make sure the three buildings worked in harmony.” The RV garage was completely gutted and reimagined as a boathouse-like party barn and media center, where the family frequently gathers to canoe on the pond or simply sit on the deck and dangle their feet in the water. The guesthouse was transformed into a welcoming one-bedroom, one and a half-bath sanctuary (with a living room and full kitchen).

Lee sited the 4,443-square-foot, single-story main house as close to the water as possible. The architecture was influenced by Teton Valley’s old agricultural buildings. Lee says, “They are simple, uncomplicated structures that have an honesty about them.” As he describes it, the home, which sports three bedrooms and 3 1⁄2 bathrooms, is designed as three “blocks” (the main bedroom wing, the central living space and the guest wing) with a light-filled shotgun hallway running along “the spine” from end to end. The central living space is slightly taller than the other two and has barnwood walls, but, instead of running the boards horizontally, as is the custom, Lee chose to run them vertically “so the eye soars upward, making the space seem taller.”

Andrew Miller, partner of Jackson-based JH Builders, says, “The vast glass windows were manufactured in Poland, which is able to produce massive sheets of crystal-clear glass of a size and transparency that does not exist in North America … Maybe it is the Baltic Sea sand.” “The entire wall of glass [in the central living space] opens up to views of the pond,” the homeowner says. He has seen otters, ospreys and herons who come to feast on the trout. Deer and elk are regular visitors and, once, a mother moose with two calves. This land-and-waterscape of natural grasses, wildflowers and shrubs was designed by Pauline Chu, principal of Rooted Landscape Architecture in Jackson, to mimic the surrounding meadows and wild lands.

When it came to interiors, the homeowner says, “My mother was a maximalist—a collector of many amazing things—but I was often chastened for knocking stuff over.” He chose Jackson -based WRJ Design Associates to create a home emphasizing great craftsmanship and simplicity—he wanted only a few well-designed pieces. “He wanted it to be minimalist and beautiful but not ‘precious,’” says WRJ co-founder Rush Jenkins.

The WRJ team incorporated a subtle tone-on-tone palette— soothing grays, creamy whites, warm earth tones—throughout the home, with a focus on natural materials such as antique limestone, white marble, natural linen, leather and soft cash- mere (the latter evident in the soft-underfoot rug in the main bedroom). The furnishings have a European sensibility. Many were imported from around the globe or designed by WRJ and made by local craftspeople. “We are inspired by the natural world, and [our work] is informed by the rest of the world,” says WRJ co-founder Klaus Baer.

In the quietude of early evening, the homeowner sits on the porch with a glass of wine. A badger cautiously emerges from the tall grass and sniffs the air. Not sensing any danger, it waddles down to the pond to drink. “I fell in love with this land from the moment I saw it,” says the homeowner, “but this is so much more than I had hoped for.

—
Credits

Craftspeople:
HENRYBUILT
PACKSADDLE ROAD
SUSAN J CREATIONS
HELIUS LIGHTING GROUP
DSM MASONRY CONTRACTOR

Home Technology: PREMIERE SAV
Architecture: DESIGN ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS
Interior Design: WRJ DESIGN ASSOCIATES
Construction: JH BUILDERS
Landscape Architecture: ROOTED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Landscaper: MOUNTAINSCAPES

“The homeowners brought a more modern, European sensibility to the project,” recalls Carney Logan Burke principal Eric Logan. “It was a great opportunity to design a home that was responsive to place, not derivative of the National Park Lodge style that we saw so often back then.” But the recession halted construction, leaving the project in search of new owners.

Fast-forward to an afternoon in 2013, when a California couple walked into WRJ Design’s King Street showroom in Jackson and met with owners Rush Jenkins and Klaus Baer. “They were looking for a home at the Snake River Sporting Club,” Jenkins says. “I said, ‘why not buy this house?’”

Immediately recognizing the home’s extraordinary potential, with “the exterior finishes and sloping lines of the design merging the home into the surrounding terrain,” the couple hired the WRJ team of Jenkins, Baer and senior designer Sabrina Schreibeis to complete the project.

“We selected WRJ Design specifically for their expertise in cultivating this experience,” says the wife, referring to the home’s harmonious quality. “In collaboration with our general contractor, Teton Heritage Builders, WRJ emphasized a contemporary aesthetic focusing on clean lines with minimal wood trim” to create “a quiet and calming” interior space.

Looking back on the 11-year journey from beginning to completion, Teton Heritage Builders’ Greg O’Gwin is proud of the finished home. “The homeowners gave us the opportunity to build a masterpiece out of their exceptional collaboration with WRJ Design.”

The first step for WRJ was learning how the homeowners planned to use the home. “Lifestyle comes first, before style,” Jenkins says. “How we are going to live, not just how it looks,” he adds. “Great design lifts the soul.”

Responding to the homeowners’ lifestyle cues, the WRJ team reconfigured the original seven-bedroom floor plan to include five bedrooms, a media room and offices. “We were hired to complete the interiors, from soup to nuts,” Jenkins says. “Interior architecture, electrical, plumbing—a bigger project than we had ever done before.”

“Great design lifts the soul.” –Interior Designer Rush Jenkins

Inspired by a recent trip to the Salone del Mobile market in Milan with its spare European contemporary approach, WRJ began by thinking about lighting, sourcing cutting-edge decorative fixtures that installed directly in ceilings and outlets recessed with nary a bump marring perfectly smooth surfaces. The futuristic features, installed by SAV Digital Environments, continued with solar window shades that disappear into ceilings, automated drapes and virtually invisible speakers hidden behind walls.

“The architect had brilliantly designed lift-and-slide glass doors in the living room and master bedroom that disappear into the walls,” says Jenkins. “The automated insect screens descend, and you can lie in bed and feel like you’re camping … but without bugs.” “Camping on cashmere!” adds Baer. “It’s glamping at a whole new level,” agrees Jenkins.

WRJ approached the home’s interiors like a work of art, designing and commissioning every element of furniture, art, drapes and finishes. And while the floor plan honors the unbroken line, the arrangement of furnishings allows for flexible use within the spaces, tailored to the homeowners.

In the living room, subtle layers of texture in floor-to-ceiling Loro Piana drapes and sumptuous cashmere throws warm sleek surfaces. A seating area in front of the fireplace invites entertaining, with swiveling captain chairs that allow guests to put their feet on the hearth or turn back to the sofa for conversation. In a more intimate grouping, four custom-made Holly Hunt chairs seat two people each, so four couples can chat comfortably.

Throughout the home, bespoke pieces telegraph the talent of area artisans, including draperies fabricated by Jackson’s Stitch Upholstery and a leather-covered entry console by Idaho woodworker Jim Berkenfield, crafted to a design by WRJ’s Schreibeis and leatherwork by Amanda Jordan. “The homeowners were intentional about wanting to support local artists,” explains Baer. “We also helped them select the home’s gorgeous art from artists around the region.”

In the master bath, a special commission by Jackson artist Kathryn Mapes Turner of two cranes references the bird’s association with good fortune and longevity. Mating for life, cranes are Japan’s “bird of happiness.”“It’s glamping at a whole new level.” –Interior Designer Rush Jenkins

Those references resonate with the homeowners. “Upon entering the home, you are drawn to the calming palette, luxurious textures and soft natural light,” says the wife. “The experience is warm and inviting.”

And despite the high-tech features, handcrafted artwork, and the remarkable opportunity to create an ideal home down to the tiniest detail, “ultimately we are most proud of the emotion this home evokes,” says Baer, mirroring the homeowners’ sentiment. “The sense of tranquility and harmony. The serene experience as you move from space to space.”

Creating a Bespoke Home

“Our approach starts with understanding the needs and priorities of the homeowner,” says Rush Jenkins of WRJ Design Associates. “We love creating one-of-a-kind pieces, and it’s thrilling to work with clients who appreciate bespoke work for their home.” Below Jenkins offers tips for identifying the best location for custom pieces in a home.

ONE Understand which areas in the home call for unique and bespoke pieces. Often, custom-designed furniture is an investment, so identifying the best areas to showcase pieces should be carefully identified. 

TWO Harmony between aesthetic, function, scale and material should all be considered. Drawings and detailed specifications are very important to make sure the designer, homeowner and fabricator are all on the same page. 

THREE Selecting the right combination of materials is key to the overall success of a piece. Woods, leathers, bronze and metal, as well as many other materials, are exciting to use. 

FOUR To create harmony and balance, the relationship between the custom pieces as they relate to the other furniture, fabrics, wall treatments, floor treatments and lighting in the room must be considered. 

FIVE Custom and bespoke pieces can become wonderful family heirlooms to pass down to future generations.

—

Credits

Civil Engineering: Mountain West
Lighting: Helius
Electric: West Pointe Electric
Hardware: Rocky Mountain Hardware
Custom Craftmanship: Teton Heritage Builders

Architect: Carney, Logan, Burke Architects
Interior Design: WRJ Design Associates
Construction: Teton Heritage Builders
Landscape Design: Verdone Landscape Architects
Technology: Premiere SAV