2751 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bath, study, ~1/2 acre, designed by local architect Lee Kierig. This home is listed for $479,900 (I am one of the two real estate agents) and is part of the Grants Meadows community. 22 homes, all designed by this architect. This is the first completed one. What do you guys think?
View ImageFront door, with built ins, office doorway, and nookView Imagekitchen, with granite countertops, butternut cabinets, stainless appliancesView Imagefireplace and big great room wallView Image ‘her’ vanity….’his’ is about 1/3 this sizeView Image View Image
Replies
Those things that look like ladder rungs up the end of the bld'g are so you can get above the snow drifts.
Actually, Hamilton is in the 'bananna belt' of Montana. We are just as likely to get rain as snow in the valley. We are at about 3500 feet. There is, however, significant snow at 6000+ feet (how convenient, that's the elevation of Lost Trail pass and the bottom of the ski area there. :-)
Those things that look like ladder rungs up the end of the bld'g are so you can get above the snow drifts.
I thought they looked like RR tracks. House has almost a RR depot look on the outside.
Wonder if those prairie style wall sconces are really supposed to be pointing down? My inclination would be to have them pointing up.
But jesse has a nice house there. If that is ballpark price for that area, it should sell OK.
jt8
"You can say any fool thing to a dog, and the dog will give you this look that says, `My God, you're RIGHT! I NEVER would've thought of that!' " -- Dave Barry
not my style, but i like some of the detailing
don't see any gutters . . . does the winter snow tend to rip them off?
Actually, it does have gutters. If you look at the far left of the first pic, you can see the rain chain.
aaahhh . . . sneaky
It's definitely got that western montana style to it, a mixture of rustic cabin/huge trophy home. Nice cabinets.
zak
"so it goes"
Where to start? First off the installed landscape is.... cheap?! The sconces are going to be hard for older folks to change bulbs in. The cabinets in the kitchen necesitate(sp) alot of lighting do to the dark color. Looks nice from the outside. Still looks like a "second tract home". Not trying to offend, but you asked.
That looks very Montana. I spent a few years living there. My first reaction was the LP was too high, but considering where you're at, and the interior details . . . probably not.
The detailing I like the most. Interior way more than exterior. The cabinets, I dunno. There is something appealing in the look, but it would take me a bit to get over how dark and gloomy they are. Near as I can tell though, the trimmer had to have a heck of a time in there. That would have been a fun one to trim out.
The transoms, nice touch.
So the questions I have - what are the "ladder" things for? they seem like a liability - place for water to sit. And the timberframe portions and the stair contrast starkly in color with the entry trim and cabinets. Are they staying that way?
"Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think -- there are no little things" - Bruce Barton
I kind of like it. Some of the details I would like differnet, but I basically like the style.
The onlything that really turns me off is the double set of cross gabled roofs. The exterior shot looks like a double exposure.
Probably looks better from other angles.
I like the place, the fireplace chimney is a little plain not a big deal.
What's wrong with me? I could ask you the exact same thing.
designed by local architect Lee Kierig
Me thinks he has been influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, especially evident in some of the interior detail.
The style is not to my liking, and wouldni't go over too well in TX. Is that a typical Montana style?
How large is the lot?
DEFINITE Prarie influence!!!
I like most of the interior, but the exterior seems clumsy, needs refinement.
I think there was a comment indicating that maybe you were sneaking this in as an advertisement - against the rules for BT, but you may wish to consider sending it to the editors for potential inclusion of the Homes annual issue. I have no opinion on that, but this is interesting
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
I like the exterior of the house very much from a design standpoint. There's a lot to look at without being overwhelmed and it doesn't scream of ego to me. But the landscaping is pathetic. I don't know anything about Montana though.... maybe that's what it all looks like out there.
I like the staircase and I like the idea of the post and beam..... but together it looks a bit like a mistake to me. With that post in the middle of the balcony view it looks like the cheap seats at the old Boston Garden. I do like the color of the wood in that area very much though and think the home would be better served if all the woodwork were that color.
I just really don't like all the dark wood in the trim, cabinets, and wainscotting. It's just too dark for me. That's purely just preference, but it looks like my grandmother's house with all that dark gloomy woodwork. It also limits future choices of paint color in the rooms which would bug me.
That fireplace would have been a stunning feature if were done in field stone (or even cultured stone) from hearth to ceiling and would have tied in nicely with the theme of the house I think. Countertops are beautiful and bath tile looks nice as well.
Exterior A-
Interior C-
Landscaping F
But whadda I know?
Hey everybody, thanks for your responses. Does this really seem like an ad? Moreso than everything else? I thought since I do actually post content in here that it might be OK (I still work part time in a timberframe shop, and before that was a high end remodeler).I was curious to hear what everyone thought - and it is fascinating to see the range of responses. I think that might be a good thing and a bad thing here - you either like it a lot or you think its hideous. All the details are very much a signature of this architect. He has designed a TON of stuff right around here (and its a small community) and everyone recognizes it - and from a long ways away. My pictures make it look a little darker than it really is. It's tough to get all the windows in without getting too much glare. Anyways, thanks again...and I might add a few pics later tonight or tomorrow that show some different features. In any case, at least this builder does stuff right. Everything is flashed properly, fixtures are high quality, all siding and trim is primed and/or painted on all sides, and they are blowing R-25+ into the walls and R-50 into the lid. I would have preferred to have seen radiant instead of forced air, but these houses are on spec so I guess they couldn't justify that.
It looks nice and all, but I’m more interested in the mechanics of the build. Got any pics of the house during the construction process? It doesn’t really matter all that much how shiny it is if you have to rip out the walls in a few years to fix struct problems, repair ceilings/walls due to shoddy flashing etc. <!----><!----><!---->
<!----><!---->Let’s see the pictures of “… this builder does stuff right. Everything is flashed properly, fixtures are high quality, all siding and trim is primed and/or painted on all sides, and they are blowing R-25+ into the walls and R-50 into the lid.â€
How big are the lots?
I think of Montana as being a place you can have some space. Seems like for that money you should be able to get a lesser, but still pretty impressive house, along with some trees & privacy.
Even here in NH, I'm always surprised that people will pay half a million bucks for a Mcmansion that's only 30 feet away from two or 3 identical houses, in plain sight of a major highway. For the same money, you could get the same house with one or 2 fewer dormers and some elbow room on a quiet country lane.
Don