Spotlight on Montana
Expert Q&A's from this high-country destination
Photo: George Theodore/Danita Delimont
Mother Nature doesn’t play favorites, but if she did, Montana would surely be her most beloved. Spanning from the majestic Rocky Mountains in the west to the Great Plains in the east, the spectacular beauty of the Treasure State radiates throughout its snow-capped peaks, pristine alpine lakes and rivers, and 17 million acres of national forest land including Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.
Big adventures in Big Sky Country range from unparalleled outdoor sports and activities, year-round festivals and a thriving arts culture to a rich history steeped in a diverse heritage of Native American culture with glimpses of yesterday’s Wild West.
One of the fastest growing states in the country, it’s no wonder that Montana has captured the hearts of visitors and residents alike. Perhaps that’s why it’s also home to a thriving community of talented designers, architects, artists and artisans.
Here, we introduce you to a few of the dedicated professionals inspired by the natural beauty of the landscape and the easy going, live-and-let- live lifestyle of Montana and dedicated to contributing to its future with creative energy and innovation.
Perfectly Balanced
Photo: Kene Sperry Fine Art
Fine art photographer KENE SPERRY’S striking black-and-white images inspire us to recognize our deep connection to nature and one another.
What is the intention behind your deeply moving work?
My intention is to evoke a remembering that we’re deeply connected to nature and interconnected as one; to tap into the childlike wonder and awe that is innate and embedded within every one of us and is truly what keeps us alive. I would love my art to bring a playful, exploratory inquiry which allows us to move back into nature and back into our hearts.
How do you hope people approach your art?
My hope is for the viewer to come from a heart-centered space; to inquire what’s arising in themselves as they move through it; to go inward and feel the work rather than approaching it on a thinking level. As an artist, nature
and animals and spaces are continually showing me that everything is divine and perfect and completely balanced. My work is about tapping into that and remembering that we are all whole and complete as well.
Tell us more about what you mean by “the trickery of photography.”
All photography is about the concealing and revealing of light,
that is, the duality of light and dark. There is a common perception that we all have this deep shadow within us, this dark recess somewhere in our subconscious; we don’t think we are enough. But like photography, there is darkness and light within all of us. And the parts of ourselves we don’t want to look at are the parts we need to shine light on. All our soul wants is to be seen, heard, understood and held.
What is the effect of living with art in our home spaces?
Art is perception, and there is a symbiotic, infinite relationship between art and the viewer. You will have a different relationship with it every time you look at it depending on your energy, your mood and whatever is arising inwardly within you. This infinite relationship with the art and the viewer will travel from home to home as heirloom pieces get passed down to children, family or friends. Art ultimately lives in the heart, which is our eternal home.
Kene Sperry, owner and creator
406-581-2574
Bozeman, Montana
Quality Design
Photo: Courtesy of Locati Architects
Get to know the experienced team at LOCATI ARCHITECTS and you’ll find an extraordinary group of individuals with a wildly diverse range of talents focused on connecting clients to the landscape and each other.
The past few years have felt like a mad scramble across the board in the homebuilding industry. Are you seeing any let-up on the frenzy?
We haven’t seen much of a slowdown in construction in the Rocky Mountain West. What we have seen is that people are more intentional about what they are building, given the current high cost of construction. Focus seems to be on creating long-term, family legacy homes as opposed to building something with the thought of resale. We are also seeing a movement to ranch and rural properties, with folks investing both in the creation of a family home and the conservation of the land that surrounds it.
Along with this, have you observed a shift in homeowners’ priorities? What seems to be at the top of homeowners’ priority lists these days?
There is renewed interest in building responsibly. This ranges from simple things like a reasonably-sized home to more complex considerations like thermal efficiency, energy independence, and integration of intelligent control and management to have a better performing home that is easier to own long-term. We are even seeing the term “inheritable” home to suggest that investing in good design and lasting homebuilding techniques will allow the home to carry for generations as the host of family activity.
Distinctive Mountain Architecture
Photo: Courtesy of Precisioncraft Log & Timber Homes
For over three decades, the specialized team at PRECISIONCRAFT LOG & TIMBER HOMES has been combining extraordinary design with authentic log and timber construction and has earned a reputation for creating the world’s most distinctive mountain-style homes.
Are design options limited when a homeowner chooses a log or timber-frame home?
Every log or timber-frame home project is unique because every client is unique, so our award-winning in-house architectural design firm, M.T.N. Design, offers a vast portfolio of conceptual designs for inspiration. Depending on the client’s vision, we can modify one of the conceptual designs in our portfolio, combine elements from multiple floor plans, or custom design a home from top to bottom.
How do you make the home building process easier for your clients?
Our signature Design-Fabricate-Build service gives clients who want a mountain-style log or timber-frame home the luxury of working with one local company from start to finish. Our seasoned team of in-house sales, design, and construction management professionals works together to ensure a seamless approach to helping each client create their dream home.
Do your homes offer any eco-friendly features?
Energy efficiency is contemplated from the foundation to the roof of every PrecisionCraft home. Our homes have an integrated structural shell that includes insulated concrete forms (ICFs), structural insulated panels (SIPs), and custom- fabricated log and timber materials. When this family of integrated products are used together, the result is an energy- efficient home that is as beautiful as it is comfortable.
PRECISIONCRAFT LOG & TIMBER HOMES
Todd Gailey, Client Representative
800-729-1320
Montana
Luxury Importers
Photo: Courtesy of IGS
IGS, a boutique natural stone supplier, is a multigenerational family-owned and -operated company on a mission to help homeowners and industry insiders alike connect with the finest stone from around the world.
What kind of experience can customers expect from IGS Montana? And is your showroom open only to industry insiders?
Our expansive and exclusive inventory gives customers refreshing options, and our location allows customers throughout Montana
a super convenient and accessible location to view the products in person. Any and everyone is welcome in our doors; no appointment needed, just pop in and find your perfect stone.
Those who have experienced purchasing stone can testify that photographs never do it justice! Our customers—homeowners, fabricators, builders, project managers, etc.—deserve to have a nearby location they can rely on for easy access to view their stone needs. Allowing our customers the advantage to see stone face to face goes a long way.
Why does quality stone matter?
We always say, “Natural stone is just that—natural. Its imperfections are what make it perfect.” With that in mind we work with the best quarries around the world to inspect these perfectly imperfect blocks before they ship them across the globe. This allows us to provide fabricators with a material they can work with to create amazing outcomes.
Where do you find such an amazing selection of stone for your inventory?
Cory Ellsworth, owner of our family-run company, is our curator. He has been in the stone industry for over 30 years, and he’s damn good. His experience has allowed him to create relationships with stone experts in Italy, Brazil, Spain and other countries around the world. His distinctive taste for stone allows us to have a unique and beautiful inventory that rivals any other.
Elevated Living
Photo: Courtesy of Montana Expressions
The talented team at MONTANA EXPRESSIONS has been serving Bozeman, Big Sky and beyond for over two decades. WIth an eclectic collection of fine furnishings and accessories and superior interior design services, they are dedicated to bringing their clients’ visions to life.
How does your design team help clients put their own unique signature on their home?
Listening carefully to our clients helps us better understand their personality, style and needs, which enables us to design a home that truly speaks to their lifestyle. In our experience, unique homes are made up of many pieces from different times of life and different places.
Accessories are key to creating a cozy home; family pictures, plants and cherished heirlooms give a warm, lived-in appeal. To assimilate these collections of meaningful objects into a new design is truly the thread of your life woven into a new space called home.
On the retail side, tell us about some of the unique offerings your retail shop offers to industry insiders and homeowners alike.
For over 20 years we have showcased a blend of modern designs and antique pieces. Throughout this time, we have learned a lot from our customers and clients about what they are looking for. We personally select quality pieces that speak to all lifestyles in our community. From a unique, wavy white couch and antique Swedish cookie molds to the perfect candle, we strive to find something for everyone.
Our sales team loves finding pieces for customers, as well. Whether you are trying to track down the perfect accent chair or need help putting together a gift for a loved one, we’re here to help.
Addi Sires, Owner
406-585-5839
Bozeman, Montana
ML Promotion
As seen in the September/October 2023 issue
