Out with the Timbers, In with the Windows — Mountain Modern Homes. At Kent Construction, we pride ourselves on staying abreast of everything happening in the world of custom homes. And, as you’ve surely noticed, in seemingly every new construction around town you see the use of expansive windows, exposed concrete and metal, straight lines, and a melding of indoors and outdoors into contemporary homes deemed “mountain modern.”
Gone are the massive timbers of mountain homes from the 90s and 2000s, the arched high ceilings, and wood, wood, and more wood. In its place are walls made of glass, concrete floors, and extensive outdoor living areas.
These are some of the trends we’re using in our new Kent Construction custom homes.
Merging the line between in and out
Mountain homes have been bastions of a sort, meant to protect the people inside from the elements raging outside. Often rather dark inside, these homes were a response to the cold temperatures, but also were limited by the available materials and technology of the times.
Contemporary mountain homes seek to eliminate the walls between indoors and outdoors. Glass technology has improved to the degree that we now build entire walls of glass. This makes the residents feel as if they’re outside, enjoying the natural light and spacious views, while still cozy and warm indoors by the fire.
Extending the rooms
We’re actually extending living areas outdoors, as well. We think of them as outdoor living rooms and kitchens.
Again, technology is allowing this to happen. Radiant heaters have come a long way from their earlier days where, to be effective, users had to sit directly beneath a large restaurant-style heater. Now, we use small, easily hidden radiant heaters to directly heat areas.
Outdoor fire features have come a long way, too. Contemporary outdoor fire features allow us to create various shapes and sizes, even using sculptural steel elements to radiate heat. When not in use, these fire pits act as design elements in their patio or porch setting.
The same can be said for barbecue technology. Modern barbecues are a far cry from the old gas offerings. With multiple cooking areas, options for warming, and stunning aluminum and steel looks, the barbecue can be the centerpiece of a full outdoor kitchen area, complete with sinks, tile countertops, everything to make the outdoor kitchen every bit as capable as the indoor version.
Changing materials, changing looks
New materials and technologically advanced lighting give us even more freedom in our modern mountain designs. Rather than lighting an entire room, thanks to LED lighting we can create pools of light where needed. This not only saves energy, but also creates an artistic pooling of light and shade in rooms.
We’re blending materials, combining rustic, traditional elements with sleek, clean, ultra-modern options. Finished concrete floors and countertops were never used in traditional mountain homes, but our clients now love these options for functional, unique design. We’re utilizing more recycled glass and other sustainable materials, especially throughout the interiors of our new work.
So, while we’re still building the occasional heavy timber design from the traditional mountain home look, more and more we’re building the sleek, comfortable, expansive look and feel of today’s modern mountain designs. You can see some of our latest work throughout this site, but we’d also be happy to show you some of them in person. Just give us a call at Kent Construction, 435-649-9394.
PO Box 682312 | Park City, Utah 84068
