A Renovated Mountain Retreat You’ll Love

Picture a sprawling escape tucked away in the mountains, surrounded by manicured lawns and dense emerald forest. Inside, rustic wooden elements complement gleaming metal finishes and clean, neutral fabrics, creating the perfect balance between traditional and contemporary style. 

This is what our team at Cortland Design envisioned when we set out to renovate a private mountain home for one of our clients. It was no small task — the main residence encompasses four bedrooms, five baths, an office, a media room, and an outdoor living space. We were also charged with designing a three-bedroom, three-bath guest house on the grounds. Our talented interior design team worked to create a woodland getaway styled in perfect harmony with the great outdoors, offering ample space to entertain and accommodate visiting friends and family. The finished result is truly captivating.

“The space was designed for comfort with a casual yet refined mountain house feel. We focused on the family’s love for the outdoors and adventure,” said Darla Dillon, our VP of Interior Design.

Since the family is made up of avid hunters, we hung some of their prizes throughout the home, further contributing to a lodge-like look and atmosphere. What’s more, large windows throughout the home offer views of the surrounding woodlands, fully immersing occupants in the area’s incomparable natural beauty. 

One of the home’s crowning glories is its indoor/outdoor living space. It features a disappearing wall that blurs the line between the cozy interior and the great outdoors. It also includes multiple areas for seating, a beautiful hearth perfect for toasting smores and telling stories, and the flexibility to accommodate formal dining indoors or a more relaxed outdoor dining experience. 

Transforming this private residence and its guest house into a marquee home renovation project was a true team effort. Darla designed the guesthouse from the ground up and led the selection of finishes for the main residence, while our Director of Design, Jill Barnes, built a plan for furniture, window treatments, art, and accessories. The guest house was completed just a year ago. Its shiplap walls and ceilings mirror those in the main residence. However, it features a slightly more modern design aesthetic and a warmer color palette that also spotlights sage green accents. The team truly delivered a move-in-ready home complete with linens and tabletop selections. 

When choosing the right color palette for the home renovation project, our design team paid close attention to the owner’s preferences. We went with a monochromatic scheme of neutral whites and greys to serve as the base, with accents of soft sage green playing off the lush hues of the surrounding woods and bringing a subtle nod to nature indoors. 

“Our clients enjoy a neutral palette, which greatly played a role in highlighting the architectural details of the home,” said Darla.

Even though the furniture was monochromatic, we still used pieces that delivered that comfortable and cozy feel the client was looking for. This house also needed scale, and we needed to work with large rooms, so we delivered several focal points within each space that accomplished this, again allowing several areas for entertaining but ensuring it was functional and cozy. The family room was split into two seating areas with the fire on one wall and the TV on the other, with swivel chairs that are perfect for conversation and also serve to unite the two sections into one grand space if needed.

The renovation has been a collaborative effort that has culminated in a gorgeous mountain haven where every detail draws inspiration from the breathtaking natural beauty without. View the full renovation here.