Contemporary Aesthetics and in Town Convenience

Newer construction provides modern inspiration for the mountain home.

by Staff Writers

Contemporary and “mountain modern” homes continue to be drivers within the Jackson Hole real estate market as buyers are drawn to the benefits inherent within the property styles—newer construction; bright and flexible living spaces; and efficient floor plans that maximize square footage and simplicity. As the local housing market continually evolves, these styles are becoming increasingly prevalent within the town of Jackson, where smaller lot sizes and required property set-backs place greater constraints on design than elsewhere in the county.

80 Nelson Drive is one of few contemporary properties in East Jackson that benefits from elevated Teton views. Sited on an oversized, .47-acre lot on the lower flank of Nelson Butte, the three-thousand square foot home nestles into the surrounding hillside.

Blending contemporary styling with traditional elements, the home’s exterior eschews some of the genre’s more commonly-utilized materials of concrete, corrugate, and vertical siding. Instead, an exterior of brilliant white reveals subtle textures via a variety of siding dimensions and sizes. Expanses of gray shingled roofs and narrow casing accents balance bold, contrasting black garage doors and flashing details.

Once inside, glass panels and steel railings adorn an entryway staircase leading to the home’s primary living spaces. Clean design, abundant windows and a continuation of monochromatic tones define the home’s interior. Warm-toned oak floors offer a counterpoint to the cool gray and white color palette.

The great room is bordered almost entirely of windows along its north- and east-facing aspects and features a second floor deck extending to the north. A bridgeway separates the primary suite—with its private bathroom, generous walk-in closet and separate office—from the rest of the home. The unique shape of the property allowed architect Brad Hoyt to design the projecting east-west wing of the home to takes advantage of Teton views over the elk refuge and distant buttes.

The home’s location deftly balances the conveniences of in-town living with privacy, views and access. The property borders the Bridger-Teton National Forest lands that encompass Crystal Butte and the western side of the Cache Creek drainage. The Nelson trailhead is only a few hundred feet up the road, and provides easy access to a network of multi-use trails.

On the southern boundary of town, set on the treed hillside of Snow King, the Pine Glades development of luxury townhomes evokes a rustic-contemporary style all its own. Cedar and shake siding, flat stone accents and subdued green roofs help to blend the development into its hillside environment and the adjacent National Forest. Inside, 142 Pine Glades Drive reveals bright, open spaces and a flexible floor plan. A wall of floor-to-ceiling windows in the townhome’s great room extends upward to vaulted ceilings reaching twenty-two feet. An adjacent chef’s kitchen of bright white and stainless steel features quartz countertops alongside Wolf, Sub-Zero and Asko appliances equally suited to entertaining and daily use.

The three-bedroom townhome offers more than 2,800 square feet of living, while a private, interior elevator ensures ease of access to each of its three levels. Precise stacked stone masonry accents surround the stairwell and enclosed-glass elevator, and are echoed within the great room’s fireplace.

These contemporary homes provide a departure from traditional mountain town architecture while providing immediate access to some of Jackson Hole’s iconic public lands.