Decorating in the Mountains
Our homes in the mountains are different in many ways from other locations where we may live. If they are rustic or refined, the mountain look has certain elements that give the feeling of a connection to the earth and sky with the grandeur of the soaring peaks surrounding our homes. Whether large of small, the homes in the mountains usually have an abundance of wood and stone to bring the outdoors in. Wood paneling, beams or floors give a warm and natural feeling to any room. The colors that are used to stain the wood is particular to the setting. The use of dark colors for stains have been popular over the last decade. Warm honey and golden hues are also typical for stain colors in mountain homes, be it on logs or other wood surfaces.
For many years the use of wood for the outside of homes has been the natural choice. With new fire codes, the days of wood shake roofs are gone, as well, siding is being replaced with other fireproof materials.
The use of stone in the construction of mountain homes is an important feature for fireplaces, floors and outdoor details. There are so many varieties of stone available currently and the rocks come from all around the country. From stack stone to river rock, the list goes on and on in the application and the type of stone available giving each home the rich and masculine feel of a place from or imagination or from our childhood dreams.
There is such a wide variety of parts to a mountain home to consider to make it your dream home. Be it a log cabin or a modern sculpture of glass and steel, the feeling of being outside and coming into a warm and protective space that keeps us from the elements is fundamental to our spirits and souls.
Soaring windows, massive beams, large impressive light fixtures are some of the choices of current home builders. Then there are the old cabins in the woods, that tell the story of yesteryear, like the cabins at Tamarack lodge or other forest service homes scattered around the country side. These small homes are almost like dollhouses built in the 1920’s and kept operational till today. Their knotty pine walls, wood stoves, and hand hewn beams bring us back to a time in history that is almost forgotten but causes us to remember childhood stories of the old west and the high mountain camps of pioneers.
The colors and materials used in mountain homes is typically warm and cozy to keep the cold temperatures in the winter from chilling us even more. Golden hues of grasses and fields are welcoming after a day outside in the blue and white snow. Red and orange colors mixed with browns and greens are the earth tones like the outdoors, that bring us to our earth senses of trees, bark, pine cones, moss and all the wonders of the outdoors.
Of course one must have a crackling fire for it to be a true mountain home. Gathering, cutting and stacking wood is one of the ways to get your mind into the new season and its a ritual among many which also takes on back to a primal sensation. There is nothing like stirring the embers of a fire and throwing on a log that one cut and split themselves to bring you to another place and time. The types and varieties of fireplaces are vast, from pot belly stoves to the majestic walk in fireplaces at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite. Many of the new homes have gas style fireplaces which are convenient and cleaner. The fireplace inserts used now are EPA regulated and help with the air quality in the winter especially when we experience the inversion that traps the smoke at a low level in town.
Its an exciting feeling to enter into a mountain home, especially in the winter or come in from a storm. Nothing make one feel more welcome and secure as a warm and comfortable home surrounded by mounds of fluffy snow.
A mountain home and a mountain environment brings us closer to nature and to our authentic self that we long for from our deepest core. And it reminds us that “There’s no place like home “(in the mountains).
