Modern Mountain Ski Retreat

By Interior Designer TRACY SVENDEN | Published on October 24, 2025 |

Recently, I viewed a stunning mountain home in Western Art & Architecture magazine, and was inspired to share a few of the images. The homeowner’s vision was for a modern industrial lodge that connects you to the wilderness while comforting you like a fine hotel. Their family enjoyed active days outdoors and wanted a beautiful home to return to, relax, unwind, and recharge for the next day’s adventure.

The desire for a strong connection to nature led them to this mountain property, which provides unparalleled vistas—from Castle Peak in the west to Martis Peak in the east, Martis Valley in the north, and a sprawling forest and trail network to the south. With a nearby ski run, it was also perfect for ski-in/ski-out convenience. Feature image courtesy of Sarah Jones Design (Gibeon Photography).

A Stunning Great Room with Vaulted Ceiling & Dark Black Beams

Window to the Wild

The blend of majestic national park architecture, the character of the San Francisco waterfront, and the minimal appeal of warehouse spaces served as the core inspiration for the home. They successfully combined these elements to create a “Window to the Wild,“ an environment bathed in natural light and adorned with historic art of California’s most awe-inspiring landscapes. The grand entryway features stairs and a black steel plate roof.

Grande Entryway With Black Metal & Concrete Details

Bringing the Vision to Life

The project was spearheaded by architect David Bourke (now of David Bourke Architecture + Design, Truckee) and Sarah Jones Interior Design. Bourke’s solution was a compelling three-level mountain home that perfectly conformed to the property’s natural slope. The modern rustic entryway below features an RH console table that holds Native American baskets and giant sugar pine cones.

Modern Rustic Entryway

The Great Room

The architecture utilizes the slope, with the lowest floor dug into the earth, the main floor opening onto terraces, and the top floor enjoying unrestricted views of the mountains and valleys. The house is divided into two distinct wings: a prominent guest wing extending toward the front and a private family wing at the back of the site.

The home’s magnificent great room serves as its centerpiece, perfectly designed for gatherings. Its soaring ceiling immediately recalls the grand volumes of historic Western lodges, while also incorporating the raw aesthetic of industrial warehouse spaces. Topped with a vertical-grain hemlock ceiling, the space remains astonishingly light and airy.

The understated, elegant color palette of this beautiful mountain living room features layered shades of gray, white, and black, paired with warm wood tones. This expansive space is anchored by luxurious seating, including a Berma Rosetti sofa and accompanying chairs by A. Rudin.

A Great Room with a Black, White & Gray Color Palette

Industrial Lodge Aesthetic

To realize the industrial lodge aesthetic, the team chose key materials—steel, glass, concrete, and wood—and paid meticulous attention to their finishes. The concrete was given a board-formed texture, the wood was treated with a semi-transparent, oil-based stain, and the hot-rolled steel was carefully lacquered with a tint that preserves its natural mottling. From another angle, the living room’s large expanse of windows offers stunning views of the forest, which are echoed in the leafy branches that fill a clear vase and a wooden bowl.

Gorgeous Exterior Views

Timeless Design

Interior designer Sarah Jones aimed to create a lodge-like environment that felt both new and luxurious, yet instantly timeless. The design strategically focuses color and interest on two elements: the native, living landscape outside and the extensive collection of historic plein-air paintings of the Sierras. Below, an Altura table is joined by Cassina chairs in a sunny corner of the great room.

A Small Seating Area in the Great Room

Dining Room

To enhance the open feeling of the modern rustic great room and dining space, Bourke ingeniously designed a split fireplace chimney. A custom dark-wood 15-foot dining table by Altura pairs beautifully with the Cassina Cab chairs in rich caramel-toned leather. The Alchemy Chandelier from Hubbardton Forge adds a luxurious touch.

Massive Fireplace Dividing the Living & Dining Areas

Open-Concept Living

The dining room flows into a striking kitchen with dramatic contrasting elements, from black beams to light wood flooring, wood kitchen cabinetry to sleek white countertops, and a stone backsplash. The simple yet elegant pendant light fixtures reflect the chandelier’s design aesthetic above the dining table. The flat-panel rift oak custom cabinetry is by Westgate Hardwoods.

Open Concept Kitchen & Dining Areas

A Kitchen with Tree-Top Views

Interior designer Sarah Jones is known for creating artful, timeless, and liveable spaces that connect to the natural surroundings. This kitchen is a clear indication of that talent, as one would feel as if they were preparing a family meal in the heart of the forest. The home’s design embraces a signature feature of modern mountain style, blending rustic and sleek elements to create significant visual interest and depth.

A Kitchen That Pairs Light Wood Tones with Black & White Details

Cozy Primary Bedroom

The design strategy centered on making the artwork the star: Sarah Jones selected minimalist, sleek furnishings to complement the home’s modern industrial style. The collection of over 50 paintings, including masterpieces by Albert Bierstadt, Edgar Payne, William Keith, Thomas Hill, and William Wendt, truly shines with richness, their gold frames contrasting sharply with the neutral white background and the architecture’s bold, modern lines.

The primary bedroom features a stone fireplace with wood-stacking inserts, artwork, light wood flooring, a vaulted ceiling, and black accents. The walnut bed is from Loggia Showroom, and the bench is Charleston Forge. The fireside swivel chairs and ottoman are by A. Rudin, and the rug is from Armadillo.

Warm & Inviting Primary Bedroom

Primary Bathroom

This beautiful primary suite includes a Victoria + Albert Vetralla tub and a stone feature wall. As can be noted throughout the home, light wood flooring, white marble countertops, and black-framed windows create a dramatic contrast.

Primary Bathroom Flooded With Natural Light

Inviting Outdoor Spaces

The home’s inherent industrial aesthetic, defined by glass, steel, and concrete, is beautifully softened and warmed by three key elements: the extensive use of wood throughout the floors and ceilings, the plush furnishings, and the authenticity of the handcrafted paintings. The terrace includes Sutherland furniture and an Al Fresco shower. The finished home pays tribute to its spectacular natural surroundings.  

Outdoor Living Spaces

Further Projects by Interior Designer Sarah Jones

I decided to include a few additional design projects by Sarah Jones, as they clearly show her talent for creating spaces that celebrate the beauty of indoor/outdoor living. The modern rustic bathroom below is in a home in Aspen, Colorado, that links elegant urban interior spaces with rugged outdoor views. The homeowner chose the gold tub before we even broke ground on the house,” says designer Sarah Jones. Mountain sketch wallcovering from Area Environments and Waterworks hardware are the other stars in this stunning primary bathroom.

Modern Rustic Bathroom with Mountain Wall Mural
Image courtesy of Sarah Jones Design (Gibeon Photography)

Mountain Living Room with a Stone Fireplace

This beautifully designed living room features a vaulted ceiling with wood paneling, a modern-rustic wrought-iron chandelier, white walls, and gorgeous outdoor views. Further design features include a stone accent wall, a black fireplace surround, built-in cabinetry, and a large grey sectional with an abundance of pillows.

Mountain Home Great Room with Stone Fireplace

Layered Textures in a Cozy Bedroom Retreat

A cozy modern rustic bedroom that features natural materials such as wood and stone, paired with large windows, and a neutral color palette. Further design features include warm wood flooring, breathable linen fabrics, a large fireplace, and plush textures.

Cozy Bedroom with Layered Textures

Modern Mountain Home in Lake Tahoe

A large stone fireplace anchors the great room in a Lake Tahoe mountain home, which features a coffee table by Nevada City’s Bruce Hart Woodworks and sofa and accent chairs by Troscan Design out of Chicago. The striking hemlock ceiling casts a warm glow over a great room with a neutral color palette. Black steel windows pair beautifully with a massive stone fireplace and light wood flooring.

Mountain Home Great Room with Majestic Views

Contemporary Design Fuses With Rustic Elements

In another home designed by Sarah Jones, contemporary and rustic design elements fuse effortlessly. Strong lines and clean, detailed design highlight this Martis Camp retreat in the woods. The modern Italian furniture selected by interior Jones resides under cedar-lined sloped ceilings in the living room.

Mountain Home Living Room with White Furniture

I hope you enjoyed the home tour of this beautiful mountain home and the additional projects by interior designer Sarah Jones. Happy decorating!

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Sources

Beausire, Laura. Window to the Wild. Western Art & Architecture. November 2024.