Montana Retreat Features a Well-Designed Bunkhouse for Guests

When a home is located in a famous fly-fishing area, it gets plenty of visitors and this property offers them rustic comfort in a private guesthouse. The home and bunkhouse are located in the Madison River Valley in Ennis, Montana. The gorgeous valley is known for having some of the best trout fishing in North America and this led the h0meowners to build a separate bunkhouse for all the friends, adult children and grandchildren who come to visit and enjoy the spectacular natural beauty and sports activities in the area.

Studio Architects Montana House

Designed by Studio Architects, the bunkhouse is a cozy 1,600 square feet that includes three bedrooms and bathrooms, a living area and a gorgeous rustic kitchen perfect for breakfasts and lunches. The two Texas couples who own the property love to entertain family and friends and the guesthouse/bunkhouse allows them to do so without anyone sacrificing privacy or comfort.

Studio Architects Montana House

Like most welcoming properties, the bunkhouse has a covered front porch that can be enjoyed rain or shine, for those who want to soak up more of the outdoors. It also provides a covered entry to the bunkhouse for those days when the weather is not the nicest.

Studio Architects Montana House

Right from the entryway, the casual style of the space is evident, with its natural slate flooring and essential bench for sitting down to remove boots. The design and decor of the interior, handled by Carter Kay Interiors, is inspired by a specific painting of a fly fisherman. The colors in the painting form the palette for the decor throughout the bunkhouse: shades of blue, green and khaki. The inspirational artwork found its home in one of the bedrooms and was paired with a custom-designed console table that features reclaimed metal parts and an upcycled wood tabletop.

Studio Architects Montana House

The laid-back vibe of the living room is so obvious and inviting, everyone wants to plop down on the plump, overstuffed sofa upholstered in durable denim. Other pieces in the room are very fitting for the Western setting, such as the live-edge coffee table and hair-on hide chairs. Everything in the room is casual, comfortable and fuss-free and the oversized horse art that is a flea market find creates a fantastic focal point. Rustic wide-plank flooring sets the ideal base for all the decor throughout the house. The mix of new, reclaimed and vintage are the ideal mix for this bunkhouse.

Studio Architects Montana House
Studio Architects Montana House

Just off the living space are a breakfast nook and small kitchen. The size may be modest but it is ideal for guests to have some breakfast or lunch on their own and doesn’t really need to be any bigger since the ho9meowners want everyone to eat together in the main house. Flooded by sunlight, the kitchen and eating space feature a fun, hand-forged steel dining table with attached stools, which was chosen particularly for the younger visitors to the property. The custom light fixture over the table was inspired by the fences and ropes commonly found in the Montana ranch lifestyle. Even in this space, reclaimed wood is the dominant feature, with the countertops made from this material as well.,

Studio Architects Montana House
Studio Architects Montana House

One particularly unique feature of each bedroom in the bunkhouse is that they have a private door leading outside so that everyone can go to the main house whenever they want. The private entrances allow for coming and going without disturbing the other guests in the bunkhouse. Of the three bedrooms, two are masters. A third bedroom connects to one of the masters and has twin beds, which are ideal for visitors with children. All of the bedrooms have walls paneled in tongue and groove wood, while wooden beams embellish the ceiling and a cheetah print rug on the floor completes the neutral palette. A set of five artworks add a dose of color to the relaxing bedroom decor, which includes this dresser — one of two — that was found on an antique-hunting excursion. The pieces were refinished to coordinate the decor of each master. Above the dresser is a vintage scroll feature a scarab, which is a light-hearted reference to the family’s past in the pest control business.

Studio Architects Montana House
Studio Architects Montana House

The room with double beds that is connected to one of the master bedrooms is ideal for children, but it does not sacrifice style. Whimsical framed faux deer heads have brightly painted antlers that complement the rustic bedside table that sits between the beds instead of on each side.

Studio Architects Montana House

Following the style of the rest of the house, the bathrooms are attractive and highly functional without clutter or out-of-place decor elements. This particular one is located off of the children’s bedroom, however, both feature a pebbled floor that is nearly indestructible and very easy to clean. Farmhouse style fixtures are the perfect accents for the bathroom.

Studio Architects Montana House
Studio Architects Montana House
Studio Architects Montana House

The proximity of the bunkhouse to the main house and its unique features make it the perfect extension that offers convenience as well as privacy to both guests and hosts.