Boise Modern Mountain

Project Overview

The Modern Mountain design style harmonizes the raw beauty of nature with modern-day functionality and aesthetics. The aim is to create spaces that feel inviting, spacious and grounded. The Edge team had the pleasure of visiting three top building and design professionals in the Boise, Idaho area to talk about the style and its prominence in their work.

What is Modern Mountain Design?

Modern Mountain design is a style that marries the rugged, natural elements of traditional mountain homes with the clean lines and simplicity of contemporary architecture. It embraces the textures and warmth of natural materials—wood, stone, metal—while keeping the overall aesthetic minimal and refined. As for interior decor, natural fibers and leather are commonly chosen.  

The goal is to create a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. This can be accomplished through material selection and using large windows that frame vistas and allow natural light to flood into the home. 

What sets this style apart is its intentional use of materials and spatial layouts to achieve a peaceful flow.

Behind the Build

Prominent Homes: Continuity Between Outdoor and Indoor Spaces

Melissa Detweiler is Co-Owner and Principal Designer at Prominent Homes, a 100% custom home builder whose work has been recognized with awards, including first place in every category at the county’s Parade of Homes. 

Detweiler emphasizes the importance of creating a warm and inviting space in their Modern Mountain builds. “People like to feel grounded,” she says. Her projects typically feature natural materials such as wood, concrete, stone, and steel to evoke this grounded feeling while maintaining a sleek, modern aesthetic.

One of the standout features in Detweiler’s designs is the way she connects interior and exterior spaces. In a recent build, she used our Thermally Modified Wood in Black Forest and Wood Smoke on the front of the house, which complements the wood ceiling of the great room in the interior for a warming effect that draws the eye up, she says.

By using consistent materials both inside and out, she creates a harmonious flow between nature and the home’s exterior and interior.

“When you’re walking up to the house, you’re going to notice that wood. And you’re going to think, ‘Oh, that’s kind of a cool element.’ Then you’ll walk inside, and it will be on a ceiling, and that makes it connect to the outside,” she says. 

Blackstone Homes: A Fusion of Styles and Practicality

Charlie Walk, owner of Blackstone Homes, has seen firsthand how the influx of new residents from all over the country has influenced the design landscape in Boise. As people migrate to Idaho, they bring diverse architectural preferences, and the Modern Mountain trend, in some ways, is a reflection of that.

“People like different things. And for me, the modern American style is taking their style, our style, and making it work for the area we live in,” he says.

Walk’s approach to the Modern Mountain trend emphasizes both form and function. In a region like Boise, where the climate can be harsh, selecting the right materials is essential. The Blackstone Homes team chose Edge’s Thermally Modified Wood siding for its durability and resistance to the elements. In fact, Walk trusted the quality and performance of the wood so much that he used it on his personal home.

For Walk, as a custom home builder, the balance between creating homes that are unique yet recognizable for the brand is key. “As a custom home builder, we don’t want any two homes to be the same,” he says. “But we also want you to be able to drive through a neighborhood and know when you’re seeing a Blackstone Home.”

Thermally Modified Wood plays a pivotal role in achieving that balance, helping Blackstone Homes stand out. “The wire-brushed texture of Thermally Modified Wood siding gives us that texture we’re looking for,” he says. The natural wood’s versatility—whether installed vertically or horizontally—adds aesthetic appeal, making each Blackstone Home both distinct and timeless.

Larry Richardson Construction: Timeless, Customized Designs

Larry Richardson, a custom home builder with over 30 years of experience, brings a sense of timelessness to his Modern Mountain projects. He has built a brand that is known for high-quality builds.

For Richardson, the goal is to build “forever homes” that remain relevant and functional for generations. “Most homes we build are forever homes, making dreams come true,” he says. He takes pride knowing that his homes will stand the test of time, and he makes sure to choose materials that will last. He shares why this is important to him on a personal level:

“While the homeowners may buy or sell the house, your name is always associated with it. I take pride in that.”

Richardson has used Thermally Modified Wood siding in Back Country, Lost Trail, Black Forest, and Timber Ridge on four separate homes. “Thermally Modified Wood gives an aesthetic feel to the house and a pop,” he says.

Beyond the design, Richardson sees the Thermally Modified Wood Collection as a go-to choice because of its durability and 20-year limited warranty. “Warranty is very important, I’m not going to put something on a home that isn’t going to last,” he explains. He also commented on his experience installing the product saying that the end matching “makes installation much easier.”