As I mentioned last week, I have been spending some time in Montana this summer.  It is so interesting to travel to different parts of the country and see the regional architectural and interior design differences.

I thought I would take some time this week to share some of the nearby homes for sale in Montana.  If you are like me, you will appreciate the design details, even if it isn’t something you feel like you could do in your own home.  Who knows, something in the photos might just inspire you to look at your home in a new light.

All photos are from real estate websites such as Zillow (http://www.zillow.com/mt/ ) or Trulia.

Exteriors:

One thing I notice consistently is the amount of detail on higher end properties.  Not only a mix of different stones and woods, but also a significant investment to exterior hardscaping.  For an area that is under snow a good 6 months of the year I am impressed by the number of meandering walkways, bridges, ponds, etc.

And, views, especially of water, pop up everywhere.  Some are man made, but well incorporated into nature.

The home below is on Flathead Lake, the largest fresh water lake west of the Mississippi.  It looks more East Coast than Montana, but even here there is nothing as good as lakeside living!

We stopped at Flathead Lake for lunch on our way up to Glacier National Park and the views were amazing!

Outdoor sitting and dining areas also seem to be very popular:

From an interiors point of view, the majority of the homes are very dark or ‘heavy’.  Rough stone, chiseled countertop edges and  wood beams are the norm.

Here are a couple of kitchens I thought were unique…

Not much marble in the Montana mountains, but here is one homeowner that used marble as a slab backsplash in the kitchen, opposite wood countertops.

These cabinets were a pretty blueish/gray color:

I thought this kitchen was very elegant in its simplicity and liked how they incorporated just a bit of color in the island and one set of upper cabinets.

Many of the media rooms are exactly what you would expect, but I thought this one was interesting with the ‘bunks’ in the back of the room.

This bedroom could fit in many states in the country, but still has the rustic beams and dark wood trim.

This room could be seen as ‘country’ with the wood paneling, but the wall color adds a new dimension.

I always like to see unusual eating areas and this one appealed to me.  The foldback doors opening to the patio are fabulous, but so is the leather settee with round table and chairs.  I could drink my morning coffee here any day of the week!

Finally, just a couple of bathrooms with some different tile work.

First, this one has the tile taken to a higher level than many baths and has a unique arch design over the shower door.

This one, in the same home, has also invested a lot in tile work with runs up about 2/3rds of the wall.  I also like the unusual light fixtures.

Copper sinks and oil rubbed bronze fixtures are the norm for this part of the country, but that doesn’t mean everything has to look the same.  Here are two bathrooms with unique backsplash design.

I hope you’ve enjoyed a little regional look at homes for sale in Montana.  Who knows, maybe it will get you thinking about how you could incorporate some of these unique elements in your home!