This Redwood-Clad Mountain Home Embraces the Warmth of Wood at Every Turn

For a family of seven in the Colorado mountains, a home wrapped in redwood highlights nature inside and out.

Text by

Stacey McLachlan

Presented by

Humboldt Sawmill Company

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Partner Story

Dwell’s home tour of this property in Monument, Colorado, is presented by Humboldt Sawmill, a supplier for sustainable redwood and Douglas-fir products.

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Finding that sweet spot between spaciousness and coziness is no easy task for a modern mountain home. But with the right natural materials, ample space and a strong sense of place don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Case in point: this 10,538-square-foot mountainside beauty in Monument, Colorado, that’s home to an active family with five boys and warmed by redwood inside and out.

Black steel frames around the contemporary Pella windows add dramatic contrast to the white-and-wood design.

After an out-of-state architect helped the homeowners develop the original design concept, local architect Scott Harvey of Art of Engineering and builder Chad Fieber of Palmer Ridge Construction came on board to bring the homeowners’ vision of an ultra-livable, light-filled space to life. The seven-bedroom residence is defined by clean lines, and redwood architectural walls pop against the crisp stucco exterior.

"The type of construction was different from what you see in most residential homes in the area. With that came some additional management and teaching with the local trades to make the project come to life," says Fieber. "We were all working to try to capture the owner's dream but still working within their budget and lifestyle they wanted to create."

Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC® C013133) certified redwood—sourced from Humboldt Sawmill and milled locally—is featured both on the exterior and interior of the home and infuses the entire space with a natural warmth.

Redwood architectural walls come from the outside into the main living areas of the house, where you’ll find white oak flooring and custom cabinets.

"My favorite part of the home is the staircase," says Fieber. The custom steel stringers and design were locally fabricated along with the laminated white oak stringers and glass panels.

"We looked for a readily available product that would fit our budget and also hold up well in the mountain environment," says Fieber. Redwood is a softer wood that stands up well to the elements, making it a better option than other types of wood with natural tannins. And with local milling, Fieber says it’s much easier to customize the final look.

Numerous patios offer different viewpoints of the stunning local landscape—and a look at the beautiful wood detailing on the home’s exterior.

Another benefit of working with redwood is the sustainability factor. Redwood is native to the U.S., not imported, and grown with sustainability in mind. For every tree Humboldt Sawmill cuts down, seven saplings are planted in its place, meaning that every year, more trees are grown than are harvested.

The perpendicular wall accents are redwood, while the parallel wall accents are a contrasting natural white Brauer veneer stone.

Between the rich redwood and breathtaking views, this modern home embraces nature from every vantage point. The wood-wrapped accent walls extend outward beyond sections of the home's glazed facade, establishing strong ties with the tree-lined terrain. "The lot is located on the side of a mountain with spectacular views of the city below, so placement and angle of the house was critical," explains Fieber. Large Pella windows frame the views of mature ponderosa pines and scrub oaks, while multiple oversized decks offer plenty of viewpoints.

The spacious home features radiant floor heating via a concrete-topped floor system, while cooling for the two upper levels uses a ducted split system.

"Modern homes can easily feel cold and too rigid, so when we work on design we always look to bring in some warmer elements," says Fieber. And warmed it is—through and through.