With their rustic, Lincoln Log-style exteriors, distressed wood, locally sourced stone accents, and massive fireplaces, traditional mountain homes and cabins are beloved by many for their rugged appeal and their connection to the great outdoors. Indeed, fresh air, a picturesque, wooded setting, and proximity to a variety of outdoor pursuits are year-round benefits of mountain living.
But, of course, not everyone is into “rustic” architecture, and for those seeking a more cosmopolitan style in the untamed heart of nature, there are a broad range of more modern-minded mountain homes that showcase a harmonious blend of clean lines, natural materials, organic shapes, and sleek architecture.
Robb Report scoured the country for seven contemporary homes that seamlessly blend the tranquility of their alpine surroundings with cutting-edge innovation and aesthetics that push the boundaries of what many people envision when they think of a home in the mountains. With these homes, the architects and designers turned to unexpected materials, like a blackened steel fireplace surround or bleached logs for a Scandinavian touch, to add a dose of sophistication and intrigue.
Now then, lace up your digital hiking books and take a look at these spectacular homes that offer all the best in mountain living but with a modern twist.
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Vail, Colorado
Image Credit: Ric Stoval Located on Vail Mountain, this sprawling $40 million mansion feels like you’re floating within the pines. Called Apogee House, the ultra-modern home has six bedrooms and nine bathrooms over 8,801 square feet.
You’ll want for nothing here, as there’s immediate access to skiing, a 75-foot-long suspended glass-bottom pool, more than 6,500 square feet of outdoor heated decks, a rooftop entertainment deck, and massive living spaces. Vail isn’t just a skiing destination, and this home stuns in the summer and winter.
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Eden, Utah
Image Credit: Summit Sotheby’s International Realty A true work of art, this $15 million Utah home is a one-of-a-kind property from renowned AIA award-winning architect Tom Wiscombe. Known for his work on the BMW World Museum in Munich, Germany, Wiscombe crafted what’s known as The Dark Chalet on the hillside of Powder Mountain. The exterior is crafted from matte and glossy black panels and features black glass solar panels embedded into the glossy patches for both function and form.
Straight out of a James Bond movie, the chalet-style home has open-plan living spaces with few interior walls. Wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows, each room offers far-reaching Wasatch Mountain views. The pinnacle of the home is the asymmetrical central fireplace with embedded stairs that connect all levels of the home. It’s a larger-than-life sculpture-like form that artfully separates various rooms and levels of the home.
Other impressive features to note include the Orion constellation depicted on the ceiling of the dining room with LED lights.
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Ketchum, Idaho
Image Credit: Noah Hendricks Though still under construction, this $9 million mountainside property in Ketchum is set to be a showstopper. The entire home is designed with a modern take on traditional cabin style, with light wood, steel accents, sleek exposed wooden beams, and plenty of stone that ties the home to its natural surroundings.
The planned four-bedroom main house features open-plan living spaces, an eat-in kitchen with a black marble island, floor-to-ceiling windows and doors, an upstairs bunk room, and a media room. There’s also a one-bedroom guest cabin with a full kitchen and loft.
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Truckee, California
Image Credit: Martis Camp Realty / Paul Hamill Photography Martis Camp in the town of Truckee is a luxury residential community near Lake Tahoe that puts you in the heart of mountains and alpine adventure. Known for its sleek homes with a contemporary yet rustic vibe, Home 469 is one of the community’s most expensive and largest properties still available.
Listed for $11.5 million, the 7,430-square-foot home has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, and living spaces that open out to the towering pines. It has everything you’d want from a cozy mountain retreat—a bunk room, a massive patio, an entertainment wall with five big-screen TVs, a hot tub, a firepit, and an outdoor kitchen. It sets the blueprint for modern mountain architecture to enjoy year-round.
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Asheville, North Carolina
Image Credit: Chris Hoffman/Single Point Media Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this $4 million contemporary home in Asheville is the epitome of modern mountain living. It’s built into solid granite and features locally sourced wood and contemporary fixtures.
Called the Cloud House, the home seems to hover above the forest and has walls of windows to enjoy the views of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the incredible wildlife that resides around here. There are three bedrooms and five bathrooms, plus a large outdoor terrace with a wood-burning fireplace, outdoor kitchen, and hot tub. The eco-friendly home is also powered largely by solar energy.
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Telluride, Colorado
Image Credit: Josh Johnson In Telluride, a sleek glass-and-wood home is nestled into a densely wooded slope. The modern, six-bedroom home, listed by Rick Fusting of Sotheby’s International Realty for $23 million, is surrounded by dramatic cliffs, towering aspen trees, and mountain and waterfall views.
The multi-level home features concrete floors, white oak staircases, white cedar ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. There’s a yoga room, ample living areas, a gourmet kitchen, several fireplaces, and spacious bedrooms.
For those who really like to get away, the property is situated near National Forest land, which means there are no other homes in sight.
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Morganton, Georgia
Image Credit: Ethan Taylor & Carly Hellerstedt Listed for $2.2 million, this home in Morganton is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains with views of the nearby national forest. The contemporary chalet-style home has many layered outdoor decks, stacked stone fireplaces, and a distinct modern feel with sleek stonework and wood.
There is a main double-height patio with designer lighting that makes the entire home glow by night. There are fold-up accordion doors in the living room, so you can fully enjoy the mountain views and forest sounds all day long.
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