Trail House

Some houses look at the mountain, others sit on top—but the Trail House was designed to be part of the mountain. Positioned on a steep hillside wrapping around a south-facing ridge, this 3,000-square-foot home (plus a 500-square-foot studio) unfolds as a series of programmatic experiences along a winding path.

Designed for a young family returning to their childhood area, the house occupies a challenging site with perfect solar exposure and sweeping views toward Coeur d’Alene to the southwest. A series of shed roofs nestle deeply into the hillside, rotating around the topography and sloping with the terrain to provide summer shade while allowing winter sun to penetrate beneath the eaves.

Moving through the house is a journey: the formal entry opens to a mudroom and laundry, followed by two children’s bedrooms sharing a TV room with a deck overlooking the pine forest. Around the first bend, the hallway emerges into the social heart—kitchen, dining room, and living room designed for year-round entertaining. Past the fireplace lies the private zone: an owner’s office with hillside views and a master suite featuring a deck cantilevered over the steep slope into the forest.

Daylight fills every space through high clerestory windows on the uphill side. Wood ceilings with large glulam beams evoke mid-century modern style, while simple forms and clear materiality allow the house to sit naturally within its forested environment.