Mountain homes are shaped by both the natural landscape and personal tastes and preferences. Customizing a residence to fit an owner’s lifestyle means more than choosing finishes and curtain colors, it’s about designing an environment that supports their sense of adventure, comfort and connection.
Ben Akers, operating officer for Black Dog Builders Inc., emphasizes the in-depth process they use to understand how a client and their family lives and likes to entertain. This includes what activities they enjoy, what gear is already owned and what items will be added to their collection. This shapes how things like gear rooms are placed in the home, the number of lockers needed and the layout of racks to accommodate multi-season sporting goods.
“Mountain lifestyle is about balance and being connected to nature while having a home that supports comfort, relaxation and your hobbies,” says Amanda Evans, the firm’s CEO and principal designer. “We want to build something that’s built to handle all the seasons, maximize views and serve as a retreat and a base camp all in one.”
Ski gear rooms, gear dryers, individual locker systems (for both gear and school supplies), benches, heated garages, custom cabinetry, fly-tying tables and waterproof spaces are among the most common customizations requested, Evans notes. An especially memorable project is one where the homeowner’s son’s old racing skis became the backsplash tile for his bathroom.
“The homeowner saw a wall of skis at Park City Library, which sparked the idea,” Evans says. “After cutting them into tiles and adjusting the size and thickness, we made it into the backsplash.”
Just like backsplash tile, cabinetry for gear rooms, garages and more doesn’t have to be basic and found in hundreds of other residences, especially when Baldhead Cabinets is involved. The Bend, Oregon-based company is opening a showroom in Park City in late 2025 and promises to change any pre-conceived notion of metal cabinets. Baldhead’s product line is made in the U.S. and crafted to be durable, functional and eye-catching.
For example, Baldhead helped one client outfit his new mancave/car condo with royal blue cabinets with black trim and light gray handles to keep gear and tools organized and workspace clutter-free. Another customer wanted help organizing a new garage with cabinets that maximized the space for his growing car collection and Baldhead helped transform it into an appealing place to spend time. The dark gray and red color palette incorporated cabinets, an integrated TV, a sink, and plenty of counter space and electrical outlets.
“We love dreaming with our clients on what their space can become. Working with them from design through installation ensures a result that exceeds expectations,” says Baldhead Cabinets CEO Peter Fleming.
While being connected to nature and outdoor sports is one aspect of mountain living, being connected to one’s health and overall wellness is another. Mountain living and healthy living go hand in hand, especially at Velvaere Park City, a real estate development adjacent to Deer Valley Resort’s East Village.
“All of our architecture we like to call nudge-based-architecture, meaning we’re trying to get you to go outside and be a part of nature,” says Dayson Johnson, chief revenue officer for Bonfire Collective and development partner for Velvaere. The desire to construct a well-being community came from trends in luxury products and custom homes, a shift to where the buyer is focused on the philosophy that wellness and health is the new wealth. For example, Velvaere partnered with the International Well Being Institute and Delos to create residences that all have advanced air purification, water filtration, circadian lighting solutions and enhanced sleep systems.
The best part? Homes are curated for whatever wellness and recovery practices support the owners. Some of the model homes already completed feature customizable “synergistic sanctuaries” with in-home light therapy, cold plunge pools, saunas, steam rooms and massage rooms among the various choices.
Tom Whatcott, CEO and co-founder of DivFit, also believes that mountain living means taking care of yourself off the slopes, trails, waterways and golf courses. DivFit specializes in custom home gyms versus simply placing a squat rack and some dumbbells in a leftover room. DivFit works with the intention of making gyms “one-of-one” spaces unique to a client. Whether it’s the colors used, logos on the flooring, materials, storage solutions or anything in between, the space is 100% custom.
The main goal is for the client to feel like they are leaving for the gym but keep it part of the overall flow of the house. “I think gyms are always an afterthought,” Whatcott says. “Builders don’t work on the gym, designers don’t work on the gym, so we try to step in and be part of the design process from the beginning. I think the more established we’re getting, the earlier on we’re included, which is really nice because we can tell clients to make the room bigger or take out storage or take out doorways to help the layouts.”
He adds, “We can come in from the beginning or help you in whatever phase you’re in; you just need to be willing to work with us and trust us to make your masterpiece.”
