By Tate Gunnerson

Inevitably, around the end of September, Mike and Misti Holley start to feel a bit glum at the thought of leaving their beautiful custom home overlooking Idaho’s Lake Coeur d’Alene, where they spend all summer and part of the fall before returning to their primary residence in Houston. “It’s very embedded with nature,” Misti says, recalling the black bear cub she spotted—one of many now not-so-unexpected wildlife sightings.

Outdoorsy types who enjoy boating, hiking and golf, the couple spent years visiting the area before finally purchasing the forested, four-acre-plus wedge-shape lot, which fans out to more than 400 feet along the water, where there’s a newly constructed dock with a blue covered awning housing their boat.

Mike had spearheaded the darker, richer, more masculine design of their primary residence; Misti took the baton here, collaborating with architect Shelli Mittmann to realize her vision of a bright, airy and comfortable retreat with a seamless flow between inside and out. “Misti was very particular about making sure that people felt comfortable there,” says Mike, who hosts an annual guy’s-only retreat at the Idaho home.” [She and Mittmann] crushed it.”

Indeed, equal parts Mountain Modern and Texas Hill Country, with a touch of glam, the home’s exterior is clad with stone, stucco and fir punctuated by a prominent two-sided stone fireplace that serves both the main living areas and an outdoor deck spanning the entire rear of the home. The house “sits proudly” on the ridge, like the front of a boat, so they have more than 180-degree views from their deck,” Mittmann says. Thanks to the corner windows, the same goes for the bedroom suites.

Often left open, the living area’s floor-to-ceiling doors create the sense that indoor and outdoor living areas are one big space. Because large metal windows span the home’s water-facing side, however, Mittmann felt free to create distinct interior rooms rather than rely on the sort of wide-open floor plans that are so in vogue. “Your eyes are naturally drawn out to those gorgeous views,” she explains.

That said, the well-appointed interior more than lives up to the majestic setting. Built with niches housing firewood, shelving, a posh bar and the couple’s wine collection, weighty stone walls flank two sides of the living room.

Used throughout the interior, painted shiplap adds another layer, cladding, for example, the lofted ceiling in the kitchen where it coexists peacefully with the veiny white marble countertops and a concrete backsplash with a graphic pattern that introduces a hint of green—a reference to the bosky surroundings.

Another nod to the beautiful scenery, wallcoverings with floral and butterfly motifs enliven the spa-like marble guest suite bathrooms. “I wanted to jazz it up a little and do something fun for visitors to enjoy,” Misti Holley says.

Accustomed to projects of this magnitude and level of customization, builder Andy Smith believes the home’s unique architectural style and fresh, light material palette will prove to be a timeless formula. “This is a place to take a deep breath and breathe fresh air,” he says. “In this day and age, especially with the pandemic, people are really looking for an escape.”

The Holleys did, in fact, ride out part of the pandemic-related shutdowns there, providing a sort of haven for friends and family. More importantly, the home has continued to delight them and their blended family as things slowly return to something at least resembling normality. “We both love being here,” Misti says, pointing to the thick grove of evergreens surrounding their home. “It’s wonderful to have places to meditate and have time to yourself.”

PDF version of article with pictures here. Video and more pictures here.