Couple completes vision for property on Big Mountain

In contrast to phase one of their construction project near Whitefish Mountain Resort, the second phase nearing completion is more modern while still tying in some rustic elements.

Local couple Will and Amanda Edson are wrapping up their project on Big Mountain which involved building four small cabin rentals seven years ago and now four detached single-family houses that rise up four floors and include a rooftop deck. Each house is about 2,500 square feet while the cabins were 700 square feet.

Though the two phases seem vastly different, through a similar color scheme and the layout of the property they complement each other while offering completely different experiences. The Edsons wanted it to appear as if it was a small village looking up from the bottom of the property where the cabins are located with the larger new builds rising up behind them.

“A snow globe village – that's kind of what I think about,” said Amanda.

The color scheme is vastly different from almost any other condo or house on the mountain, as elements feature white and black rather than shades of brown. That is something the Edsons consciously chose after looking at other units in the area.

“We said, let’s do something that’s unique to the mountain, that’s really nice so that people will have a different option if they don’t want to have rustic one year they can stay somewhere modern,” Amanda added.

Modern is exactly what people will find entering the couple’s latest buildings. Each unit is designed the same. On the first floor there is a garage and a carport with storage for skis, and inside a bunk and multi-purpose room mainly designed for kids. The second floor is bedrooms with a shared bathroom and the third floor is the main living area with a modern kitchen, expansive living area and a large master bedroom. The fourth floor is the rooftop deck where the Edsons picture a hot tub to complement the expansive views of the mountain and valley.

The appliances featured are quite unique from contemporary pedestal sinks in the bathroom to stylish light fixtures hanging over the stone kitchen island. The kitchen cabinets are shiny and doors with glass features are placed throughout the house. To prevent it from being too modern or feeling cold, the Edsons went with a natural wood floor and wood ceiling to tie in some rustic features.

FOR THE EDSONS, details are everything. Will, who has a background in construction and development, and Amanda, who handles interior design, work together to create a unique build each time they take on a new project. They say their hands are in everything with each project down to the light switches.

“We’re very passionate about architecture and the creative process that goes along with it – that's just what we love,” Will said.

The couple likes to think of the people that will be living in the space and design it specifically with their potential needs in mind.

They followed the same creative process for the cabins built in 2016 — really focusing on the details. The cabins were painted black with white trim on the outside to give a Scandinavian feel. The inside sleeps up to six with a master bedroom and two twin beds in the loft. They painted the logs inside white and had plenty of windows to make sure the 700-square-foot cabins felt open and welcoming.

The couple has drawn a lot of inspiration from years spent traveling over the years with their kids. Originally from Florida, they relocated to Whitefish years ago and have been taking on house remodels and various projects since.

Will has led plenty of entrepreneurial projects and Amanda has been interested in design since she was a small child. The couple also rebuilt and redesigned a set of vintage Airstream travel trailers. They are already thinking up their next creative build in Whitefish.

The couple is thrilled to see this project wrap up after being invested in it for the last several years. Their vision for the challenging mountainside property with a small footprint came together, and there is nothing more satisfying than completing a project.

“Construction and development, in general, has its highs and lows, but seeing the end product makes it so worth it,” Will said.

The Edsons have the new houses on the market listed with PureWest Real Estate. Once the houses sell, the couple is committed to donating a portion of the proceeds to charities that are close to their hearts including DREAM Adaptive, Mustang Heritage Foundation, Alpine Theatre Project and WMS Campus Life Security.

There will be an open house on Tuesday, Aug. 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. open to the public.