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By Jenny Walton
There’s a certain magic to living slopeside in Whitefish. Ski-in/ski-out homes carry the promise of crisp mornings, long days on the mountain, and evenings gathered around the firepit. But just because the setting is exceptional doesn’t mean the interiors always live up to it. For one family with a love for cooking, skiing, and year-round recreation, the interiors of their mountain retreat felt dated, beige, and uninspired. Enter Hunter & Company, the Whitefish-based interior design team known for their mix of sophistication, warmth, and spirited style.
A REMODEL STORY
This project demonstrates that you don’t have to strip a house down to the studs to transform how it functions, feels, and flows. By focusing on the spaces that matter most and layering in design decisions with intention, Hunter & Company reshaped this home into a dynamic family hub. The result balances polish and personality, high performance and refinement—all while leaving much of the original structure untouched.
The homeowners are avid cooks, and the kitchen became the project’s through line. Hunter & Company removed the wall that had separated the kitchen from the dining area, instantly opening the space for family meals and entertaining. At the center now stands a bold, blueberry island, a showpiece that invites everyone to the action. It acts as a workplace with plenty of room for prep, and a social hub, with sleek, cushy seating for quick breakfasts before hitting the slopes.
What makes the kitchen attractive is the contrast. The design team didn’t replace the wood cabinetry or refinish the floors. Their approach was to integrate modern hardware, striking light fixtures, and the deep-hued island to complement, not compete with, the existing tones. The effect is proof that an interior’s soul doesn’t always come from changing everything; it comes from knowing where to push, where to pause, and how to make the old feel fresh against the new.
From the kitchen, the story of restraint paired with boldness continues in the great room and dining area. The designers resisted the temptation to overhaul every finish. The wood tones—floors, trim, cabinetry—remained original. So, they introduced Moroccan rugs with tribal prints and long-pile textures, layering over existing hardwood and carpet. These instantly modernized the interiors, adding depth and warmth.
BEFORE:
What makes the kitchen attractive is the contrast. The design team didn’t replace the wood cabinetry or refinish the floors. Their approach was to integrate modern hardware, striking light fixtures, and the deep hued island to complement, not compete with, the existing tones.
Statement lighting, including sculptural fixtures in the living spaces and a dramatic drum shade above the dining table, infused the rooms with character. Those elements reframed the original wood tones, illustrating that with deliberate composition, even neutral finishes can feel current.
A mural of a chairlift creates instant identity, while new lighting, textiles, and thoughtful bedding details complete the room. The palette leans into blues and whites, extending winter in her visual environment. It’s youthful without being childish, exactly the kind of style that matures alongside
its occupant.
Just as the kitchen became the cook’s dream, elsewhere in the home the family’s skier found her own vision realized in a bedroom that celebrates her sport and soul.
BEFORE:
A mural of a chairlift creates instant identity, while new lighting, textiles, and thoughtful bedding details complete the room. The palette leans into blues and whites, extending winter in her visual environment. It’s youthful without being childish, exactly the kind of style that matures alongside its occupant.
The daughter, a competitive skier, wanted her room to express who she is and what she loves. A mural of a chairlift creates instant identity, while new lighting, textiles, and thoughtful bedding details complete the room. The palette leans into blues and whites, extending winter in her visual environment. It’s youthful without being childish, exactly the kind of style that matures alongside its occupant.
From bunk beds to boot racks, every corner of the home was tailored to the family’s lifestyle. And when the practical needs were met, the focus shifted back to shared areas. Hunter & Company made sure the bunk room and mudroom worked hard for the family that spends four seasons outdoors. The bunk room doubles as both a guest quarters and overflow for ski weekends, designed for function and fun with built-in beds and cozy linens. In the mudroom, cubbies, hooks, and boot trays keep gear organized and transitions easy. These are the unsung heroes of mountain living, and their creations make them inviting instead of purely practical.
The parents’ wish was met in the primary suite—a retreat without a single wall repainted! The design team left the walls alone, but incorporated a dark headboard, sumptuous bedding, and plush pillows with a statement light fixture as the room’s focal point. Here, again, the impact comes not from altering all the bones of the house, but from styling the room with nuance.
It’s well-known that after a day on the slopes, a sauna is the perfect first stop. The final wish came true when the family gained a revitalized sauna—a spa-like indulgence that everyone appreciates. Of all the rooms, the sauna tells the clearest story of transformation through small moves. The structure of the room remained, but Hunter & Company reframed the steam shower with gray tile, including a new sink, faucet, light fixture, and dark robe hooks. That combination alone gave it the feeling of a high-end spa, proving that even utilitarian spaces can become destinations with the right material choices.
BEFORE:
At every step, the team married practicality with imagination, revealing that reinvention doesn’t always require a complete remodel.
At every step, the team married practicality with imagination, revealing that reinvention doesn’t always require a complete remodel. By knowing where to splurge—lighting, rugs, the kitchen island—and where to conserve—keeping original wood, trim, and flooring—they honored the home’s layout while delivering a fresh outlook with style and purpose.
For the family, the impact is immediate. They arrive now to a home that feels in sync with their lives: a chef’s kitchen, a skier’s bedroom with a bunk room for her teammates, a hardworking mudroom, a luxe sauna, and a great room that becomes the après spot in any season. The spaces represent the energy of Whitefish itself—outdoor recreation, family connection, and a love of place.
Hunter & Company’s transformation is an invitation to homeowners everywhere: you don’t need to live with dated design. Design expertise lies in knowing what to preserve, what to refresh, and how to weave it all into a home that feels true to its setting.
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