When you build a home in the mountains...

So, you love to go the mountains and enjoy the crisp clean air, walk the quiet roads and trails, swim in a cold lake or float the rivers, enjoy the colors of the fall leaves, and the beautiful winter snow. After doing this for several years, you decide that you would love to build a place in these same mountains, a place to get away from it all whenever you feel like coming over the Pass or whenever your busy schedule allows...

And you begin to drive around and look at property for sale, to look at cabin or house plans, to dream about the possibilities and things you would want in a mountain home. Right? What is mind blowing to me is that some people will go through some semblance of this process and then end up building a home that totally doesn't fit the mountains! 

Since my husband is a builder, we often take drives through new areas looking at property and houses. I'm always a bit amazed by houses that stick out like a sore thumb because the owner who built the house just disregarded the surrounding landscape. The house might be lovely in it's own right, but the location is all wrong. For example, high on a ridge above the mountain town of Leavenworth, there is a red brick Georgian home with big tall white pillars....wrong, just wrong! Maybe you say, "Hey, that was their dream home and they can build whatever they want to." True to a point, but the style of that "dream" home will come back to bite you when you go to sell. 

Others might say, "But this is my "forever" home! I'm going to live here till I die, so who cares if the style doesn't fit the area?" Well, I guess my response would be that none of us knows what tomorrow brings and that house will still be sold at some point. From years of looking at houses and talking to real estate agents in the areas of Leavenworth and Plain, we know that homes that do not have that "mountain home" feel will have less appeal and sell for less. A home that would appeal to buyers here in the Seattle area say with a grey and white exterior,  white cabinets in the kitchen and white trim will have far less appeal in Leavenworth where buyers are looking for natural wood tones and colors that blend with the landscape. 

Here's a few examples of homes that honor the mountain theme...

Source: pinterest

Source: pinterest

Source: pinterest

Notice how all these homes use natural elements like stone, wood, logs, and stains and colors that are in tune with the mountain home scene?

And then here is an example of a home that seems out of place in the mountains, though it is a lovely home. 

All I'm saying is that you should look at the homes in the region where you want to build and build a style that is in keeping with the area. Not only will you be glad when resale time comes, but your neighbors will be thank you!

Would love to know your thoughts...do you agree? 

Warmly, Gracia