Straddling a mountain ridgeline, this recently completed home embodies many of the characteristics found in traditional Colorado ranches, while successfully blending within its alpine setting. Overall massing of the structure is low and sheltering offering greatly needed protection against the severe climatic elements found at the project site including snow, wind and lightening. Roofs are simple in form: gable, hip and shed dormers help to visually break up the dominant primary roof and serve to articulate rustic character and charm.

Exterior colors were chosen based on compatibility with natural vegetation at the site, and the results convey a sense that belies the new structure's appearance. Although the home has only recently been completed, it looks as though it has instead been comfortably "at home" in its surroundings for years. Overall design of the home features three distinctive forms: the low profile main residence with its protective, sheltering roof and emphasis on horizontality; a two-story facade at the garage built to emulate an old barn, including a hayloft door at the attic story; and the upper level observatory tower, comfortably nestled between the garage and residence.

Patterned after historic Forest Service fire look-out structures, the observatory features curving lower walls, an exposed timber-frame roof structure, windows on all sides to maximize views of surrounding mountains and a prominent lightening rod affixed to the peak of its roof to ward off lightening strikes prone to occur at the ridgeline, located at 9,325 feet above sea level.