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The Yellowstone River has been a source of inspiration for many, and our clients were no different in their love of this iconic natural wonder. So, it should come as no surprise that they chose to carry a strong Yellowstone River theme throughout their new home. From the steel railings and siding that subtly mimic the river’s varying currents, to the pebble floors in the showers and on the countertops that deliver the distinctive feel of a riverbank, every detail was intentional from the start.
We enjoyed working closely with the owners as they sourced the ideal materials for their project, such as the stone slab they wanted for their wine room door. After trips from New York to LA, they finally found the perfect slab of onyx that subtly mimics the petrified wood that can be found on their Paradise Valley property. And that was just one example of the ways that we worked as a single focused team — the clients, the subcontractors, the vendors, the Dovetail craftsmen, everyone — to bring the owners’ vision from an idea born on the river to a beautiful, livable reality.

Contemporary timber, steel, and stone residence set in open Montana landscape with dramatic mountain views at dusk.

Livingston, MT

Residential

Spy vs. Spy

For many people, acoustic music and fly fishing go hand in hand. Our clients over on Paradise Creek enjoy both picking tunes on their guitar, and chasing trout down on the river, and so they asked Dovetail to update this timeless cabin compound with those interests in mind. Working closely with our architect and interior design partners, we created a space that offers serenity with style. Extensive stonework and rustic rough-hewn timbers accentuate many of the rooms, providing an earthy backdrop for their wildlife artwork collection. Modern accents provide freshness throughout, and the barnwood-appointed kitchen echoes the overarching theme of nature meets elegance. Whether picking up a six string or a six weight, our clients get to enjoy what is the ideal home base for pursuing their passions.

Rustic cabin great room with exposed timber trusses, stone fireplace, vaulted ceiling, and comfortable seating.

Late Night Cabin Jam

We’ve lived in Montana for many years, but even after building dozens of homes in some wonderful locations, there are a few settings that really stand out as simply magnificent — and the Gatekeeper’s Creek homesite is one of them. Built on a bluff above a spring creek off of the fabled Madison River, the views from this home are simply drop-dead gorgeous, sun up to sun down. The interiors subtly echo the classic ranchlands that surround the property, with hand-hewn timberwork and exposed structural steel for a rustic-but-refined look throughout. Copious use of stone and timber accents serve to further capture and convey the Montana vibe, and the beautiful back-to-back moss rock fireplaces provide the ideal place to relax either indoors or out. There’s a separate wellness studio with similar appointments, delivering yet another quiet spot from which to reflect on the singular beauty of the Madison Valley.

Contemporary ranch residence with timber and stone accents overlooking a winding spring creek, lush Montana grasslands, and the Madison range.

Ennis, MT

Gatekeeper’s Creek

During construction of this spectacular home, our Dovetail crew was often treated to delicious cookies and other delicacies, thanks to our client, who is an avid baker.
This “sweet” gesture was always very well-received, helping fuel our craftsman as they worked on the beautiful stonework, reclaimed wood floors, hand-hewn timber elements, detailed finish carpentry, and exacting tile work that were definitive of this project.
Outside, the artful concept of “massing” a home within its natural setting — creating the impression that it evolved organically to fulfill its purpose — found an ideal location for this home, nestled at the base of Bozeman’s Bridger Mountains.
As for the home’s interior living spaces; on one end, we sourced reclaimed white barnboard, as our “client/baker” loved old barns and wanted that passion to be reflected in her home. On the opposite end of the home, the cozy master bedroom is essentially built within a timber-stacked cabin, which affords perfect views of Montana’s stunning sunset light on the mountains.
With its stunning architecture and inspired setting, it’s no surprise that this home was chosen to be featured on the cover of the 30th anniversary edition of <a href="https://bigskyjournal.com/a-house-to-live-in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Big Sky Journal HOME magazine</a>. And while the Dovetail crew is, of course, appreciative of all our clients, the “cookie monster” project will forever hold fond memories for all of us.

Panoramic view of rustic mountain home nestled into open meadow with Bridger mountains in the background.

Bozeman, MT

The Cookie Monster

When Dovetail first met with our clients to discuss this exceptional home, we instantly bonded over our shared passion for saltwater fly fishing.
The design beautifully incorporates large-format window walls, flooding the interior with natural light that highlights the contemporary timber elements, custom cabinetry, and intricate tile work — all complemented by stunning permit and tarpon artwork that really sets the scene. The exterior showcases exposed structural steel and meticulously crafted reclaimed wood and steel siding, creating a striking and unique façade.
Working with these “land lubbers&#8221; was an absolute pleasure, and we eagerly anticipate many more fly fishing stories and perhaps sharing some fishing adventures together in the future.

Contemporary timber and steel residence overlooking snow-covered hills and distant mountain ranges at sunset.

Salty Dogs Residence

Hewing to regional history and tradition, this Big Sky project embraces a rustic, rural aesthetic inspired by a fresh look at some of the classic homes of the region that had been admired by our clients. Though nearly 8,000 square feet, the home takes an understated, vernacular homestead approach, rambling down its hillside site in a series of connected structures and emulating historical remnant buildings with four deconstructed stone chimneys. An iconic barn form houses garage and guest quarters, its doors marked with the familiar X, which recurs as a project motif. We worked in design-build collaboration with our architect and interior design partners to achieve a family legacy retreat that’s luxuriously detailed yet intentionally approachable.

Aerial view of sprawling rustic homestead-style residence surrounded by evergreen forest and snow-covered mountains of Big Sky, MT

Big Sky

Happy Trails Home

Wilson

Signature

True North

It’s always nice to hear from past clients — and we always appreciate it when they want us to build something new for them. In this case, they wanted to add a “saloon” structure to their home on the Yellowstone, and of course we &#8216;bellied right up&#8217; to the project!
Guests access the saloon by way of a stroll up the custom barnwood-and-steel staircase, then entering this attractive space featuring a steel and timber interior while affording wonderfully expansive views of the Paradise Valley from its big, bright windows. The details throughout are remarkable, including a Ringling Railroad track foot rest, an impressive iron-and-timber overhead light fixture, and a fun shuffleboard for bragging rights at what’s one of the coolest dang backbars around. The saloon’s private bath boasts a polished concrete floor, first-quality finishes, and a concrete vanity sink framed by old barn board. Now that it’s fully stocked and operational, this saloon is one of Team Dovetail’s favorite spaces (for obvious reasons).

Wide view of custom saloon bar with timber and steel detailing, upholstered stools, exposed ceiling beams, and large windows.

Emigrant, MT

Yellowstone Saloon

Dovetail&#8217;s second client who came from a commercial construction background hired us to build his retreat on the Yellowstone River, in the shadow of Emigrant Peak. A tall moss rock fireplace rises behind three re-sawn timber trusses which float below a fir tongue-and-grooved ceiling. Our skip-sawn built-in dining bench seat around the custom alder table made the finish crew—and now our client—very proud. Their kids enjoy climbing the reclaimed douglas fir ladder to the loft in the bunkroom, and fishermen dry off in the timbered, screened-in porch a few steps off the mighty Yellowstone.

Screened-in timber porch with wood-paneled walls, rustic seating, and views of the surrounding Montana landscape.

Yellowstone River Cabin

When Dovetail began construction on this fine home, located on Black Bull&#8217;s Tom Weiskopf-designed championship course, we had no idea that our golf fanatic client had hit two holes-in-one—or that he had just dropped in his third on his 50th birthday! This home sits on a private driving range and has some of the most unique and beautiful finishes we&#8217;ve had the opportunity to include in quite some time. It&#8217;s remarkable quality has made even some veteran builders jealous, with painstakingly-crafted timber work, moss rock stone tight has a drum, and very cool contemporary features and details that just don&#8217;t stop.

Panoramic view of timber and stone residence overlooking a green golf course with the Bridger Mountains beyond.

The Hole in One

Just like that street rod that rumbles next to you at the stoplight, Dovetail&#8217;s Blackwood Sleeper Home subtly states that there&#8217;s something special &#8216;under the hood.&#8217; With western contemporary styling, it features floating barnboard siding, heavy iron elements, embellished lighting, Hawaiian Koa wood cabinets, and other upscale finishes that work to make this intimate space burst with personality and comfort. And that&#8217;s just the start—this Sleeper&#8217;s slick design easily surpasses its competition&#8230;and possibly many hot rods for that matter.

Western contemporary residence with expansive glass doors, covered patio, and warm interior lighting at twilight.

The Blackwood Sleeper

Dovetail helped a founding team member of Clinique with her own big time cosmetic job here in Bozeman. We put a great team in place and renovated her fine home into this contemporary work of art. What a blast it was indeed to collaborate with her extraordinary knowledge of colors, textures and comfort. Off-site meetings involved sushi and sake and we toasted one and other often. A classy project for a very classy lady!

Wide view of contemporary kitchen with gray cabinetry, large central island, pendant lighting, and stainless steel appliances.

Sushi and Make Up

Simms Fishing Corporate Headquarters

Resorts

Simms Fishing Corporate Headquarters

As you might guess from the name, One Dog Ranch is named after a canine inhabitant — in this case, it’s little Ziggy, who enjoys living at this amazing property with Pia, her owner. Pia, an architect, tasked Dovetail with building a compelling contemporary home that would be reflective of her South American heritage. We began with positioning the home to align with the sunrise during winter solstice, bringing in cascades of light, and providing an inspiring start to every new day.
Before we even broke ground, we looked to the interior to set the tone, beginning with the strong influence of a huge slab of petrified wood that graces one of the home’s main spaces. The main level boasts a custom-colored concrete floor which is heated and cooled with geo-thermal technology. Ultra clean whitewall finishes with minimal trim is the perfect contrast for the custom cabinetry and beautiful tile work. A large, historic pivot door sits between reclaimed wood siding and cinder block walls along the exterior of the home. A large exotic wood deck is a popular gathering place for watching the sunlight play across both the Gallatin Valley floor far below and the Bridger Mountains high above. We’ll never forget the wonderful celebration thrown for us after One Dog Ranch was completed, a true feast that proved Pia was not only a master at South American architecture and design, but also at preparing the South American cuisine of her childhood. Muchas gracias, Pia!

Contemporary kitchen with custom dark wood cabinetry, stone island countertops, and decorative glass pendant lighting.

Gallatin Gateway, MT

One Dog Ranch

When our Dovetail team first arrived on-site to transform a somewhat dated home into livable &#8216;modern coolness&#8217; we discovered we were not alone — a herd of about 100 elk were already enjoying the views from this pristine high alpine setting. A <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1296824303663843" target="_blank" rel="noopener">short video</a> of this awesome encounter received over 1.4 million views on Facebook to date, proving we weren&#8217;t the only ones left in awe.
To begin this home&#8217;s transformation, our craftsmen began with projects like removing unneeded interior walls to create better socializing spaces, raised roofs in many rooms, and generally opened it all up to take advantage of its stunning natural surroundings. The massive view-through stone fireplace, which features built-in nooks and crannies for storing both whiskey and wood, is truly a work of &#8216;uniquely Montana&#8217; art.
In the spacious kitchen, the numerous custom reclaimed oak cabinets are set intentionally low to keep the focus on the jaw-dropping Bridger Mountain views. Warm, wide-plank reclaimed floors, grass cloth walls, and an inviting soaking tub with big doors that lead out to the private (not including the resident elk) pond are just some of the creative elements that come together to make any homeowner feel like they&#8217;re living on Cloud Nine.

Mountain residence overlooking a reflective pond at dusk, with warm interior lighting and surrounding forest.

On Cloud Nine

As fans of great music, it was Dovetail’s pleasure to build a home for the family of a professional pianist. We collaborated with a wonderfully talented architect and are thrilled with the final product. The stunning stone tower—seen through a dramatic window wall—is wrapped by floating timber stairs leading to the great room&#8217;s fireplace. We used the worn timber siding from the exterior to highlight the custom piano room, which is equipped with sliding barn doors that open up to let the music flow throughout the house.

Modern timber and stone home with covered deck, expansive windows, and warm interior lighting at twilight.

Residential Projects

Spy vs. Spy

Late Night Cabin Jam

Gatekeeper’s Creek

The Cookie Monster

Salty Dogs Residence

Happy Trails Home

True North

Yellowstone Saloon

Yellowstone River Cabin

The Hole in One

The Blackwood Sleeper

Sushi and Make Up

Simms Fishing Corporate Headquarters

One Dog Ranch

On Cloud Nine

Mountain Modern Music