The summer wanes, autumn leaves fall, and we look forward to the wintertide. Let the snowbirds fly south: We’re heading for the mountains, where luxury homes embrace the scenery and the season of snowfall.

This edition of Luxury Defined looks at mountain homes which also embrace the themes of rustic architectural design. We’re not talking about hay barns and cowbells or specific period styles, but of timeless elegance without pretension: Simplicity of line, form, and materials; natural stone and wood finishes, sculpted steel, and glass to look out at all that scenery; and don’t forget the log-burning hearth, the après-ski sauna, and the starlit terrace.  

Out there, the majestic mountainscape overlooks fresh white snow awaiting the imprint of snowshoe, ski, and snowmobile.  

Oh, what a way to while away a winter! 

1. Ski-In, Ski-Out Mountain Lodge in Park City, Utah 

This ski-in, ski-out contemporary home is in the private gated community of Deer Crest in Park City, Utah’s Deer Valley Ski Resort. 

Architect Michael Upwall designed the luxurious turnkey home with rustic contemporary style. The great room’s high ceilings and big glass windows frame the mountain views, and the custom kitchen, with marble-topped island and counters, serves the dining space and a cozy breakfast nook. 

There are six bedrooms, two full baths and seven partial baths. There are heated outdoor spaces, a home theater, a gym, a private office/study, a bunkroom, and a ski room. 

The home stylish furnishings and interior finishes are by Paula Berg Design. Amenities include Savant smart-home technology, automated shades, as well as heated interior and exterior spaces.  

The property is in a private cul-de-sac with direct access to the slopes. Membership to the Deer Crest Club is included in the sale. 

2. Icon House in Breckenridge, Colorado 

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Rugged, rusticated stone walls frame the tall, wide glass window-walls and doors of Icon House, a contemporary, turnkey ski home just minutes from the world-class, high-alpine slopes of Breckenridge Ski Resort’s Five Peaks.  

Light-filled, with panoramic views of the Rockies’ Tenmile Range, Icon House was created by New West Partners, the luxury custom builder and developer, and its bespoke furnishings, fixtures, and decor were curated by interior designer Twyla Gurlea of ColorView Design. 

The elegant entrance hall is styled as a lounge space with a dual-sided fireplace, wet bar, and glass-enclosed, temperature-controlled wine room.   

The double-height great room is oriented to frame the summit of Breckenridge Ski Resort: Peak 8 (elevation 12,840 feet), and flows to the dining room and the gourmet kitchen with bar seating and a cozy breakfast nook. 

The luxury amenities include a tower spa retreat with an exercise studio, dry sauna, steam shower and massage/yoga space. The three-bay garage/workshop features fully washable, epoxy-coated floors and walls.  

The heated upper-level deck has a built-in hot tub for après-ski unwinding, and a sunset-view patio with a firepit for evenings under the stars. 

Related: Discover Homes with Outdoor Fireplaces and Firepits

3. Sunrise Ridge Ski House in Whitefish, Montana 

A ski chalet with contemporary style and creature comforts, this slopeside sanctuary is on the Home Again Ski Trail of Montana’s Whitefish Mountain Resort. 

Built in 2020, the seven-bedroom, five-bathroom turnkey home has a private ski entrance with direct, easy access to the runs.  

Inside its steel and timber façade are 7,215 square feet of contemporary interiors, fully furnished by Restoration Hardware. Big glass throughout frames the mountain scenery and maximizes natural light. Reclaimed wood and natural stone finishes and wrought-iron chandeliers lend to the rustic design aesthetic.  

The home’s three levels are tailored for après-ski relaxation and entertainment. The great room has a vista of the pine-cloaked slopes and a floor-to-ceiling fireplace. The gourmet kitchen is fitted with Thermador appliances and a Miele plumbed-in coffee system. The media lounge is appointed with tiered leather seating. The sauna and hot tub are ideal after a day on the slopes. 

There are deluxe accommodations, too, with a top-floor primary suite (with custom closet and spa-like bathroom), mountain-view guest rooms, and a cozy lower-level den with built-in bunks and a TV lounge.  

4. Lake-View Aerie in Veyrier-du-Lac, Haute-Savoie, France 

Panoramic views across Lake Annecy and the French Alps are the focal point of this rusticated chalet in Veyrier-du-Lac—“the Venice of the Alps.”  

Walls of glass enwrap the 2,852-square-foot interior spaces, showcasing the views of Lake Annecy and the French Alps.  

The sitting room, dining room, and kitchen share the garden level and its grand terrasse with a lake-view lap pool and covered deck for alfresco lounging and dining. The pool has a heat pump and a retractable cover for the winter months.  

There are four bedrooms: The upper-level owner’s suite has an en suite bath and shower room. Two bedrooms are on the mezzanine level and a guest bedroom is on the lower level with an office, shower room, powder room, and utility room. The detached garage complements the main house with its rustic timbered facade. 

The gardens are a delight in the summer months. The serene waters of Lake Annecy (among the purest in all of Europe) are a short walk. Come winter, the Massif des Aravis ski area waits just 30 minutes’ drive. 

Seeking “modern rustic” style in the mountains? Start here.