By If you squint hard enough, the scrubby plains of Montana’s Bitterroot Mountain region look like the grasslands of the African savanna—at least when viewed from the tented loft of this chic, safari-themed bunkhouse.
Drawing inspiration from Out of Africa—the homeowners’ favorite film—and prints purchased by the husband’s father on a 1985 trip to the continent, Chicago-based designer Stephanie Wirth of Leo Designs transformed a dark guest cottage into a light-filled retreat worthy of the film. Says Wirth, “It’s just a fun, imaginative space to take you away.” The four-room, farmhouse-style structure already had two sleeping quarters—with built-in log-cabin bunk beds, rustic wood wall paneling, and faux oil lanterns hanging over each bed—plus a soaring loft space accessed via ladder. All that was left for Wirth to do was to make it more comfy for guests and to create an open play area reminiscent of a safari tent in the upstairs loft.
First, she lightened the walls and ceiling with Benjamin Moore’s Classic Gray and eliminated an awkwardly situated utility closet in the loft space, keeping its necessary support beam. Then, she hired Fabricon, the team behind the tents at the Resort at Paws Up, a luxury glamping ranch, to drape canvas from the ceiling. “The fabric draws the eyes up, making the room look bigger,” she says. “When you close it off, you can have movie nights and so on.”
Downstairs, the guesthouse is divided into boys’ and girls’ camps, with roll-up window shades that enhance the safari camp feel. Planning for when multiple guests are in town, Wirth created compact dressing areas by installing mirrors and luggage stands in the bedroom closets. She also revamped the bathrooms and a kitchenette in the entry. Though the roofline is low, she gave the illusion of space by removing built-in bookcases and hanging a curtain rod with a patterned Pierre Frey fabric just under the ceiling. The family loves their new guesthouse so much, it even inspired their most recent vacation—a safari in Botswana.
Tent Room
Pictured above.
“Children love those little hidden spaces” the room’s flaps create when released, Wirth says. Tent: custom by Fabricon, in Big Duck Canvas fabric. Pendants: Arteriors. Rugs: IKEA (patchwork), SBS Studio (sisal).
Exterior
Designer Stephanie Wirth removed porch railings to give the exterior a farmhouse feel.
Entryway
“I always paint the walls and the ceiling the same color,” Wirth says. “Your eye just keeps going.” Furniture: Verellen in mohair by Fishman’s Fabrics and bouclé by Élitis. Curtain: Pierre Frey. Flush mount: Currey & Company. Giraffe: Jonathan Adler.
Kitchenette
The wall-height Drew Doggett photograph of a Super Tusker elephant has an elongating effect. Cabinets: Leo Designs. Sconces: Palecek. Microwave: Sharp. Tassel vase: Karen Gayle Tinney.
Girls’ Bunk Room
Pillows in animal-print fabrics from Thibaut and Brunschwig & Fils add to the safari vibe. The trim is set off with Green Grove paint from Benjamin Moore. Bedding: Parachute. Throw pillows: Jayson Home, Sferra. Elephant tables: vintage, 1stDibs, The Well Appointed House, The Antique Warehouse. Sheepskin: Moore & Giles.
Bathroom
