Home is where memories are made. For a couple with two kids in college, Wintergreen Resort, nestled on the eastern slope of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, has been that special place since 2010. “We’ve owned a second home here for more than a decade, using it for vacations, weekends and holidays,” says the husband, a real estate developer. “Our kids grew up skiing and snowboarding. We also love hiking, golfing and attending music festivals on the mountain.”

As their family grew, the duo (the wife teaches preschool) envisioned a new dream home there: a larger, generational residence that would maximize the coveted mountain scenery. In 2021, they found an ideal lot and decided to embark on building a custom home. Seattle-based Lindal Cedar Homes provided stock plans and base materials for a five-bedroom, 3,776-square-foot, rustic-modern getaway with uninterrupted mountain views. Justin Crandall of Tectonics Builders and interior designer Margery Wedderburn were enlisted to turn their vision into reality.

“Our previous home was also by Lindal Cedar Homes; they offer post-and-beam construction that allows for large, unobstructed spans with few load-bearing walls. They also allow custom modifications and provide exterior materials,” explains the husband, whose wish list included a two-story great room bordered by soaring expanses of glass, a lower-level family room and a home office with a view.

As the next generation in his family’s construction business, Crandall had an unusual association with the homeowners: His father had built the couple’s previous mountain abode. “We are very familiar with mountain construction, terrain and climate,” he says. On this project, he notes, “our biggest challenge was how to design the house to fit the lot—minimizing the need for a costly foundation and maximizing the orientation and elevation to capture the best views.”

From the front door, the mountain range is strikingly visible through floor-to-double-height windows at the back; an enclosed porch and sweeping deck lie beyond the window wall. The main level spreads out in an open plan featuring a great room that encompasses the kitchen plus dining and seating areas. Primary and guest suites, a home office and the laundry/mudroom are on the same floor. The lower level features a family room, bunk room, bedroom and two bathrooms; it was designed to cater to the young adults of the family and, eventually, grandkids. A loft suite occupies the second level.

“Every aspect of the home is customized through the design and materials,” says Crandall, pointing to hardwood flooring, stone fireplaces with integrated firewood storage and a floating stair. The upper-level loft, a widened footprint and a powder room off the foyer are all added features.

Margery Wedderburn joined the team from the start. “We designed all the built-ins and specified interior finishes and materials,” she recalls. In the kitchen, heather-gray cabinetry contrasts with warm cedar tones prevalent elsewhere, while the rough-textured backsplash mimics the rugged terrain. Bathrooms throughout the home boast neutral finishes and rustic touches.

An organic material palette prevails, with natural yet clean-lined wood surfaces in contrast to walls painted in Benjamin Moore’s super-white Chantilly Lace. The main level boasts live-sawn, white oak floors, a tongue-and-groove cedar ceiling and red cedar millwork. In the great room, a wall incorporates recessed storage beside a fireplace with a floating stone hearth and an integrated niche for logs. The split-face ledgestone surround repeats the exterior stonework for continuity. A powder-coated range hood—custom through Ferguson—accommodates the pitch of the ceiling. “There was not a square space anywhere, and we reveled in playing off the varied ceiling lines,” Wedderburn avers.

Other built-in elements include a bench in the foyer with coat hooks above it; niches in the laundry/mudroom for ski equipment; and bunk beds and open cubbies in the bunk room. The lower-level family room is ready for entertaining, outfitted with a bar and attached banquette.

Interior design inspiration came from the homeowners’ relaxed lifestyle, the outdoorsy locale and the house itself. “The bones are angular,” the designer observes, “so I sought to add softness through the furnishings, which also complement the organic nature of the mountain scenery. That was something we wanted to bring into the overall design.”

Low-profile, easy-maintenance furniture is modern in style yet conveys warmth. “My goal was to create harmony between the home and the outdoors,” shares Wedderburn, who went neutral with fabric colors. “The views are everything, so we made sure the interiors would not impede or detract from them in any way; they serve only to enhance the experience.”

Comfortable sectionals in textured performance fabrics are enhanced by a variety of cozy pillows and throws. Curved, pleather armchairs, dining chairs and bar stools can seat a crowd. And then there’s the centerpiece: a live-edge walnut dining table, designed by Wedderburn; the shape of its powder-coated metal base echoes that of the mountain range outside.

The owners—and their kids—are thrilled with their Blue Ridge perch. Says the husband, “It’s the ideal setting for relaxing and connecting with family.”