Distinctly Montana Magazine

d i s t i n c t ly m o n ta n a • s U m m E R 2 0 1 4 68 301 N. Higgins Missoula 406.541.0080 www.greenlightmt.com With rising energy costs and increasing concerns about the health of our planet, energy-efficient homes are more important than ever. With the focus of green homes on efficiency and budget, has beauty been left out of the design process? A beautiful home feels alive, familiar, and comforting. Ephemeral and uplifting dwelling spaces that are also energy-efficient employ a delicate balance between science and art. To illustrate the ephemeral aspects of beautiful design, think about the changing, the momentary, and the transitory features of nature. Imagine sitting next to a bubbling stream watching the sunlight casting shadows of huge billowing clouds across a forest floor of small wildflowers. The air smells of warm earth and freshly flowing pinesap. The aspen trees give off a strong green hue against a deep blue spring sky. Imagine the same beautiful spot in the fall, then in the winter, and how all of the scents, colors, shades, sounds, and feelings of that place change over the seasons. Ob- serve how this environment is about distance and space, largeness and smallness, open- ness and closeness, heights and depths; how it is all constantly and subtly changing. I think we can all remember some spaces that we have been in that have integrat- ed natural phenomena and how they feel dynamic and alive. From dawn to dusk the sunlight casts different qualities of light and shadows throughout the room. There are direct views of the constantly changing outdoors: a cedar waxwing that lands in a tree, the changing sunset, a blizzard of snowflakes blowing horizontally. Within the home, the movement of firelight from a stove flickering and casting an orange glow creates a sense of coziness and well-being. In the summer, a gentle breeze from the open windows flows across your forehead causing a cooling sensa- tion and the floral scents of a lilac bush sweep past. Representing over 35 local artists , designers , and craftspeople , we are a great shop for local souvenirs (but not your typical airport crap). Keeping It Local. MIssouLa , s pReMIeRe eco-boutIque and heaLthy LIvIng depaRtMent stoRe. I ink we can a remember some spaces at we have been in at have integrated natural phenomena and how ey feel dynamic and alive.

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