Kylloe - Ralph Kylloes RUSTIC LIVING

Ralph Kylloes RUSTIC LIVING

Author Ralph Kylloe

Photographs by Ralph Kylloe

Ralph Kylloes RUSTIC LIVING

Digital Edition 1.0

Text 2012 Ralph Kylloe

Photographs 2012 Ralph Kylloe

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means whatsoever without written permission from the publisher, except brief portions quoted for purpose of review.

Gibbs Smith

P.O. Box 667

Layton, Utah 84041

Orders: 1.800.835.4993

www.gibbs-smith.com

ISBN: 978-1-4236-3234-4

P hotographing the twenty-nine properties featured in this book took two years. There were many people who helped along the way, including designers and builders, homeowners who choose to remain anonymous, caretakers, and my wife, Michele, and daughter, Lindsey. To each and every one who assisted in any way, I extend a very, very special thanks. I would also like to thank Paul Filion, M.D., for all his help, and Bob Cooper for his special editing and patience.

A fter meeting Ralph in the early 1990s, I could see that the word rustic would no longer be as Webster described it, simple and plain. Ralphs interest for early rustic furnishings made from organic materials, such as roots, birchbark, saplings and trees became his passion.

As Ralphs collection of rustic furniture increased, so did his desire to learn more about the craftspeople/artisans. Ralph made time to critique and offer advice to aspiring artisans, and would purchase pieces of rustic furniture and art to thus encourage the artists. Ralphs books continue to impact and inspire the spectrum of artisans as well as collectors. His books entail exceptional photography, tales of adventure and close encounters with beasts of the forest. With the contemporary rustic movement spanning the globe, artists, furniture makers, interior designers and architects have settled in to a new frontier.

I would also like to acknowledge Ralphs wife and partner, Michele, for her ballast, tenacious directional support and encouragement for Ralph.

Find your favorite place in the forest....

Barney Bellinger

S everal months ago I started receiving e-mails from an interior designer encouraging me to see a new lodge in Montana called the Ranch at Rock Creek. As I receive copious amounts of information about all kinds of rustic projects from many different people all over the world, I thanked the individual who sent me the info and mentioned that I would certainly check out their website and related information. And I did! It was an impressive-looking place, but I had seen such places before. Nonetheless, I continued receiving e-mails about the ranch and was told, in no uncertain terms, that I really needed to see the place.

In the fall of 2010 I found myself in Montana with a friend photographing other homes near the ranch (and doing a bit of fly-fishing as well). So I e-mailed the facility and invited myself over to see their digs. Montana is a very large place, and what seemed to be just a short drive on the map turned out to take longer than expected.

Each individual arriving at the ranch is assigned their own bicycle.

However, Montana is an extraordinary place and a drive in just about any direction can be spectacular. Rolling hills, wildlife around every turn, great-looking trout streams, forests, old mining towns and magnificent mountains were the setting for the lodge we were about to experience. Down a long, dusty road adjacent to a blue-ribbon trout stream resides the Ranch at Rock Creek.

The entire place was nothing less than magnificent. In the middle of what seemed to be absolutely nowhere, the ranch blended perfectly with the environment. Designed by architect Kirk Michaels of Livingston, Montana, the ranch offers the weary traveler something completely unexpected. The five-star resort, encompassing 6,600 acres, has accommodations for individuals, couples and families. You can sleep in the main guesthouse or in one of their complete cabins designed in traditional western fashion. Or you can sleep in a family tent as well! And Im not talking about a small pup tent that requires a sleeping bag on the ground. The tents are fully contained and some offer complete kitchens and running water. Each tent also includes its own toilet and access to its own private high-end bathroom just outside the front tent flap.

But thats just the start of the adventure. Each individual arriving at the ranch is assigned their own bicycle, and you can ride horses and fly-fish in Rock Creek or their own stocked trout ponds to your hearts content (and I personally guarantee that youll catch all kinds of great-looking trout!). Or you can spend the day in the spa or lounge around the heated pool if you choose. And the five-star restaurant will keep even the hungriest cowboy completely happy. The ranch also offers two great lounges, a fully mechanized bowling alley, pool tables and more activities than you can shake a stick at!

But its the subtleties about the ranch that make it a great place. They have fly rods, guides and gear for everyone. If you want to hunt or shoot clay pigeons, there are guns of all kinds. If you want a hayride in an old wagon, its no problem at all. And in the evening the campfires are great and the elk wander down from the mountains to graze in the meadows on the property.

The interiors of the facility were tastefully done by interior designer Jet Zarkadas of Los Griegos Studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with a wide variety of western-related antiques, art, textiles and memorabilia.

Guests can mosey up to this fully stocked bar in one of the ranchs two lounges and take a seat on a saddle stool.

This handcrafted tall case clock occupies a niche next to a half staircase.

Above and below: Sleep it off in the Remington Room in the Granite Lodge, or grab some fly-fishing gear and try an entirely different kind of relaxation.