Fall Projects in Montana & Exciting Shop News

Hallelujah, Helen! I finally made it to my beloved Montana. Of course, Montana does not disappoint in any way—the wide open spaces, the incredible mountain views, and the peace that all of that brings is exactly what my soul needed.

I had a gaggle of friends and family here with me, which was wonderful, but now it’s just me (and my son) and my animals.

The house is wonderful, with lots of room to move around and work in. I was on a Zoom the other day and someone said, “Oh, your house is so mountainy.” It really is! The comfort of all the pieces we’ve put in makes it such a cozy place to be.

I think it’s very important to look at your surroundings and how you want to feel in your space—no matter where that space is. Here’s what I always consider:

1. What is the best layout for this room/space? Should it be big and open, or cozy with lots of details?

2. What are the best pieces that will bring both comfort and style to the home, room, or project?

Seating is so important—think about how many people you’ll need to host in a room. Look at how many seating areas can be created in the space.

My big project this week is to conquer the garage and the barn.

I think anyone with extra space tends to stash things that really shouldn’t be there. This is definitely the case with my garage and barn. When we moved to Montana about two years ago, whatever we didn’t use got thrown into one of those spaces. I haven’t been here much this year, but now that I am, my goal is to have a place for everything so cleaning up becomes a breeze.

The original idea was to make the barn a party barn—we even put in a ping-pong table and a pool table—but then other projects took precedence. We also have two John Deere tractors that need to fit, and when we renovated the little guest house (which I’ll show you next week), a lot of the debris ended up in the barn.

My goal is to clean all of that out and turn the barn into a fun space we can use when it’s snowing and cold outside. I’ll share some before-and-afters!

Well—we did it! After two backbreaking days, we now have two new usable spaces. I’m so excited to imagine what they’ll become: an art studio, potting shed, quiet reading nook… we even have a piano!

What’s Happening at the Shop

I’m super excited to announce that we have three new team members starting with us this month! We’re so busy helping people get back into their homes in the Palisades that we needed extra hands and fresh minds. I’ll introduce you to them over the next couple of weeks—look out for bright, excited faces when you stop by the shop.

Speaking of which, we’re still figuring out exactly when we’ll open. In the meantime, remember you can shop online (add link) and we’ll ship to you at no charge. We so appreciate your support!

I’ve partnered with amazing artists and companies to bring you beautiful home décor, furniture, and gifts. Here are a few I’m loving right now:

• Tortoise Vases – I love this look for fall and into the holidays. Sophisticated, elegant, and stunning with flowers or branches.

• Hotel Silver Ice Bucket – Nothing is as elegant in a bar as silver and glass. When we design bars for clients, I always love to add at least one silver piece—it instantly sets the tone, even in the most casual space. Play some great music and it’s a party. (Here’s a playlist I love)

It definitely feels like fall here in Montana. I love the cozy feeling the rain brings—it makes me want to cook soup and warm, yummy food.

This week, I picked all the basil from our outdoor plant and made the best pesto. I didn’t use a recipe: just basil leaves (washed and dried), a big handful of walnuts (what we had on hand), grated Parmesan cheese, and really good olive oil, all blended in the food processor. Easy, fresh, and fragrant. I served it in one of our Pacifica serving bowls (add link).

I also updated our ranch towels. For bath towels, I always look to Matouk—the Milagro towel is a favorite. So soft and they wash like a dream. I especially love the sunny butter yellow color. Since the ranch is called the Double L Ranch, I’ll be adding that monogram to the new guest house set.

If there’s something you’re looking for but don’t see on our site, please email me directly at elizabeth@elizabethlamont.com.