A New Look For A Valley Favorite: Teton Pines

The neutral tones and splashes of red in the rugs and artwork provide a serene, elegant atmosphere.

The Teton Pines clubhouse is the perfect place to relax after a day of skiing or a round of golf. In the summer, club members can lounge at the pool. Year-round, both members and visitors can enjoy fine dining, including gourmet holiday feasts. Truly a place for the whole family, the club offers children’s programming throughout the summer. The clubhouse staff also hosts many events for valley nonprofit organizations, such as the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, Special Olympics Wyoming and the Community Safety Network.

Teton Pines is unique in the Jackson Hole valley: It is a semi-private club that allows the public to access its Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, groomed cross-country ski trails, tennis courts and clubhouse. The Pines—as it’s known by locals—opened in 1987. Last year its membership engaged local designers Colleen Walls and Lacey Stalter, of Willow Creek Interior Design, founded in 2001 by Walls, to give this beloved valley retreat a fresh new look and feel.

Willow Creek set out to create a transitional design that would appeal to current, long-term members as well as attract new members to the club. What set its design proposal apart from competing firms’ proposals, says Kevin Getz, general manager of Teton Pines, was “Willow Creek’s professional presentation, which really wowed the design committee.” Stalter used 3-D modeling software to show a 360-degree perspective of the proposed remodel, enabling committee members to visualize the end result.

The resurfaced fireplace was deemed a necessary change, says Walls. “We wouldn’t have felt the remodel was complete if we hadn’t redesigned the fireplace.” The original river rock (above) was replaced with Oakley stone, lending a more timeless look to this centerpiece.

Upon winning the contract, the firm worked closely with the Pines’ membership and staff. “We contract with a limited number of clients per year so that we can offer individualized attention throughout the entire project, from concept to completion,” says Walls. From the outset, she says, “our goal was to update the clubhouse with mountain contemporary colors, patterns, textures and artwork.”

Once the design concept was approved, Walls and Stalter worked as project managers, planning every detail. Architecture and construction firm With the Grain performed the remodel. The team made sure everything was in place, ordering materials well before demolition began February 29th. The clubhouse reopened on May 18th. “We finished on time and on budget,” says Walls. “With a commercial project this large, delays would mean loss of revenue for the Pines. We believe a deadline is a promise to your client.”

The dramatic new staircase, redressed with dark steel rails, walnut and custom-designed newel posts, guides you downstairs from the lobby and into the golf reception area. The With the Grain team reused much of the original staircase structure, thereby adhering closely to the budget.

Willow Creek also collaborated with Kismet Fine Rugs, supplier of custom-manufactured rugs, service and maintenance in Jackson since 1990, to design two large rugs for the updated clubhouse. Working with a globally connected gallery with such a wealth of experience in space planning and blueprint design gave the project team an enriching insight into the ancient art form of rug making. The resulting mountain contemporary rugs effectively drove much of the design aesthetic, from the geometric shapes that Walls and Kismet Fine Rugs’ owner drew up, to the warm colors and wool textures that resonate with the clean lines in the new furniture, walls and window treatments. Kismet Fine Rugs’ owner followed up in person with the rugs’ manufacturer in Pakistan to assure their quality construction—a service offered to all Kismet Fine Rugs clients who order custom-made rugs.

Members have consistently commented that the clubhouse feels completely transformed. The staff has been thrilled with the result, as well; the subtle structural changes that Walls and Stalter implemented have improved the efficiency and entertainment capability of the club.

The existing dining room was underutilized due to unsightly cafeteria-style cabinetry. The cabinets were removed and new finishes were added to create an upscale dining atmosphere.

With the Grain partner Todd Witek particularly likes the frosted-glass, moveable walls installed in the dining room, which allow for at least three different room configurations. Getz explains, “We can make it more cozy, open it for large functions, or configure spaces for three concurrent lunch meetings or presentations.”

Getz is eager to invite everyone to the new clubhouse at Teton Pines to see why Willow Creek Interior Design, Kismet Fine Rugs and With the Grain have earned praise for the remodeled space. He says, “From the design team and club members, to everyone who visits, we’ve had overwhelmingly positive feedback.”

The tired, dated bar was redefined by applying a walnut veneer and a sleek quartz countertop. LED lighting was inset in the three-tiered cabinetry above the bar, creating an emphasis on the room’s focal point.