> Story by Kirsten Rue
> Photography by Latham Jenkins and David Swift
“I’m very diverse in what I do.” This describes Brian Goff’s portfolio of work and also an interior design career stretching back 25 years to take in residences around the country, many in Jackson Hole.
The diversity in tone—contemporary, traditional, Western-inflected—wells from Goff’s approach to design itself, which is centered in listening and calibrating interiors to each client’s unique mode of living. “I try to sit down and evaluate room by room,” he says of his process. “How do they live? How do they use each space and the items in those spaces? Being a designer is also about function—too often we confuse beauty with function. First and foremost, the space has to be lived in and utilized in a proper manner.”
This emphasis on creative, custom approaches to functionality makes perfect sense for Jackson Hole, where large family groups often converge on residential spaces and need a welcoming interior that both nurtures them and accommodates a lifestyle that might include the donning and doffing of wet ski boots, free-form gatherings of all ages, and large-scale entertaining.
“Designing for Jackson Hole lends itself to crafting warm, comfortable environments so that you reflect the area, the landscape, and the mentality of where we are. We’re in a beautiful part of the world that’s somewhat of a playground—it’s year-round man vs. nature, so when you come home, you want to be extremely relaxed. You want to come into an atmosphere that’s completely enveloping you.”
For Goff and his team at BGID, collaboration between architect, client, and contractor makes every project one he remembers—each one replete with considered touches that anticipate client needs while crystallizing their tastes.
“I cover the gamut of design,” Goff explains, “and I try to always come up with personalized, custom designs that set one house apart from another.” In fact, he doesn’t have a favorite portfolio project; they all stand out as a translation of one family’s lifestyle into a setting that embraces it.
“Through creativity, knowledge, and expertise, I can bring my clients’ vision to fruition. That’s how I measure my success.”