Defying easy categorization as 'Lodge,' 'Craftsman' or Prairie, this 2,700-square-foot, three-bedroom home on 3.3 acres on Alberton's Petty Creek is a showcase for the artistry and old-time handwork of designer/builder Mike Schmaus: hand-milled and finished custom trim and cabinetry, hand-cut and carved stairways, use of stained glass and traditional and innovative techniques for everything from the stucco-look, exposed-beam exterior to the leaf-embossed driveway and stoops. Neither chalet or lodge, cabin or architectural indulgence, the integration of sensibility to physical setting is superb. The entrance is cozy. Views from the great room, decks and patios are grand. Fir cabinetry and granite countertops in the kitchen blend Old World and culinary contemporary. A near-minimalist slate fireplace soars two stories. When all is said and done, this is a home. This is a 'Schmaus Haus.' Quite simply. Quite elegantly. Quite Montana. $695,000
