A MOUNTAIN CABIN REIMAGINED

In collaboration with Noa Staryk

Some collaborations don’t need warming up. They start aligned.

When our client invited Noa Staryk, founder of Nest, to join this project, it was immediately clear we were speaking the same language. Shared values. Mutual respect. A deep belief that good design begins by listening, closely, to the client, the history, and the space itself.

The home was originally built in the 1970s and once belonged to a respected Teton mountain guide, someone personally known to the clients. Honoring that legacy mattered. The goal was never to overwrite it. Instead, we set out to extend it, preserving the spirit of the original cabin while shaping a home that supports contemporary living, gathering, and hospitality.

GYDE approached the architecture by creating what Noa calls “a canvas.” The strategy was simple but demanding: open the space, invite in as much natural light as possible, and make every square foot count. With a modest footprint, there was no room for excess. Every decision had to earn its place.

Noa met that clarity with equal intention. Through color, pattern, and texture, she shaped how each space feels, not just how it looks. The main living areas are lively and uplifting, playful patterns, a statement light anchoring the kitchen, and moments that energize daily life. The bedrooms, by contrast, are quieter and grounding, with softer palettes and calmer rhythms. The result is a home that understands how people move, gather, and rest.

The clients were active collaborators throughout, contributing artwork that helped set the tone and cadence of the interiors. Their openness made space for exploration, particularly with color and pattern. Nature itself is built on both, and we instinctively respond to them. Yet in our own homes, many of us hesitate. Pattern feels risky. Color feels personal. Playing it safe can feel easier than trusting what we don’t yet know how to name.

When we asked Noa where her confidence comes from, her answer was disarmingly simple: “I can see.”

That ability isn’t magic. It’s the result of years of practice, attention, and the courage to trust instinct again and again. Designing with intention requires bravery. Noa brings that bravery into every project.

Reflecting on the collaboration, Noa shared, “Working with GYDE was a great experience. Principal Architect Katherine was incredibly supportive, from layouts and measurements to clear, consistent communication throughout the entire process. Because the space was so small, precision mattered.”

That precision is rooted in how we work. Listening, with empathy and discipline, shapes every decision we make, from planning to execution to lived experience. It’s why collaborations like this feel natural rather than forced.

 As Noa puts it, “GYDE works across such a wide range of projects because they truly listen to each client and their design preferences. I know they’re going to listen the same way I do, and that’s how you create something people actually want to live in.”

Noa often describes herself as the “fun exclamation point” at the end of the process, building on the thoughtful foundation GYDE creates. When architecture and interiors speak the same language, the result feels cohesive, natural, and deeply lived-in.