Jasmine Roth Is Modernizing Mountain Design

There’s something so cozy about a home nestled in the mountains. Jasmine Roth, host of Help! I Wrecked My House, would likely agree, since she recently relocated from the beaches of Southern California to the ranges of Utah. As she renovates her home and rescues neighbors from theirs in the fifth season of her show, Jasmine is also hoping to dispel a common misconception: that high-altitude coziness must come at the expense of style.

“Unfortunately, when people think of ‘mountain design,’ they're often thinking of a really dated look,” she says. “Like something you would see in an old ski lodge: lots of oversized logs, massive furniture with dated fabrics and, of course, some stuffed animal heads on the walls.”

For the past few years, Jasmine has been modernizing mountain design with small yet impactful shifts that bring in the airiness. Back in 2021, before her big move to Utah, she renovated an A-frame cabin in the mountains of California. “It's important not to go too heavy or literal with this design style,” she says. “You can channel the essence of the mountains without going in that direction.”

Here’s how Jasmine recommends rethinking mountain design with a breath of fresh air.

Step 1: Embrace Natural Wood Tones

Jasmine often used a lot of lighter shades in her coastal projects, but that palette doesn’t quite translate to her current locale. “I'm reserving white tile, countertops and furniture for my beach projects and leaning into natural tones and textures in the mountains,” she says. Rich and layered materials that tie into this region, most notably through natural wood, are her preferred backdrop for a space. But before you think that she’d choose heavy logs to make this happen, think again.

“In my most recent project, I used a lot of oak paneling,” she says. “Older cabins had a lot of wood tones, and this is a new take on that vibe — think the same big beams, but milled into clean squares instead.”

Step 2: Use Stone for Texture

Stone is likely as common a mountain design material as wood, but under Jasmine’s direction, it’s used for its functionality as much as for its design. Stone provides texture, and its natural beauty can be so eye-catching that the rest of the room doesn’t need a lot of accessories. That’s the other thing she likes about modern mountain design: By using striking natural elements, you can be more minimal with everything else.

“I love using stone in unexpected ways, and a stone wall is a great way to tie in the outside to the inside of a house,” she says. “And then I love doing the unexpected and pairing rugged stone with sleek quartzite slabs and handcrafted tile.”

Step 3: Bring in Warm Fabrics

To complement the warmth of stone and wood, Jasmine suggests using equally cozy fabrics in shades found right outside: bouclé, leather, plaid, linen and velvet are her top choices. “Even the occasional shag can make a big statement,” she says. “This design style is still using the local geography as inspiration, but in a different way.”

The most important aspect of modernizing these fabrics is to pay attention to how they appear. “The furniture I’m using is cozier than ever and is scaled to fit the size of the room,” she adds. The oversized leather side chairs and overstuffed plaid sofas of the past are gone. Instead, take a modern silhouette and make it cozier with reupholstery, throw pillows and a blanket. “I love the idea of an occasional chair that really makes a statement, like the maroon velvet chair in Hazel's Cozy Cabin,” Jasmine notes.

Step 4: Trade Fresh Plants for Dried Flowers

If there’s one design detail Jasmine has shifted away from as a result of her move to the mountains, it’s sprinkling in greenery. “As someone who has preached about indoor plants my whole career, my need for indoor plants is much less in mountain design,” she says. "Occasionally, I'll use a very muted indoor plant, but with so many plants outside, it's not as necessary to bring them in.”

To tie in the outdoors with the rest of your design in this mindset, Jasmine suggests using dried flowers sourced from daily walks. “On every project we did for Season 5 of Help! I Wrecked My House, we used florals from nature. It just made the projects feel that much more mountain-y.”

Step 5: Add Multiple Light Sources

In the mountain design days of yore, rooms tended to feel dark — even if it was sunny outside. One of the most important yet overlooked accessories in an updated version of this style, Jasmine says, is having multiple light sources to choose from for easy ambiance. “I've been working hard to make sure my projects feel light, bright and welcoming, even when using darker tones and heavier textures,” she says. “The secret is layers of lighting and intentional light sources.” Besides overhead lighting by way of pendants, consider adding floor and table lamps anywhere you want to curl up and unwind.