Adding Dimension to the Exterior of Dancing Bear Ranch Upped the Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is a little different in the country. In the case of Dancing Bear Ranch, a gated entrance and wooded driveway build anticipation for your arrival. Built on the edge of Mark Twain National Forest in the Saddlebrook community near Branson, the sprawling 8,000-square-foot hand-hewn log home is impressive. The property features a wraparound porch, horse stables, a guest house, custom wood carvings and in-ground pool. In late 2018, its potential caught the eye of Colby and Tom Hosick and their son, Taylor, and they purchased the property.

After being vacant for two years, its exterior was underwhelming. “It was so overgrown,” Colby says. “It looked kind of forlorn and bedraggled—nobody had taken care of it.” As the Hosicks looked to overhaul the estate, in came Shae Duffy, an interior designer and realtor with Worley and Associates in Branson. Duffy acted as a sounding board for the Hosicks and helped them better visualize their ideas.

Refreshing the outdated exterior was a top priority for the Hosicks. “Everything was the same color,” Duffy says. To add contrast, the new homeowners followed Duffy’s advice and painted the spindles, railings, fascia and trim black. To bring in different materials, textures and a bit of ambiance, the Hosicks added pondless waterfalls, rock and mulch around the porch. Rope lining the front porch provides for a better view of the water feature, while making the entryway feel more bridge-like.

The end result is a welcoming, picturesque home that feels like a high-end vacation lodge. “It’s like you’re living in a national park,” Colby says.