Don't say Billings, MT, lacks panache -- you just need to know where to look.
Your first stop on the style watch: This 2,048-square-foot penthouse located smack-dab in the middle of downtown. Listed for just $335,000, the two-bedroom apartment offers the streamlined dcor and international flair of ber-luxe apartments in larger cities. But with a 360-degree view of the Montana landscape, the condo is in a class of its own.
"The views are optimized from every single room, whether you're standing in your shower overlooking the city or in your master suite closet," says listing agent Tana Hergenraeder of Century 21. "You get great morning light."
Hergenraeder -- also a former interior designer -- purchased the home in November as her "first flip project." Hergenraeder transformed the penthouse, which was once used as an attorney's office, into a modern escape.
"There aren't a whole lot of contemporary spaces in Billings," she says. "Because it's such a unique property with unique views, I wanted to give it that feel."
Pristine white walls and gray flooring give the space a minimalist feel that's adaptable to a variety of dcor styles, from bohemian to art deco. Hergenraeder made sure to include a few unique conversation pieces, including the vapor fireplace dividing the living and dining spaces. The modern accent combines a vapor mist and halogen lighting to create a flame without the risk.
The kitchen island is art unto itself. Handcrafted by a local artisan, the wooden counter creates a waterfall effect as it folds over the island's edge. And because it's made of Russian olive wood -- considered a "noxious weed" -- buyers are also helping save Montana's environment.
"It helped warm up the space, with everything else being so white and gray," says Hergenraeder. "People love it. Everyone that comes in says the countertop is beautiful."
With so much space, buyers have plenty of opportunities to add their own personal touches and turn the two spacious bedrooms into their paradise on the Plains. They can also feel free to turn the greenery up to 11 -- a large balcony is a perfect place for their private high-in-the-sky oasis.