Lake Tahoe Surroundings Inspire a Cabin Renovation
Designers update and refine a 1940s family retreat for multiple generations to enjoy
Magnificent surroundings, including giant boulders, soft evergreen trees and views of Lake Tahoe, inspired the warm organic style of this 1940s cabin renovation. With rustic features like wood ceilings, a stone fireplace and even giant boulders inside, the home already had an earthy spirit. The homeowners sought to preserve this while updating the space for modern life and creating a cohesive, elevated design. A successful collaboration between an architect, an interior designer, a kitchen specialist and a contractor resulted in a refined, organic space designed to accommodate large family gatherings.
Inside, soaring ceiling vaults and rugged wood trusses give the great room a dramatic yet cozy feel. The goal was to preserve this distinctive character while refining and elevating the design. “The wood on the ceiling and trusses had a pinkish-white wood finish, so we sandblasted and restained it,” Lackie says. “It was critical to look at stain samples on site because old and new wood absorb stain differently. I worked with the contractor to find the right stain that would work with the new wood floors and the new walnut wood in the kitchen.
“In the great room, we reworked the seating while being mindful that it’s the main gathering space,” Lackie says. Framing the spectacular Lake Tahoe views was also a priority. Part of Marlatt’s job was redesigning the deck, and he specified glass railings to keep the views from the great room open.
“In the great room, we reworked the seating while being mindful that it’s the main gathering space,” Lackie says. Framing the spectacular Lake Tahoe views was also a priority. Part of Marlatt’s job was redesigning the deck, and he specified glass railings to keep the views from the great room open.
Because the homeowners had an extensive collection of furniture and artwork, Lackie worked closely with them to inventory which pieces would fit the style of the cabin and the scale of each room.
“These clients had wonderful taste and really cared about everything that was going to go into the house. I loved collaborating with them,” Lackie says. In the living room, she incorporated existing sofas, a coffee table, side tables and a large landscape painting, then layered in new elements including a rug, window treatments, ottomans, armchairs and lamps.
Three new streamlined chandeliers replaced an ornate fixture and two ceiling fans, bringing in soft light that reflects off the wood ceilings. The new lighting scheme also includes small fixtures that wash light down the stone fireplace surround, along with beam-mounted lights that highlight the artwork.
Find an interior designer on Houzz
“These clients had wonderful taste and really cared about everything that was going to go into the house. I loved collaborating with them,” Lackie says. In the living room, she incorporated existing sofas, a coffee table, side tables and a large landscape painting, then layered in new elements including a rug, window treatments, ottomans, armchairs and lamps.
Three new streamlined chandeliers replaced an ornate fixture and two ceiling fans, bringing in soft light that reflects off the wood ceilings. The new lighting scheme also includes small fixtures that wash light down the stone fireplace surround, along with beam-mounted lights that highlight the artwork.
Find an interior designer on Houzz
Opposite the stunning lake views, the rugged stone fireplace serves as a focal point, with the home’s main entry on one side and the wife’s office space on the other.
When going through the homeowners’ inventory, Lackie also thought about the potential of each piece. For example, she updated this once-frilly chair by giving it a more streamlined look. After removing its outdated skirt and back cushion, she reupholstered it in a textured blue-gray striped fabric, then added a floor lamp and painting from the homeowners’ collection to create a reading nook.
Lackie helped the wife select a desk and chair from their collection for her office, reupholstering the chair in new leather. “We reclad the existing built-ins in walnut with flat-panel doors to mimic the kitchen,” she says. “Stunning little horn-shaped cabinet pulls add a little bit of jewelry to the room.” The homeowners filled the shelves with artwork, objects and books they already had.
The kitchen was a down-to-the-studs renovation, with the most dramatic change being a new vaulted ceiling in place of the drop ceiling. Marlatt and Bozman collaborated on the design, defined by rich walnut and clean lines. Flat-panel cabinet doors create a streamlined aesthetic, while light-colored countertops, flooring and walls balance out the dark finishes. Along the range wall, minerals and shells are displayed on glass shelves, honoring the husband’s father’s treasured collection.
When Lackie joined the project, the ceiling, cabinets, appliances and layout were already in place. She ensured smooth transitions throughout the kitchen by thoughtfully selecting window treatments, pendant lighting and trim. “I worked really closely with the contractor to get the cornice boxes that house the rolling shades just right. It was quite challenging to detail those out,” she says.
A faux beam in the ceiling added depth, while junction boxes hidden inside it allowed for pendant lights. “Connecting the old to the new was imperative,” Lackie says. “I knew we needed light fixtures that would feel really special. These ceramic pendants are handmade and have a beautiful weight to them. They bring in a warm organic feel.”
Cabinets: Henrybuilt; pendant lights: Lucia Double Rise and Fall, Hector Finch
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
When Lackie joined the project, the ceiling, cabinets, appliances and layout were already in place. She ensured smooth transitions throughout the kitchen by thoughtfully selecting window treatments, pendant lighting and trim. “I worked really closely with the contractor to get the cornice boxes that house the rolling shades just right. It was quite challenging to detail those out,” she says.
A faux beam in the ceiling added depth, while junction boxes hidden inside it allowed for pendant lights. “Connecting the old to the new was imperative,” Lackie says. “I knew we needed light fixtures that would feel really special. These ceramic pendants are handmade and have a beautiful weight to them. They bring in a warm organic feel.”
Cabinets: Henrybuilt; pendant lights: Lucia Double Rise and Fall, Hector Finch
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
At the other end of the kitchen, a new dining table with a hefty base anchors the space beneath the vaulted ceiling and large window. Lackie reupholstered her clients’ antique chairs in a high-performance fabric with saturated color designed to withstand spills. She also freshened up the window seat with a new bench cushion and pillows. “This window seat was really important to the wife as she loves to sit here and drink coffee, do work or just have a special moment,” the designer says.
Lackie notes that texture was something she paid careful attention to. “It’s so beautiful to be able to embrace the texture of this area. We embraced earthy tones, and those included the colors of the water and the sky,” she says, adding that the seat fabric has a nice hand, or tactile feel. The throw pillows add playful patterns and contrast.
Chair fabric: Perennials
Lackie notes that texture was something she paid careful attention to. “It’s so beautiful to be able to embrace the texture of this area. We embraced earthy tones, and those included the colors of the water and the sky,” she says, adding that the seat fabric has a nice hand, or tactile feel. The throw pillows add playful patterns and contrast.
Chair fabric: Perennials
The home has a primary bedroom and five guest bedrooms. This guest room with a lake view has a new ceiling clad in the same wood used in the kitchen. By going through so many stain samples, Lackie and Carter were able to seamlessly blend the new wood with the old. “This stain is not monotone,” Lackie says. “It has a little gray, gives a little bit of a worn look and adds depth. We didn’t want it to look perfect; we wanted it to look like it had history and patina.” The repurposed living room chandelier has an ornate silhouette, creating a dynamic contrast against the clean lines of the wood ceiling.
Inspiration for the color scheme came from the view of the water and the sky. The dresser, bed and plant stand came from the homeowners’ collection, and Lackie tied everything together with the rug, window seat textiles and bedding. “My approach to textiles throughout the house was to embrace earth tones,” she says. “But you can still have a little contrast too, and the yellow plays with that.” Tactile patterns, such as the needlework on the quilts and the raised weave of the rug, add more depth to the room.
Inspiration for the color scheme came from the view of the water and the sky. The dresser, bed and plant stand came from the homeowners’ collection, and Lackie tied everything together with the rug, window seat textiles and bedding. “My approach to textiles throughout the house was to embrace earth tones,” she says. “But you can still have a little contrast too, and the yellow plays with that.” Tactile patterns, such as the needlework on the quilts and the raised weave of the rug, add more depth to the room.
Each of the six bedrooms has an en suite bathroom, but they are compact. Like the other bathrooms, this one measures 6 feet wide and a mere 40 inches deep. Marlatt came up with the stone-and-walnut concept for the vanity, while Lackie tackled the tile, the faucets, the lighting and the transitions between elements, such as how the vanity meets the shower tile.
To maximize space, the vanity is just 10 inches deep and has wall-mounted faucets. There are four separate mirrors, and the two in the center conceal medicine cabinets. Limiting the material palette and creating seamless transitions, such as between the sink and the countertops, contribute to a calm and uncluttered feel.
Seen in the mirror’s reflection is a floor-to-ceiling walnut niche with glass shelves. “This is my favorite addition to the room,” Lackie says. “It repeats the walnut wood, gives them much-needed storage and adds warmth, depth and intentionality in a very tiny bath. It’s a very thoughtful space.”
To maximize space, the vanity is just 10 inches deep and has wall-mounted faucets. There are four separate mirrors, and the two in the center conceal medicine cabinets. Limiting the material palette and creating seamless transitions, such as between the sink and the countertops, contribute to a calm and uncluttered feel.
Seen in the mirror’s reflection is a floor-to-ceiling walnut niche with glass shelves. “This is my favorite addition to the room,” Lackie says. “It repeats the walnut wood, gives them much-needed storage and adds warmth, depth and intentionality in a very tiny bath. It’s a very thoughtful space.”
A key goal of the renovation was accommodating more family members. In this guest bedroom, two full-size beds are paired with custom headboards designed by Lackie in a deep blue nubby fabric with dark wood trim.
Like the homeowners, Lackie was deliberate in incorporating new pieces, as seen in this nightstand and lamp. “This metal nightstand with beautiful little metal tassel pulls is one of my favorite pieces because it has patina, history, depth and warmth from the materials, yet is really clean-lined,” she says. “The lamp is simple yet thoughtful and intentional, with a faceted shape wrapped in linen.”
Lamp: Rejuvenation
Like the homeowners, Lackie was deliberate in incorporating new pieces, as seen in this nightstand and lamp. “This metal nightstand with beautiful little metal tassel pulls is one of my favorite pieces because it has patina, history, depth and warmth from the materials, yet is really clean-lined,” she says. “The lamp is simple yet thoughtful and intentional, with a faceted shape wrapped in linen.”
Lamp: Rejuvenation
The walk-out lower level contains a media room, the boulder room, a guest suite and this small powder room. Here, the homeowners leaned into an unexpected dark and moody scheme. A deep plaster wall treatment reflects the low light from elongated glass pendants, while a sculptural patinaed metal sink sits atop a live-edge walnut base. In the spirit of designing spaces unlike any other, Lackie gave the base a twist, and the collaborative relationship with Carter was key to its success.
“You tend to see a lot of live-edge tables in this area,” Lackie says. “We thought we would come up with something unique that was intentional, special and related to the environment around the house.” Carter mitered the edges around the top of the base, forming a crisp box, with live edges revealed on the bottom. Like the nightstand in the guest room, it has history and patina, along with refined, clean lines.
“You tend to see a lot of live-edge tables in this area,” Lackie says. “We thought we would come up with something unique that was intentional, special and related to the environment around the house.” Carter mitered the edges around the top of the base, forming a crisp box, with live edges revealed on the bottom. Like the nightstand in the guest room, it has history and patina, along with refined, clean lines.
The house was built atop and around giant boulders, a hallmark of area homes from this period. Marlatt’s plan for this space exposed more of the boulders, and Carter executed this in a way that kept the house properly sealed from the elements. Tiny uplights in the gravel bed highlight the rock.
With large organic elements dominating the room, the furnishings take on a playful contrasting role. The homeowners’ bright turquoise Le Corbusier chairs and bold orange Chinese table add vibrant pops of color. “The scale of these chairs just worked in here,” Lackie says. “They are a sleek, contemporary juxtaposition to the earthy, gritty boulders.”
In keeping with the tradition of showcasing the homeowner’s father’s mineral and shell collection, a walnut niche with integrated lighting accentuates the heirlooms. “We kept the niche simple and appropriately scaled to highlight the specimens,” Lackie says. “These pieces are incredible. They truly serve as art and needed to be the stars.”
Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your home project
With large organic elements dominating the room, the furnishings take on a playful contrasting role. The homeowners’ bright turquoise Le Corbusier chairs and bold orange Chinese table add vibrant pops of color. “The scale of these chairs just worked in here,” Lackie says. “They are a sleek, contemporary juxtaposition to the earthy, gritty boulders.”
In keeping with the tradition of showcasing the homeowner’s father’s mineral and shell collection, a walnut niche with integrated lighting accentuates the heirlooms. “We kept the niche simple and appropriately scaled to highlight the specimens,” Lackie says. “These pieces are incredible. They truly serve as art and needed to be the stars.”
Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your home project
One piece of advice Lackie emphasizes is hiring a knowledgeable, experienced contractor who is willing to collaborate and rise to meet new challenges. “Rand worked tirelessly to figure things out and was an amazing problem solver,” she says. “His willingness to try new things is what got us the result. That is what can take any project from so-so to something really special.”
More on Houzz
See more home tours
Browse millions of photos for ideas
Find a home professional
More on Houzz
See more home tours
Browse millions of photos for ideas
Find a home professional
House at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a vacation home for an extended family
Location: Incline Village, Nevada
Size: 4,000 square feet (372 square meters); six bedrooms, 6½ bathrooms
Designers: DNM Architecture (architecture), Andrea Lackie Design (interior design), Henrybuilt (kitchen)
Builder: Rand Carter of Sawtooth Builders
A family gathering space for over three decades, the home was purchased 32 years ago by one of the current owner’s parents. Although it had been remodeled and expanded in 1980, it remained relatively untouched in the years since. After inheriting it, the homeowners embarked on a major remodel to create a lasting retreat for future generations.
First they hired architect David Marlatt, with whom they had worked before. He engaged Rachel Bozman of Henrybuilt to design the kitchen, and she recommended interior designer Andrea Lackie. Contractor Rand Carter completed the team, addressing the many unique challenges the project presented.
“The house needed refreshing to open it up, update it and breathe some new life into it,” Lackie says. “The homeowners also wanted to make sure it would be a place their children and grandchildren would enjoy for many years to come.”
Find an architect on Houzz