Designers Margaret Chambers and Allen Keith with architect Christy Blumenfeld revamped the interiors of Thomas and Phyllis Leiser’s Mountain Village, Colorado, house with a light and modern sensibility. Upholstered pieces from Ambella Home Collection appoint the living room. | Photo: Kris Ellis

We had been going skiing since the kids were young,” says Phyllis Leiser of the trips she took with her husband, Thomas, and their three boys. “We had tried different ski resorts but were always drawn back to Telluride.” Captivated by the area’s rugged mountains and small-town feel, the family first purchased a condo in the area for their frequent trips.

“It was nice, but there was not a lot of privacy,” says Phyllis of the couple’s decision to look for someplace a bit more secluded. A two-story house set on 6 acres in the adjacent town of Mountain Village fit the bill, with a wood-and-stone exterior that harmonizes with its Colorado surrounds. However, the interiors needed work.“It was a great structure,” Phyllis says, “but it needed updating.”

“It’s nestled into the woods,” homeowner Phyllis Leiser says of the stone-and-wood residence that attracted the couple with its secluded setting. The exterior of the two-story structure, set on six acres, melds with its Colorado locale. | Photo: Kris Ellis

To rejuvenate the house, the Leisers called on the same team who had worked on their main residence in Dallas: interior designer Margaret Chambers, principal of Chambers Interiors & Associates, and senior interior designer Allen Keith, and architect Christy Blumenfeld of Blume Architecture. After the trio discussed the aesthetic vision with the couple, a clear direction surfaced.

To start, the interiors were “really dated and very Old World,” Keith says, adding, “It had a lot of Venetian plaster, heavy faux finishes and an antique bar in the basement that looked like it came off the Titanic.” What the couple had in mind was just the opposite. “They wanted it light and bright and contemporary,” says Chambers, “but they still wanted it to feel like a mountain house.”

A sculptural iron-and-crystal light fixture was custom-fabricated and installed by Crow Chandeliers in the dining room, where Chambers and Keith encircled an existing live-edge wood table with upholstered Logan chairs by Ambella Home Collection. | Photo: Kris Ellis

To that end, Blumenfeld began by “simplifying and modernizing the interior,” says the architect. The living room’s antique fireplace surround was traded for a streamlined marble one, heavy carving on the kitchen’s cabinetry was replaced with simple Shaker-style fronts, and bulky stonework in the baths came out. “That lifted the spirits and made it feel less heavy,” says Blumenfeld, who also added strategic walls to the open lower level, creating “functional, usable areas,” including a game room, media room and guest bedrooms.

Against this fresh backdrop, the designers painted over old decorative wall finishes with a warm off-white and, at the request of the homeowners, devised a textured palette of neutral hues with shades of blue. “The greatest art is the landscape out the window,” says Chambers. “We didn’t want to compete with that.”

Shaker-style cabinet fronts give the kitchen a fresh update. A Hubbardton Forge pendant is suspended above countertops of Ijen Blue quartzite slabs from Arizona Tile. | Photo: Kris Ellis

In the living room, the designers created two seating areas with back-to-back Ambella Home Collection sofas, using the new modern fireplace as an anchor. A large custom rug grounds the space, and a sculptural hand-forged iron chandelier—reminiscent of branches—is suspended above the room.

In the adjacent dining room, a complementary light fixture stretches the length of the live-edge table, which the designers surrounded with upholstered chairs. “Our goal was to make the design feel like it belonged in those beautiful mountains, but give it a more contemporary look,” says Chambers, who, with Keith, added more modern nods to the mountain locale throughout, including a Twig Iron bed by Formations in one of the two primary bedrooms, a geometric hair-on hide rug in the husband’s study and a rustic reclaimed-wood console table in the hearth room.

An RH desk pairs with a Regan Barrel chair from Global Views in the husband’s study. | Photo: Kris Ellis

The lower level, where the old bar came out and a sleek design with open metal shelving and a stone-wrapped island went in, features a seating area the designers appointed with Palecek swivel chairs and a hair-on hide ottoman. “It’s very casual and extremely durable throughout the whole house,” says Chambers. And the homeowners agree. “Even though it’s a big house, it’s still really cozy and comfortable,” says Phyllis, noting that the team was able to capture exactly what the couple imagined. “I just let them have free rein, and I’ve never been disappointed.”

In one of the primary bedrooms, Chambers and Keith positioned a Knox bed by Moss Home between Marco chests by Theodore Alexander. Twin Gideon chairs by Ambella HomeCollection nestle beneath the room’s large windows. | Photo: Kris Ellis

A Twig Iron bed by Formations, upholstered with a Kravet textile, lends an organic touch to one of the primary bedrooms. | Photo: Kris Ellis

A heated Ann Sacks Noir Sully limestone floor beneath a sculptural soaking tub adds richness to the primary bathroom. The jewel-box setting continues the theme of organic luxury and harmon­ious sanctuary, where every detail is considered. | Photo: Kris Ellis

DESIGN DETAILS

ARCHITECTURE — Blume Architecture   
INTERIOR DESIGN — Chambers Interiors & Associates
CONSTRUCTION — Eugene Barlow

As featured in Mountain Living’s September/October 2025 issue

While alpine views dominate the skyline from the back of the home, the husband requested secondary views of Park City and the neighborhood lake and boathouse from his study. | Photo: Lindsay Salazar

A divide-and-conquer strategy enabled a couple with a burgeoning family to finally build the transitional mountain home they’d been planning for years. They had purchased land in the Promontory community in Park City, Utah, patiently waiting for the right time to build the home that would lure their now grown children and grandchildren to the alpine location to enjoy summer retreats and winter ski trips.

The couple intended to be actively involved in the design of this new home, and they split the responsibilities—the husband oversaw the architectural process, including participating in the design of the home’s facade, while the wife was in charge of interior design. They both conducted interviews with an extensive list of professionals, finally settling on architects Rick Otto and Jeff Johnson of Otto/Walker Architects and designer Carrie Delany of Carrie Delany Interiors, who are both based in Park City.

The home’s defining feature is a dramatic double-level glass stairway visible upon approach, which was inspired by the homeowner’s love of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture. | Photo: Lindsay Salazar

“We wanted a timeless design so people could not pinpoint when it was built,” say the homeowners. As a Frank Lloyd Wright fan, the husband was excited to introduce elements reminiscent of one of the architect’s famous residences, Fallingwater, in Pennsylvania. The crowning feature of the new home, the corner glass entrance that spotlights the interior stairway, connects to the natural environment and features horizontal grilles typical of Wright’s style. The look is echoed on other exterior design elements. “There are design elements inspired by Fallingwater throughout the home even though the design is nothing like Prairie Style,” says Johnson.

A classic blend of materials, including reclaimed timber, stone and weathered cedar siding, provide a timeless look. Flat and pitched shed roofs are accented with copper, which will patina over time. An oversize bespoke front door also is faced with copper detailing. “You can see all of these elements as you approach the home; it’s a great entry experience,” says Otto.

In order to keep tall ceilings and clerestory windows in the great room from feeling cavernous, the designer lined the walls in lightly stained white oak and relied on dark beams and posts for warmth. | Photo: Lindsay Salazar

The driveway drops off on the entry side of the residence to expose views of the Uinta Mountains from both the lower and upper levels of the home. “We chose this lot because it is facing east,” says the homeowner. “There’s bright light in the primary bedroom and kitchen in the morning and no hot sun on the deck in the afternoon.”

The interiors are designed to be elegant, yet fun and playful. This is, after all, a home that heartily welcomes grandchildren. A media room, built-in bar and game room are incorporated into a downstairs space where the family plays and relaxes. “The homeowner wanted warmth and color, but she also wanted it to feel serene,” says designer Delany. “We introduced saturated colors in the downstairs family room in tones of ochre, deep rust and burnt umber. The room feels like a warm hug.”

A hand-knotted geometric rug from Adib’s Rugs in the entryway adds a graphic moment while echoing the copper-faced pattern custom-designed on the front door. | Photo: Lindsay Salazar

On the main level in the primary suite, Delany dialed down the color palette to create a calm spot of escape. “The palette is subtle, with a subdued watercolor look,” she says. “A Phillip Jeffries mural wallpaper in blush, dusty blue and champagne sets the tone. It
feels like walking into a meditation space.” A sheepskin rug in the room’s sitting area provides a snug spot where the homeowner reads in the mornings.

“We were mindful of the mountain setting,” Delany continues. “Color can get ‘themey,’ and we didn’t want the home to feel like that. We used saturated secondary hues from nature instead of bold primary colors.”

Saturated colors pulled from nature create warmth and coziness in the family room. A cowboy painting by Thom Ross above the fireplace adds even more color. | Photo: Lindsay Salazar

“We have dreamed about this home for years,” the homeowner says. “My husband and I put our hearts and souls into designing it along with our team. We feel incredibly blessed. We have built and remodeled several homes and have never had a better building experience than this one.”

Not Your Grandmother’s House

“This home was designed so people of all ages feel welcome,” says designer Carrie Delany. She shares tips for creating a space for multigenerational enjoyment through intentional planning by the architect, designer and homeowners. 

FLOW The great room, dining area, kitchen and adjacent hearth room flow out to the deck. “We spend the majority of our time in the kitchen; the grandkids like to sit at the huge island, do crafts, and watch me make homemade pizzas or make their own, which we then cook in the pizza oven on the deck,” the homeowner says. The hearth room faces the kitchen and provides a place for the adults to gather around the fireplace and chat with the chef while the meal is underway. 

FUN FOR ALL Downstairs, a game room complete with a shuffleboard table, a huge sectional for movie night, a built-in bar and a “spool” (what the family calls the combo pool and spa) just outside the game room
doors is conducive for gathering.

PRACTICALITY is a major factor in making the home work, with closets large enough to store portable cribs, a spacious bunk room for roughhousing, and performance fabrics on the furniture.

“I love the kitchen’s layout so much that we are using its design in a new home we are building in Dallas,” says the homeowner. Three monorails holding nine Visual Comfort Mini Ponte pendants comprise a unique chandelier over the island. | Photo: Lindsay Salazar

The subdued palette in the primary suite includes Stark carpet in Seafoam, a natural sheepskin rug, creamy drapery and jacquard fabric, and Mist Whisper on Marshmallow Manila Hemp wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries. | Photo: Lindsay Salazar

A floating staircase connects the primary suite to the outdoor “spool.” The wraparound deck provides easy access to outdoor living. | Photo: Lindsay Salazar

A three-sided vanity in the primary bathroom is a jewel box surrounded in an ephemeral, color-blocked Phillip Jeffries wallcovering. | Photo: Lindsay Salazar

DESIGN DETAILS

ARCHITECTURE — Otto/Walker Architects
INTERIOR DESIGN — Carrie Delany Interiors
CONSTRUCTION — Hardman Building Group

As featured in Mountain Living’s September/October 2025 issue

New steel windows and a glass-walled entry update the home’s exterior. Rustic materials, including reclaimed barnwood and stone, lend a rustic appeal, while the corten metal roof unites the wings and additions. | Photo: Jean Allsopp

From its humble beginnings as a trapper’s cabin, a creekside home bordering the Custer National Wilderness in Red Lodge, Montana, has evolved into a spacious and inviting family residence. “When I first came onto the property, I glanced at the house, but immediately walked around to the back,” the homeowner recalls. “And when I saw the trees and the creek, I said, ‘This is my spot.’”

The main house, featuring sturdy pine beams and large windows that face the West Fork of Rock Creek, had been added onto over the years. It needed renovations and additions to transform it into the haven the homeowner envisioned for herself and her children following a divorce. “I’m a nester, and my surroundings are important to me. It has to be a space I can make my own,” she states. “I also needed the creativity of the project to keep me busy, and this was my healing place.”

Wilson Cabinetry in Billings, Montana, crafted custom walnut cabinets; the countertops are leathered quartzite; and the custom pulley light fixture is by Alison Berger for Holly Hunt. A pizza oven was added to the fireplace, which is clad in local Chief Cliff stone. | Photo: Jean Allsopp

A talented group of experts was brought in, chief among them Sandra Chancey, an interior designer with whom the homeowner had collaborated on previous home projects, and her architect husband, Walt Chancey, of Chancey Design & Architecture, based in Tampa, Florida. “As large as the home is, it evokes a very comfortable and cozy space,” Walt Chancey says. “It’s easy to walk in the front door and want to curl up with a book by the window or in one of the niches.

It’s almost as if the home was carved out of the river bank. That started with the existing structures, but the additions augmented that, reaching out through the decks and engaging the natural environment.” “She is a most elegant, highly organized woman, and has an old and spiritual soul,” Sandra Chancey says of her client. “She knows what she likes and doesn’t; there’s no second-guessing. She has the most exquisite taste.”

Outside a guest bedroom, a Formations twig mirror hangs over the Mimi London demi-lune Sitka spruce console table. | Photo: Jean Allsopp

“We work really well together,” agrees the homeowner, who values the designer as a friend as well as a trusted professional. “We all knew each other, which made it easy to do this. Dave Strike (of Dave Strike Custom Building in Cody, Wyoming) is precise, detailed and stands by his work.” She credits him with helping her achieve what she describes as an Old World quality to the home. “I feel like this house has the feel of a Swiss chalet rather than a Western lodge,” she says. “When it came together, it developed a feeling of warmth and old age, of things collected over time.”

Artisans came from near and far, including craftspeople from Cody-based Wilson Cabinetry. Tom Davis of T.H. Davis landscape architecture in Clearwater, Florida, who has also worked with the homeowner on other residences, guided improvements to the outdoor spaces. “The biggest challenge was to bring life and movement to the exterior of the house, which had been two flat facades,” architect Walt Chancey says. “And the entry was dark. The new steel windows and glass-walled entry light it up.” Reclaimed barnwood siding and stone lend a rustic appeal to the exterior, while the corten metal roof unites the wings and additions.

The trapper room, original to the house, is crowned with an antler chandelier from Little Big Horns. The club chairs were sourced from Hancock & Moore. | Photo: Jean Allsopp

“We gutted it,” the homeowner says of the main wing. “We added a foyer onto the primary entrance, an office and an additional wing.” The home’s open floor plan was reconfigured to create a larger kitchen, pantry, powder room, family room and bar and a larger primary suite. Decks offer three separate destinations overlooking the creek and include a hot tub, a large daybed and a fire pit. The home’s other wing features a guest suite, bedrooms, a meditation room, a laundry room and a mudroom.

No surface was left untouched, from the original beams to the fireplaces. The yellow pine was stripped and then hand-painted. Other walls were covered with barnwood or were plastered “in a beautiful color to make a lovely interior envelope to hold furnishings and the art,” Sandra Chancey says. Soft, spacious sofas and chairs create inviting conversation areas in the gathering rooms, accented by American and English paintings collected by the homeowner over the years. Contemporary lighting fixtures juxtapose with pieces like an ornate crystal chandelier in the primary bedroom.

A Tyler sectional sofa from the Caperton Collection in Dallas provides plush seating around the Panama cocktail table from Mimi London in the family room. Bevolo sconces accentuate the mirror with a custom antler frame from Little Big Horns. | Photo: Jean Allsopp

“My taste is eclectic,” the homeowner says. “I love art and old, handmade pieces.” Such finds include an antique desk from Ireland, Austrian elk horns mounted on wood, and a contemporary John Nieto painting. Among the designer décor companies represented is Mimi London, known for its organically inspired, luxury furnishings made in Los Angeles  The walnut bed in the primary suite and Sitka spruce wood tables in several other rooms are from the company. “Mimi London’s handcrafted pieces were perfect for this home as they embrace a warmth and familiar aesthetic with the utmost attention to detail,” Sandra Chancey says.

The kitchen, initially “stuck in a corner at a strange angle,” according to Chancey, was reworked and fitted with larger windows. The fireplace was reclad in Chief Cliff stone, and a pizza oven was added. Custom cabinets are made from dark-stained walnut, the countertops are crafted from leathered quartzite, and a zinc hood tops the range. The one space original to the house, the trapper room, got a lighter touch. The fireplace was updated to work again, the beams were refreshed, and comfortable seating was added.

Doors in the guest bedroom connect to the home’s forested surroundings, creating a peaceful atmosphere in the suite. The Mike Bell. bed features a Kravet leather headboard, and the Christian Liaigre bench is upholstered in Garrett hair-on hide. | Photo: Jean Allsopp

“When Sandra came back for the furniture installation, we were blown away,” the homeowner says. “We were standing in the great room, turned in a circle, and I thought, ‘Wow. The stepchild had become Cinderella.’ We knew it was going to be pretty and an attractive home. But we truly didn’t realize the depth of the beauty and the feel that this house has inside. Even my son’s high school friends say this is the warmest house they have been in. It is the energy of the old materials.”

And nature.

The homeowner ensured that she could both hear and see the creek from her bedroom. “I leave the windows open whenever I can,” she says. “You have to become accustomed to it. It can be very soothing and peaceful, but during the snow melt, at its height, you can hear huge boulders crashing through.”

When the homeowner first visited the property and saw the trees and the creek, it was love at first sight. She said, “this is my spot.” | Photo: Jean Allsopp

The Art of the Mix

When a client has eclectic taste, interior designer Sandra Chancey has various methods to blend old and new décor pieces cohesively.

Make a statement Antique furnishings can serve as a focal point in a room, such as an antique partner desk in an office. When paired with a chair upholstered in a contemporary fabric, the look feels fresh rather than frozen in time, as it might if the chair matched the desk in period and style. “I had it years before I had anywhere to put it,” the homeowner says of the desk. 

Beyond Furniture, doors can bring novelty Vintage-look doors can make a room in a renovated home feel familiar and lived-in. For the primary bedroom entrance, the homeowner had doors handcrafted in Santa Fe. A pair of iron pantry doors that she found in a castle in Austria were incorporated into the redesigned foyer, while a set of doors that she fell in love with in India inspired custom-made doors for her meditation room.

Color-coordinate the elements Placing a vintage painting near a modern sofa, chest or chair can look great when the colors are cohesive and intentional.

When you love a particular motif, such as antlers, incorporate them throughout your home. A lighting fixture and mirror were included among the new items used in this Montana residence, along with antique mounted elk antlers that the homeowner discovered in Austria.

Reclaimed barnwood walls echo a motif seen throughout the home, while Krystallus quartzite contributes a richly textured surface to the shower and countertops. | Photo: Jean Allsopp

DESIGN DETAILS

ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN — Chancey Architecture & Interior Design      
CONSTRUCTION — Dave Strike Custom Building
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE — T.H. Davis

As featured in Mountain Living’s September/October 2025 issue

With direct access to blue-ribbon trout fishing on the Arkansas River and views of the Twin Sisters and Hunts Peak, “The Lodge” is a true log cabin home built for comfort in the Mountain West. | Dallas & Harris Photography

It all started with a love of fishing. Having acquired a 160-acre plot of land outside of Salida, Colorado, on the Arkansas River, the homeowners’ next order of business was to build. Initially, the husband’s plan was for a small, one-bedroom cabin retreat so he could fish without going back and forth to his primary residence, but his wife had a more ambitious vision. “She said, ‘I don’t mind if you build something, but let’s build something nice that we can stay in as a family,’” the husband recalls. “‘Let’s do it right if we’re going to do it.’”

With the scope of the project decided, they set out to find the best producers of log cabins. The search led them to Pioneer Log Homes of British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1973, Pioneer crafts fine log homes, providing a number of base designs and working with homeowners to fashion their perfect mountain house out of western red cedar. But with long lead times and the company in high demand, it seemed like they wouldn’t be able to secure a house kit without delay. That is, until a lucky cancellation freed up a home in production. It was already designed, but after reviewing the plans, the homeowners saw that it fit the bill. “It was meant to be,” says the husband.

The great room features a painting by Helen Henderson Chain over the fireplace. For lighting, the team chose a Two Tier custom crystal chandelier sourced via California-based Just LED + Lights, which complements the authentic quartz crystal custom pendant chandelier by Christopher Boots over the kitchen island. | Dallas & Harris Photography

The gorgeous three-floor cedar log cabin, featuring a walkout lower level and a large deck on the main floor, arrived about 12 months later. “It only took four or five days to assemble,” says general contractor Gary Hand, founder of Salida-based Carpentry by Hand, who oversaw the project. “Pioneer was just amazing,” he confirms.  “The joinery was so tight, within an eighth of an inch, and they pre-drill for electrical wiring. Everything to do with the logs they prepare up in Canada before shipping it all down here.” Hand had worked on a Victorian remodel for the homeowners, and they trusted him implicitly, not only to get the job done but to accomplish it to the highest standards.

Once the skeleton of the home was assembled, Hand’s team took care of the rest, designing and installing all the interior walls and furnishings. “The biggest thing about log construction is that as the logs dry out over time, they shrink,” says Hand. “So, you get this movement. The house will come down between two and three inches. Everything that you frame inside has to allow for that.”

“There wasn’t a specific dining area, so we had to get creative to make the kitchen function as the dining room,” says Kurz. “We designed a counter-height dining room table, and Cassandra paired it with bar stools that feel like dining chairs.” | Dallas & Harris Photography

For the interiors, the homeowners hired designer Cassandra Lohr, founder of Cassandra Lohr Design, who had handled the design in their previous home. She brought on architectural designer Amanda Kurz, founder of AK Designs LLC, who was instrumental in designing the building specifications and layout, and spearheaded the kitchen design, cabinet choices and hardware finishes. A priority was balancing the logs with lighter touches. “There’s so much heavy wood in any log home, so we wanted complementary stains for the kitchen cabinets, the interior trim work around the doors, and the doors themselves,” says Kurz. “For some doors we added inset leather panels to lighten them.”

Meanwhile, Lohr brought the interiors to life by juxtaposing Western pieces with contemporary elements. “He wanted a Western log home and she wanted something more modern, with a touch of Western for the mountains,” says Lohr of the homeowners. To reconcile the two visions, she adopted a transitional style on the main floor and loft, while leaning more heavily into a rustic aesthetic on the lower level, which includes a guest bedroom, living space, workspace and 800-bottle wine cellar.

Two water features by David Duensing of Aquatic Construction adorn the property. “He’s a magician,” says the homeowner. “We can hear that sound of running water from the deck. Along with the view of the river, it’s amazing.” | Dallas & Harris Photography

The project was completed in the summer of 2024, and the homeowners have since settled into using their new home in the warm seasons, with frequent visits from their adult children. When all is said and done, “The Lodge,” as they affectionately call it, is the ideal mountain home: comfortable, perfect for entertaining, and with that easy fishing access that first inspired it.

A three-season room opens onto the deck. “It’s almost a four-season room,” says the homeowner. “Great place to sit in the evening when you want to be out of the wind but still have great views.” | Dallas & Harris Photography

The lower-level living room, with its own fireplace, features a plush wool red Tufenkian rug and, next to the wine room, custom cabinets by Crystal Farms. | Dallas & Harris Photography

The sumptuous bedding in the upstairs primary bedroom consists of a bespoke opal Ava coverlet, matching Euro pillows with custom trim, and lush ombré velvet pillows in jade, all sourced from The Brass Bed in Denver. | Dallas & Harris Photography

LOG HOME — Pioneer Log Homes  
CONSTRUCTION — Carpentry by Hand  
INTERIOR DESIGN — Cassandra Lohr Design, AK Designs, LLC
LANDSCAPE DESIGN — LandArt      
WATER FEATURES — Aquatic Construction Services

As featured in Mountain Living’s September/October 2025 issue

Architects Paul Bertelli and Jillian Bowers Bertelli had long admired the 1934 home by architect Fred Willson, whose work in Bozeman defines the look of the city today. Thoroughly renovated and expanded, the home retains its historic essence while inside it’s light, bright and designed for modern living. | Photo: Audrey Hall

Few architects left a bigger mark on a growing mountain town than Fred Willson did on Bozeman, Montana. Between 1910 and 1956 he designed more than 300 structures, including Bozeman’s Ellen Theater, Armory and Baxter Hotel, and Gallatin County’s courthouse, jail and high school. He designed buildings in Yellowstone, as well as Soldiers Chapel near Big Sky and the Sacajawea Hotel in Three Forks. Today approximately 25 of his buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Willson’s Bozeman was a gracious one, its wide main street lined with handsome brick and limestone edifices, its residential neighborhoods enhanced by parks. Historic Bozeman has always resonated with architect Paul Bertelli, founder emeritus of JLF Architects, and he had long admired one particular Willson-designed house.

Historic authenticity is celebrated in the living room’s curved cove ceilings, archways, alcoves, molding, sunken floor and steel windows. Combining two custom tables transforms the space into a banquet room. A grouping of Western landscapes establishes sense of place. | Photo: Audrey Hall

Built in 1934 facing north into Cooper Park, the stately brick structure is organized under hipped roofs, with massing that recedes from the central two-story projection—which presents a front door with flanking pilasters under a Juliet balcony with iron railing. At the end of the long dormered roof, a tall brick chimney capped with spiral ceramic chimney pots thrusts skyward.

Bertelli, along with wife Jillian Bowers Bertelli, hadn’t planned to undertake a historic renovation, but when they realized the house had been languishing on the market, they made the leap. As with most such projects, the question became how to honor the house while bringing it to today’s standards. Working with city planners was a collaborative process, says Bowers Bertelli, architect of record and interior designer.

The primary suite addition defers to the historic volume of the house in its lower massing and dark color. | Photo: Audrey Hall

“We all had the same goals in mind: respecting the building, Willson’s legacy and the historic character of the neighborhood. And bringing it to a standard that would last 100 years while being as ecologically conscious as we could.”

The renovation masterfully preserves the home’s street presence, down to the antique butterfly casement windows, painstakingly restored, under ornamental brick arches. Additions on either end (primary suite to the west; mudroom to the east) recede toward the rear of the property, their dark exteriors making them almost disappear.

A glassed-in sunroom addition centers on a white brick fireplace. Reclaimed white oak flooring from Montana Reclaimed Lumber; glass from Montana Sash and Door. Cisco Home sofa and chairs, with artwork by Marc Civitarese. | Photo: Audrey Hall

The main transformation occurred inside, explains Paul Bertelli. “The north elevation leaves all the openings as they were, to honor the original composition. But on every other face we added openings. And by opening the building up south to north, and opening the living room and stairway to each other, all that southern light [flows] into the north side of the house. That’s why we could leave the modest fenestration on the north side while completely changing the light in the building.”

Other than the living room, where the fireplace and ornate decorative plasterwork were faithfully preserved and replicated, existing space was thoroughly reimagined, allowing for en suite bathrooms and a large central kitchen, while a sunroom addition opening to a porch on the south side provides indoor-outdoor living.

The round window was a portal to the 1934 garage. The Bertellis raised the floor so the window now sits at eye level in the pantry/laundry. | Photo: Audrey Hall

The biggest move—a complex task for structural engineer Paul DeWolfe of Axiom Engineering Group and general contractor/builder BJ Althans of Forge Builders—was the excavation underneath the home to create a lower level housing a wine room, mechanical rooms, gym and theater. Mechanical and electrical engineer John Melvin addressed the antique knob-and-tube wiring discovered within the walls of the house and all the upgraded sustainable HVAC systems.

“One of the most interesting things about this building,” notes Paul Bertelli, the project’s design principal, “is that the quality was ahead of its time. The brick and finishes, the tar paper, wood and subsiding, the studs in the walls, the rafters—all of that material, when we gutted from the inside, looked brand new. There were no water stains, no separation between brick and wall, no structural failures. It’s amazing the difference a bit more attention to detail, and the quality inherent in hiring an architect, makes, even back then. It was so well built. That’s why this house had extraordinary bones.”

The dining space flows from living room to sunroom and is anchored by Audrey Hall’s artwork of a rare white bison, “The Sacred Beast.” | Photo: Audrey Hall

For the Bertellis, respect for the original building remained paramount from start to finish; they never lost sight of the goal yet still managed to create a light-filled, graciously scaled home for family living and entertaining.

“Expending the effort in detailing and quality of work to give something that was already an icon another 100 years of use—and then reinvigorating and reinventing it without degrading the original context of the building—takes more courage and commitment,” says Paul Bertelli. “We didn’t do this because we have a limit to what we could do. We did it because we wanted to do the best we could do. And although we did this for ourselves, we also did it for another two or three generations of use.”

The serene primary bath faces the garden. | Photo: Audrey Hall

HONORING THE PAST

Buying a historic home is both a privilege and a commitment. The decision is usually born of passion for the authenticity, lived experience and patina of the structure. It’s this passion that sustained the Bertellis as they navigated the challenges of the historic-preservation process, and they offer the following tips:

• Review the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Structures. Often the top concern of historic preservationists is maintaining the structure’s historic street presence.
• Research the architect, history of the area, styles of the times, colors and palette with
  the help of local libraries and historical societies.
• Preserve any historic documents and drawings.
• Consider retaining elements that reflect the original period, when design-appropriate. The Bertellis took special care to honor the elaborate decorative detail of their living room and the iconic north elevation.
• Establish an aesthetic demarcation between old and new, encouraged in the standards set by the Secretary of the Interior, and make any additions subordinate to the original design, through scale, form and material use.
• Balance respect for history with the desire for major interventions—for example, removing walls, lifting ceilings, adding skylights and modern conveniences. The Bertellis were able to maintain the historic nature of their house while designing to contemporary standards in en suite bathrooms, enlarged window openings and improved circulation.
• Consider working with an architectural historian to learn what is truly historic/significant. Having access to original drawings is helpful, but owners can consult with their state’s historic preservation office for information and guidance.
• Make the investment and changes needed for the house to survive another 100 years.

ARCHITECTURE – Design Principal Paul Bertelli
ARCHITECT OF RECORD, AND INTERIOR DESIGN – Jillian Bowers Bertelli
PRE-CONSTRUCTION SERVICES – Big D/Dovetail
CONSTRUCTION – Forge Builders

As featured in ML’s July/August 2025 issue.

Artwork by the Bertellis’ Danish friends, the late Peter Brandes and his wife, Maja Lisa Engelhardt, hangs throughout the house. The antique doors are from China and were pur­chased at a San Francisco antique shop decades ago. | Photo: Audrey Hall

Bill and Donna Hubbard wanted their home, set on almost 900 acres in Lakeside, Montana, to have a timeless aesthetic. Architectural designers Rich Graves and Rod Willard designed the structure with reclaimed wood and stone. | Photo: Gibeon Photography

We’d always wanted to be in a mountain state,” says Bill Hubbard of the search to find a place where he and his wife, Donna, could settle as empty nesters and build their forever home. “We wanted to be someplace where we had some space.” Narrowing their search to Montana, the couple had some specific requirements for the site.

Recalls Bill Hubbard, “I was looking for something that was about 100 acres, at least one side bordering on national forest land, and I wanted to be able to pave an access road into the property.” After years of searching, he finally found what he was looking for—and then some.

Doors crafted by Nature’s Best Custom Doors mark the entry, which designer Lee Chillemi appointed with a handwoven wool rug by Escalante Rugs and sculptures from Wright’s Furniture. The floors are made of reclaimed oak. | Photo: Gibeon Photography

A property presented itself in Lakeside—about 30 miles south of Whitefish—with road access and three sides bordering national forest. “It was ideal,” says Hubbard. It also stretched to approximately 900 acres. “It’s turned into more of a legacy property that we can pass on to future generations,” he says. Once the site was found, the Hubbards assembled a team to realize a home befitting the expansive property.

Local recommendations led to architectural designers Rich Graves and Rod Willard of Altius Design Group in Whitefish, and the couple turned to designer Lee Chillemi of A White House in Folsom, California, with whom they had worked in the past. Hubbard, an electrical engineer by trade and retired from an electrical construction company, served as the project’s general contractor. As for the direction of the structure, Hubbard wanted something tied to its locale with a strong sense of history.

Chillemi chose a light green hue for the kitchen’s cabinetry, which was built by Douglas Grimes of Douglas Allen Designs. The light fixtures are by Shades of Light. | Photo: Gibeon Photography

“I wanted this house to look like it had always been there,” he says. With that idea in mind, Graves and Willard laid out a plan for a one-story structure with a rustic Montana aesthetic. “We wanted it to look like it had been there a long time and that it had been added on to,” says Graves.

“The form of the building is lodge-like, and we set it up to have symmetry around the front door with two large chimneys on either side.” The duo flanked that central massing, which contains the entry, living room, den and kitchen, with the primary bedroom and dining room on one side and a guest bedroom and recreation room on the other.

A pendant by Beyond Barrel Art suspends above Pacific Green chairs from Wright’s Furniture in the living room. | Photo: Gibeon Photography

“You can imagine how that central section could have been a standalone house,” he adds. To further the narrative, reclaimed siding marks the facade along with sections of stonework that “ground the house and give it a feeling of permanence,” notes Graves. Inside, the aged sensibility continues with reclaimed oak lining the floors and doors handcrafted from reclaimed fir.

Against that backdrop, Chillemi curated interiors that feel “cozy and homey” with antiques and one-of-a-kind touches. In the living room, a pendant made from an old wine barrel is suspended above a cluster of singular chairs by Pacific Green. “I didn’t want a sofa in the living room; I wanted it to be a conversation area,” explains Chillemi, who outfitted the den with a shearling-lined sofa. A mix of streamlined and upholstered chairs appoint the dining room, where Chillemi had a built-in cabinet custom-made for the space.

Bunk beds were custom-made by Tim and Andy Bauer of Bauer Construction for the bunk room. | Photo: Gibeon Photography

“Built-ins make a house feel older,” says the designer, who also added built-in bookcases and a deep window seat to the primary bedroom. Moving her focus to a large pantry that connects the living room and kitchen—marked by light green cabinets—Chillemi wrap­­­­ped the space in knotty alder so it would “feel like an old cabin.”

Those thoughtful choices, both inside and out, infuse the house with a personal and collected feel. “Even the mantelpieces for the fireplaces are actually logs from a Montana cabin that was built in 1895 or prior,” says Hubbard. “Everything in this house has a story.”

ARCHITECTURE – Altius Design Group
INTERIOR DESIGN – A White House
CONSTRUCTION – Bill Hubbard

As featured in ML’s July/August 2025 issue.

Stands fabricated from old logs support a Regal tub by Cheviot in the primary bath. Sconces by Hubbardton Forge flank custom mirrors. | Photo: Gibeon Photography

In the primary bedroom, a Sundance bed stands atop a rug by Crate & Barrel. A textile from Charlotte Fabrics covers a built-in window seat, and a side chair from Wright’s Furniture lends texture. | Photo: Gibeon Photography

Archways of slurried fieldstone frame views of the Tetons on a patio where the family gathers for alfresco meals in the summer. | Photo: William Abranowicz

When a Georgia couple found acreage with spectacular views of the Teton Range in Jackson Hole a few years back, they knew it was the spot on which to build their legacy home. They had vacationed in Wyoming since their three sons were young, and loved returning each ski season to a residence that they had remodeled and updated. But with the sons grown and married, plus the addition of two grandchildren to the family, it was time for a larger retreat where they could all be together.

Vera Iconica Architecture designed the home to be “true to the scale and proportions of Western structures but also have a bit of Old World timelessness,” says architect Veronica Schreibeis Smith. | Photo: William Abranowicz

The couple met architect Veronica Schreibeis Smith of Vera Iconica Architecture through the builder that they had worked with on several projects, Dembergh Construction in Wilson, Wyoming. For interiors they called on Beth Webb, who had designed their homes in Atlanta as well as Jackson.

The residence is among the dozen projects featured in Webb’s second book, Embracing Beauty: Serene Spaces for Living, published by Rizzoli. Her mission, she says, is to create “interiors that bring joy to the families that inhabit them” using a calming palette of colors and textures and through careful selection of furnishings and finishes.

The living room’s vaulted ceiling echoes the mountain peaks seen through tall steel-framed windows. Interior designer Beth Webb used a neutral palette in the furnishings to complement rather than compete with the natural beauty outside. | Photo: William Abranowicz

From choosing paintings to figuring out where in the pantry appliances should go, the Wyoming project, she says, was “thoughtfully coordinated on every level with form and function.” “It was a great collaboration with the three teams working together,” agrees the homeowner, adding that she and her husband wanted a home that would work when it was just the two of them, as well as when the whole family or a group of friends descends on Jackson Hole. “Our other home was on a butte, and the lot was steep,” she says. “It had great views, but here, every time you turn a corner, you have a different view.”

The architect’s mission was to create a home where the interior atmosphere was as serene and inspiring as the surrounding landscape. “Some creeks ran through it, so we enhanced what was there by creating water features and ponds, while being respectful of the wetlands and wildlife habitat. The goal was to design beautiful interior spaces that blend with the native landscape, and have each room capture a unique view of mountains beyond,” Schreibeis Smith says.

In the mudroom, white oak cabinets offer a place to store outdoor gear. The antique leather pommel horse is just the spot for removing boots. | Photo: William Abranowicz

“The overall concept was to have a home that was true to the scale and proportions of Western structures, but to bring in a bit of Old World timelessness,” she says. The exterior features reclaimed corral wood, steel and stone, and Schreibeis Smith says the Vera Iconica team worked with the landscape architect to bring native grasses right up to the house, “so it was like the home was floating in a sea of grasses, with the stone rising out of the ground.”

The materials are repeated inside, where reclaimed beams frame walls and ceilings, and slurried limestone lends an ancient look to walls. “I’m very influenced by travels, whether it be Italy or France,” Webb says, adding that “the tactile nature of the finishes was very important. It lends character and soul.” Many of the doorways are arched, offering a way to transition from room to room.

The dining room’s centerpiece is an antique English table surrounded by McGuire chairs. The armoire is Italian, and the vintage Moroccan rug was sourced from Amadi. | Photo: William Abranowicz

“I work with a lot of architects who love arches,” Webb says. “They give a sensual and sort of sculptural form to the space. We combined the arches with blackened steel, and it became a very interesting element in the design.”Practicality was also built into the project, as the principals settled on a layout with living and entertaining spaces in the center of the home and bedrooms on wings on either side.

“Veronica brought a great perspective as a young mother,” the homeowner says. “We positioned the bedrooms so that there’s a little bit of separation and privacy. And there are a couple more bedrooms upstairs for when we have a full house.”

The Jurassic gray granite countertops and back­splash were such a favorite of the designer that she used the same material in her own home. Plaster pendants are suspended over the roomy island, and the base is inspired by shou sugi ban. | Photo: William Abranowicz

Cozy spaces include the library, with a wood-burning fireplace, and a room off the kitchen furnished with upholstered barrel chairs, perfect for swiveling to talk with the cook, or to glimpse the outdoors through floor-to-ceiling windows open to the air while enjoying morning coffee. The kitchen island is topped with Jurassic gray granite, a material the designer says she likes so much she used it in her own kitchen when she remodeled.

Webb and the homeowner went on multiple buying trips to source furniture, antiques, rugs and accessories. The upholstered pieces are new and were chosen for their warmth and comfort, underscoring the “soft contemporary” motif Webb envisioned for the entire home. Rugs and pillows add subtle color. Native American baskets, an antique English dining table and a Scottish chair are some of the pieces that add a collected element to the home.

A bench and stepping stones lead to the pond. | Photo: William Abranowicz

“I love the richness and history of old things,” the homeowner says. Bedrooms have such luxurious touches as alpaca window treatments, and in one guest room, a built-in daybed and window seat are a perfect perch for the grandchildren, or a place for guests to sit and read a book.

The family relishes time spent at their retreat in all seasons. “We come as much as we can in the summer and winter,” the homeowner says. “We love the beauty, the animals and the warmth of the people here.” She and her family intend to return to their Wyoming home for decades to come. “Hopefully, they have a love for this place like we do,” she says.

Just off the kitchen, the keeping room has floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides and a quartet of Verellen swivel barrel chairs for relaxing while sipping morning coffee or evening cocktails. “We wanted a place to sit, talk, enjoy the views and chat with the cook,” the homeowner says. | Photo: William Abranowicz

Home as Sanctuary

“Your home should be a sanctuary, and embrace you and nourish your soul,” says Beth Webb, whose second book, Embracing Beauty: Serene Spaces for Living, recently was published by Rizzoli. The lushly illustrated work offers inspiration in the dozen homes that are featured, from the author’s own abode in Brays Island, South Carolina, to a rugged wood-and-stone residence in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Here are some of her recommendations for creating a beautiful and peaceful home:

• Put it in neutral Webb has often designed homes for clients that feature a lot of color, but her personal preference is for neutrals. “I achieve serenity by sticking with a quiet palette,” she says. “There are a million grays, browns, blacks, whites. It’s not boring if you do it the right way, and that is by using textures that add interest and warmth.” Keeping the palette simple also makes it easier to appreciate the natural environment seen through a home’s doors and windows. “I want to complement, rather than compete with, the views,” the designer says.
• Layer in character with antiques or heirlooms “A house should be a reflection of who you are; the pieces you’ve found or collected,” Webb says. She and homeowners go shopping together to antiques stores to find interesting pieces “that will be their story to tell and trips to be remembered.” “If there is a lot of new upholstery in a home, you have to ground it with some (older) power pieces in order for rooms to feel correct,” she says. “Otherwise it can feel like a hotel.”
• Create restful bedrooms “I believe in high-thread-count sheets and good down comforters. Don’t skimp on that,” Webb says. Particularly in cold climates, “the cuddle factor” is important. Choose throws and pillows that are soft and luxurious.
• When selecting art, love it or leave it “I’ve found that you should have a visceral reaction to a piece of art. If you don’t love it, you shouldn’t buy it,” she says. “You can buy art in all price points that is still good art, whether it is from an emerging or semi-established artist.”

The family room’s multiple seating options include a Verellen sofa and lounge chairs by Troscan Designs from Jerry Pair. Light fixture by Rose Tarlow from Jerry Pair; tables by Lucca. | Photo: William Abranowicz

A daybed by Baker McGuire rests at the end of McGee & Co.’s maple canopy bed. Stitch Upholstery in Jackson Hole made the draperies using Sandra Jordan Prima Alpaca from Holland & Sherry. | Photo: William Abranowicz

In front of the outdoor fireplace are Sublime Original chairs covered in Perennials fabric and a coffee table created from an antique French limestone sink. | Photo: William Abranowicz

The soaking tub is from Waterworks; Verellen stool; pendant light and sconces by Visual Comfort. | Photo: William Abranowicz

Embracing Beauty: Serene Spaces for Living $65, Rizzoli 2025, rizzoliusa.com

ARCHITECTURE – Vera Iconica Architecture
INTERIOR DESIGN – Beth Webb Interiors
CABINETRY – Stepek Custom Cabinetry
CONSTRUCTION – Dembergh Construction
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT – Hershberger Design

As featured in ML’s July/August issue.

Designing a stellar retreat where the bedroom exudes mountain-style ethos is nothing short of an artistic adventure. Patterns, colors, textures and materials all play a role in transforming a simple space into a soulful sanctuary. As warmer weather stirs dreams of lakeside lounging and long, sun-soaked days, we’re reminded of the importance of a restful, beautiful place to land.

These Lake Tahoe bedrooms do just that—inviting us into vibrant, layered spaces that balance personality with comfort, and color with calm.

Perched Above Lake Tahoe, A Home Soaks Up Natural Views

Silvery-gray Peter Dunham grasscloth in a tribal design wraps the primary bedroom in warmth. A leather-upholstered bed and a plush, built-in window seat further enhance the room’s coziness. | Photo: Mellon Studio

DESIGN DETAILS

INTERIOR DESIGN – Jen Samson

A Historic Lake Tahoe Home, Restored

A colorful impressionist painting by Melanee Sylvester hangs over the bed in the light-filled guest suite—one of six bedrooms with private bathrooms. | Photo: Sinead Hastings

DESIGN DETAILS

ARCHITECTURE –Dennis E. Zirbel Architect
INTERIOR DESIGN –Natalie Zirbel
CONSTRUCTION – A.R. Chambers Construction

A Lake Tahoe Legacy Built to Last Generations

Photo: Lance Gerber Photography

DESIGN DETAILS

INTERIOR DESIGN –  Sullivan Design Studio
ARCHITECT – Roger Katz & Associates
BUILDER – Whatford Construction
PHOTOGRAPHY –  Lance Gerber Photography

For a couple’s Ketchum, Idaho, retreat, Howard Backen, Tony Selko and Dusan Motolik of the architecture firm Backen & Backen designed a structure with clean lines and rustic materials. | Photo: John Merkl

We were very familiar with Howard Backen’s work and were drawn to the indoor-outdoor nature of his houses,” the wife of a California Bay Area couple says of  architect and cofounder of the St. Helena-based firm Backen & Backen. So when the couple had the opportunity to build from scratch in Ketchum, Idaho, they called on Backen. As the architect worked with firm partner Tony Selko and principal Dusan Motolik on designing a family retreat for the couple and their three grown kids, the trio aimed to meld the firm’s signature aesthetic—light-filled open spaces designed in concert with the site—with the mountains of Idaho.

“We had a limited area that we could build on,” Motolik says of the couple’s land, which consisted of “two combined town lots on a very steep and challenging hillside.” But the constraints, along with assets including sweeping views of Bald Mountain, provided them with plenty of inspiration. “The more constraints you have, the easier it is to focus on creative and viable solutions,” says Selko. In this case, the solution was a two-story residence that follows the grade and captures the wide mountain vistas. “The focus of the design was to take advantage of the views and maximize daylighting,” says Selko.

Barnwood wraps the skylit entrance gallery, which looks through the home to the mountains beyond. | Photo: John Merkl

With that goal in mind, the trio sited the residence to frame the panorama. The front door opens to an entrance gallery with a ridge skylight, which looks out through the landscape beyond. In the great room, light spills in from windows on either end, and a steel-and-glass pocket door dissolves the boundary between the interior volume and an outdoor terrace.

“We weren’t able to incorporate a courtyard since this is on an upper level,” says Motolik, “so we created a terrace that runs the full width of the home.” A primary suite, with a sliding panel opening to take in the view, tucks behind the great room, keeping the main spaces on the same floor. “The owners wanted a house that felt cozy when it was just the two of them but big enough for when the family and guests visit,” says Selko, noting the guest suites and a bunk room one level below.

In the dining area, Leslie Hemmings of Hemmings Design surrounded a custom table with chairs by Mulligan’s. Robert Del Signore of Archive Finishing, who did extensive work on the project, customized tiles for the kitchen’s backsplash. | Photo: John Merkl

When it came to the material palette, the couple also had specific requests. “We knew we wanted barnwood from day one,” says the homeowner. “Barnwood, concrete and steel are the linchpins of the design.” John Lee of Lee Gilman Builders with project manager James Fisher handled the meticulous installation of the reclaimed barnwood on the front of the house and board-formed concrete on the slopeside facade. The weathered wood continues seamlessly inside, wrapping the walls and ceiling of the prominent great room, where concrete floors play off steel trusses.

Against the organic material backdrop, interior designer Leslie Hemmings, who started the project at Backen & Backen before founding her own firm, Hemmings Design, carved out dedicated spaces within the large volume. A custom sofa and Verellen chairs create a comfortable living area near the plaster fireplace, and a patchwork of antique rugs anchor the dining area near the galley kitchen.

A fireplace anchors the living area, where a custom sofa is covered with a Rose Tarlow Melrose House fabric. Verellen chairs are upholstered with a Clarence House plaid. | Photo: John Merkl

“I prefer mixing in antiques, as they have so much soul,” says Hemmings, who kept things “light and airy” in the primary suite. In the serene space, a custom canopy bed faces a sliding panel, which pockets into the wall “so you can look out through the great room all the way to the mountains,” notes Motolik.

These thoughtful details, along with a design that speaks to its alpine location, allowed the team to deliver exactly what the couple was looking for. “We love having an anchor for our family,” the homeowner says. “All of our kids are scattered and building their own lives, but this is such an alluring place, we can drag them back.”

MATERIAL MATTER

In building a vacation home in Ketchum, Idaho, the selection of materials was critical in creating the casual yet refined aesthetic the homeowners were after. “We like the aged quality of the barnwood,” says the homeowner. “It’s hard to fake authenticity.”

Reclaimed barnwood was the centerpiece inside and out and served as an anchor for other materials, including board-formed concrete, blackened steel and plaster. Find a reputable sourcE: The barnwood was acquired from Arc Wood & Timbers in California’s Marin County, and “it has an incredible amount of character,” James Fisher of Lee Gilman Builders says of the wood, which includes elements of lichen as it was sourced from the Pacific Northwest.

Install in an authentic fashion: The wood was installed in a plank style with edges left unmilled for a more authentic look. “The true artistry of installing barnwood is how the material is culled and color matched,” he explains, noting the great room ceiling as a particular example. “The ceiling spans roughly 68 feet and is broken up by several steel trusses. We were able to color-match the material, so it looks as though there are whole runs that span the entire distance.”

Chairs from Martin in St. Helena, California, pair with a custom tufted sofa in the lower-level bunk room. | Photo: John Merkl

Interior designer Leslie Hemmings kept the palette light and airy in the primary suite bathroom. | Photo: John Merkl

In the light-filled primary bedroom, plaster walls distinguish the area from the barnwood used in the public spaces. Pendants by deVOL flank a streamlined custom canopy bed, which sits atop a rug by Stark. | Photo: John Merkl

ARCHITECTURE – Backen & Backen
INTERIOR DESIGN – Hemmings Design
CONSTRUCTION –  Lee Gilman Builders     
FINISHES – Archive Finishing

As featured in Mountain Living’s May/June 2025 issue.

Large boulders typical to this intimate neighborhood on the shores of Lake Tahoe proved a spectacular setting for a 1940s cabin. The property recently underwent a remodel to accommodate future generations in this much-loved vacation home. | Photo: Christopher Stark

A 1940s cabin on a spectacular Lake Tahoe shoreside setting unearthed more than a few challenges for the design and construction teams enlisted for a major remodel. Among the unexpected conundrums were several giant partially concealed boulders on the lower floor.The granite rocks became an unforeseen facet to the renovation of this cherished vacation home. The homeowner spent many years staying at the house, which his parents bought 32 years ago and subsequently passed on to him and his wife. “It’s a great location in a very intimate neighborhood which we like so much, but we felt the house needed to be modified to suit our needs and be a place for our kids and grandchildren to keep enjoying.” The existing cabin was extended in the 1980s but hadn’t been touched since.

Built on two levels, the six-bedroom structure was heavily compartmentalized downstairs, with dated bathrooms and a narrow kitchen upstairs. The couple started the project by enlisting David Marlatt of DNM Architecture, who they’d known for 40 years. “A remodel is like a patient; you have to start out by finding what it needs, and this home revealed a number of surprises,” Marlatt says. It turned out the structure had no foundation and enveloped a couple of huge granite rocks—typical of the area. Among the many decisions, it was decided two gargantuan stones would become a feature.

Semi-concealed boulders became a feature in the lower level where custom shelving displays minerals and shells collected by the homeowner’s father. Le Corbusier chairs set on oak flooring complement the bluish tones in the exposed rock. | Photo: Christopher Stark

“We had to get very creative; traditional finishes don’t cooperate with boulders,” says Rand Carter of Sawtooth Builders. The redesign began by reversing the staircase between the upper and lower floors. “Instead of feeling like you are going down a rabbit hole, you now enter what became the boulder room,” Marlatt says. Not only does it create a talking point, but it provides a stunning transition downstairs to the family room, a media center and two bedrooms.

Upstairs, the kitchen received the greatest attention with the removal of its oppressive false ceiling. Marlatt created a pitched ceiling to match the one in the adjacent sitting room and anchored the design on the centrally located cooktop hood. Rachel Bozman of Henrybuilt devised a system enabling it to live bigger with clever appliance placements and space-saving solutions. The cooking areas were separated to enable space for baking needs and ensure flow when the kitchen is bustling with helpers. A functional backsplash with powder-coated shelves and a knife block permits above-counter storage by the mixed induction-and-gas stovetop. “Fitting in everything we needed was definitely a challenge,” Bozman says.

A 2K polyurethane finish was used on the walnut cabinetry by Henrybuilt, which adds a layer of protection from factors such as steam in the much-used kitchen. | Photo: Christopher Stark

The bathrooms proved a similar puzzle. “We redid all the bathrooms, which are really small and were tough to do, but we had fun working out the finishes so they could pack a big punch,” Carter says, laughing. “One of our biggest feats was coordinating all the wood tones, as there is a lot of timber in the home,” says interior designer Andrea Lackie, of Andrea Lackie Design. “Rand and I spent a lot of time working on stain samples, as every wood takes the color differently.”

Exposed ceilings and trusses were sandblasted so Lackie could coordinate the oak flooring, walnut cabinetry and existing fir finishes. Additionally, all the original doors were kept, along with a large amount of heirloom furniture. “The mix of old and new elements really gives it a rich feel,” Lackie says. “Just because it’s a mountain home we didn’t want it to be all wood. What we have is a more contemporary home with a lot of personality.” To honor his parents, who ignited the family’s appreciation for the area, the homeowner commissioned custom shelving in the boulder room to showcase minerals and shells from his dad’s collection. “Every time I come to the house, I look at how incredible it is here, and I hope future generations will be able to do the same,” he says.

A second-level deck with glass balustrade was added and extends the living space outdoors without any interruption to the stunning views of Lake Tahoe. | Photo: Christopher Stark

TIPS FOR BUILDING WITH BOULDERS

Incorporating the sheer rawness of rock in its natural form into interior design takes the concept of bringing the outside in to a whole new level. The design team shares their tips for success.

• ANCHOR THE BOULDERS in place to ensure they cannot be moved and safeguard against becoming a potential hazard.
• AVOID AIR GAPS and protect from weather elements leaking inside the structure by ensuring a tight seal around the rock and any outer walls.
• CONSIDER THE STONE AS A SCULPTURE and use slivers of the same rock as infill pieces.
• BE CREATIVE WITH FINISHES to connect the rock with the adjacent flooring and walls as it will be uneven, and any seams will not be smooth. Use plaster as a clean way to join materials.
• INCORPORATE NATURAL ELEMENTS in the furnishings and accessories such as wood and natural fibers. Punctuate the space with glass and metal details to add interest, contrast and light reflection. Pull colors from the stone to guide color decisions but avoid matching.
• USE STRATEGIC LIGHTING to add greater emphasis on the natural contours and raw beauty of the rock.
• MAINTAIN THE FINISH OF THE ROCK if it has been sealed, by cleaning and resealing over time, especially in high-traffic areas.

Antique chairs reupholstered in a Perennials Fabric partially surround a custom oval table from Loggia in San Francisco in the dining area. A window seat offers a tempting spot
to linger after any meal. | Photo: Christopher Stark

The homeowners have an extensive collection of heirloom furnishings that fill the property. An antique chandelier that was originally used in the living room was relocated to one of four bedrooms on the upper level. | Photo: Christopher Stark

Pendant lights from De Sousa Hughes hang over a Stone Forest sink set in the powder room’s custom walnut vanity. | Photo: Christopher Stark

A push panel mirrored cabinet above the quartzite slab sink and custom walnut shelving offer space saving solutions in the main bathroom. | Photo: Christopher Stark

ARCHITECTURE – DNM Architecture
INTERIOR DESIGN – Andrea Lackie Design
CONSTRUCTION – Sawtooth Builders
KITCHEN – Design Henrybuilt

As featured in Mountain Living’s March/2025 Issue