Houzz Tours
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Houzz Tour: A Dream Mountain Home With a Modern Twist
More modern than mountain lodge, this warm family home is the perfect spot for entertaining
It’s not often that an interior designer is asked to complete a half-finished, abandoned house, but such a project fell into the lap of Tineke Triggs of Artistic Designs for Living. ‘The house was being built by a couple, but they separated and never finished it,’ she says.
Eventually the property, in a ski resort near California’s Lake Tahoe, was put up for sale. When Triggs’ clients (she had previously completed a home for them in San Francisco) spotted it, they saw it as an opportunity to get a running start on their dream home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A couple and their children: a boy (age 10) and a girl (8)
Location California, USA
Size 5 bedrooms, 4-5 bathrooms
Eventually the property, in a ski resort near California’s Lake Tahoe, was put up for sale. When Triggs’ clients (she had previously completed a home for them in San Francisco) spotted it, they saw it as an opportunity to get a running start on their dream home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A couple and their children: a boy (age 10) and a girl (8)
Location California, USA
Size 5 bedrooms, 4-5 bathrooms
‘I wanted the space to feel a bit Ralph Lauren - as in his own home, not necessarily his clothes,’ says Triggs. ‘It’s supposed to feel cosy.’ The geometric rug is a subtle reference to board games - Monopoly is a favorite with this family.
Explore ways to use red at home
Explore ways to use red at home
The living room is meant for entertaining. ‘There’s no formal living room, because that’s not how people gather up there,’ says Triggs.
The ceilings were quite low but Triggs didn’t shy away from covering it with rustic wood and beams. ‘It gives the space texture and a clubby feel,’ she says.
The ceilings were quite low but Triggs didn’t shy away from covering it with rustic wood and beams. ‘It gives the space texture and a clubby feel,’ she says.
In the dining room there’s an extra-long banquette, perfect for fitting a lot of friends around the table. The light fixture was made from an old ski lift seat that was discovered on the property.
At the entrance to the kitchen, the ceiling is high, making room for large windows that embrace a view of tall trees.
The industrial screws are back in this room, this time on the range hood.
See 10 ways dazzle with cluster lights
See 10 ways dazzle with cluster lights
They also appear, in a smaller scale, on the edge of the breakfast bar.
Upstairs the master bedroom is done in neutral colours and rich textures - from grasscloth wallpaper behind the bed to a bench that’s upholstered with a soft textile similar to the inside of a sheepskin boot.
The bedroom opens to the en-suite bathroom. ‘We had thought about dividing these rooms with a barn door,’ says Triggs. ‘But it just didn’t work.’
Had the rooms been divided, the owners would have missed this view from the bathroom windows. A window seat makes the space seem even more luxurious, and Triggs notes that when the children use the bathroom, the parents have a place to sit.
The screw motif is present on the outside of the roll-top bath and, in shape only, in the Roman blinds.
The screw motif is present on the outside of the roll-top bath and, in shape only, in the Roman blinds.
In a clever twist, Triggs designed the upper bed rails in the shape of an ‘H’ for the family’s last name.
On the upper level, it’s all about family with a large sofa. The animal head sculptures ‘are a whimsical nod to old Tahoe style,’ says Triggs.
Baskets on nearby shelves organise everything from Lego to paints.
Vintage ski posters add old-school flavor.
The sink unit, open to the family room, is a skillful mix of old and new with rustic wood, a corrugated splashback and industrial cornicing.
‘My goal was for this house to feel cosy, warm and modern,’ says Triggs.
‘My goal was for this house to feel cosy, warm and modern,’ says Triggs.
The hallway, which is equipped with chairs for removing skis and a mudroom for storing them, sets the tone.