Tahoe Pines

Though smaller in footprint than the vast living, dining, and kitchen spaces, the entryway lacks nothing in terms of style. “I had a clear vision that we needed a chunky, rustic console table,” Shea explains of the first piece of furniture that greets visitors and sets the tone for the rest of the home. “Our clients are long-time fans of the Studio McGee look,” Shea notes, and merging our classic design with the modern mountain aesthetic dictated all of the other choices made throughout.

When Shea and the design team came onto this project, the architecture had already been set. The massive windows and soaring ceilings were a welcomed challenge in the great room, as Shea wanted to let the views shine but also bring a sense of coziness into the space. “That’s always my goal,” she notes, “even with more modern architecture I still want things to feel inviting.”

After softening the stark lines of the fireplace, Shea and the design team brought in a collection of furniture arranged in a way that would entice conversation. “With the furniture, we wanted to go classic on the main sofa and then add interest through some of the side pieces,” Shea notes. After a set of olive green chairs and a paired back sofa, Shea brought in another plaid sofa to sit alongside the opposite end. “We had the space to do something bold,” she adds.

The stacked layout of a living space, dining space, and kitchen all open to each other is a familiar concept if you’re a fan of Studio McGee. In Tahoe Pines, Shea and the design team used a console table against the back of the sofa to create a clear delineation of the two spaces. “It gave some sense of a barrier,” she explains.

A long table—McGee & Co.’s Antoni Extension Dining Table—adds an element of mountain rustic and anchors ten dining chairs. On the ends, a pair of McGee & Co.’s Elton Dining Chairs in ink linen provide a solid base for the backless counter stools that sit adjacent.

The clients had their heart set on a warm grey and wood kitchen, a concept that Shea and the design team ran with. To bring it to life, the created a focal point in the range and hood, centering it between two built-in cabinets and adding a zellige tile backsplash that goes all the way to the top. “We had such high spaces to work with so we added a little ledge with pewter sconces,” Shea notes. A shelf was just the ticket to warm up the space because it allowed a spot for displaying. “Things,” Shea explains, “add character and interest and they help you fill out a space so it feels more lived in.”

“You know I love to have a surprise color,” exclaims Shea of the unexpectedly moody pantry. Adjacent the pantry is a “really cute built-in desk moment” that is handy for having a place to drop everyday things that tend to pile up.

Adjacent the kitchen is an intimate breakfast nook with a large, arched sconce in lieu of of an overhead handing pendant. “It adds a lot of interest and the asymmetry plays off of the niche that we have on one side,” Shea explains of the built-in shelving that displays a collection of vintage pieces. A necessary element for adding warmth and character to a new build.

The banquette seating is unique in its green tone, a color Shea and the design team utilized throughout the house as a unifying design theme. The x stitching is “interesting and cool,” Shea adds.

“We rarely do a basic carpet on a stair runner,” Shea explains, “I love to incorporate pattern even if it’s very subtle.” This one is no different, which features a striped motif that leads the eye up.

The mix of materials on the stairway “keeps things interesting,” Shea notes. “I love an all-steel staircase but I felt with all of the steel windows this home needed something a bit softer.”

The primary suite has a great vaulted ceiling and a textural pendant, a combination that “is the marriage of mountain and lake that we’re trying to bring together,” Shea explains.

“All of the bedroom selections we kept very paired back,” Shea explains of the furniture and art pieces seen throughout. “This is a vacation home so we wanted to keep things simple.”

“This bunk room speaks to the lakehouse side of the style of the home,” Shea notes of the plaid wallpaper and white cabinetry. “[The color] felt light and happy.”

The gallery wall adds “a lot of personality to the room,” Shea explains. It’s a collection of vintage pieces that speak to the area and our client’s interests.

On the opposite side of the room, Shea and the design team incorporated a daybed that pulls double duty. “It could be a place to sleep but it’s also like a sofa in the room for lounging,” she notes.

“I am obsessed with the oars over the beds,” Shea gushes of the vintage pieces used to frame out and define the sleeping areas. The same laidback aesthetic is taken to the ceiling where Shea and the design team opted for a green shade that ties it into the rest of the home. “Painting a ceiling is a great way to add interest without overpowering the room with color,” Shea explains.

“When you have two beds in a room, it often works better to break them up with one single nightstand in between” rather than two nightstands adjacent each other. “It breaks up the symmetry in a really nice way,” Shea advises on the layout.

“This is a multi-purpose space for the family,” Shea explains of the room that works as both the children’s playroom and a lounge space for movie night. And the highlight feature has got to be the bear flag that is “exactly what you’d hope for in a home in Tahoe,” Shea adds.

The office is dipped in green, from the cabinetry and the ceiling to an accent chair and ottoman that sits in the corner. “I think one of the most successful things about this room is that it’s a direct reflection of the palette of the scenery of the home,” Shea notes of the home’s lush, natural surroundings. “You have green and you’ve got some leather tones that speak to the organic, sandy tones around the area.”

Given the dark shades found around the room, Shea and the design team opted for a lighter-toned desk—McGee & Co.’s Elson Desk—to provide some contrast. “In the center of the room it created a great anchoring point,” Shea explains.

“This is a sweet little spot,” Shea gushes over the petite-sized laundry room. Though the space didn’t have a lot of natural light, Shea and the design team brought it to life through thoughtful selections. “I love the sink because it has a vintage feel,” Shea explains. “If you look closely, we did a small backsplash that follows the curve of the sink. It’s a great moment that feels thoughtful.”

The exterior of Tahoe Pines was designed with two things in mind: showcasing the views and enjoying the outdoors. “There’s a lot of natural wood and earth tones,” Shea explains, “and of course, huge window systems so that you capture all of the views.”