The project name, “Blue Diamond,” came from one of the home’s most striking features: a glass-walled office loft that shines like a diamond above the heart of the house—a vibrant, blue-painted kitchen inspired by the owners’ love for the Lake Tahoe area

• Objectives: Tahoe Modern was initially hired to improve upon a few aspects of this Truckee home, mainly the primary bathroom and mudroom. By the time the project was complete, however, all areas of the residence had been altered, ushering the home away from its wood-heavy origins and carrying it aesthetically forward through a large-scale interior remodel. The preliminary phase of the project—the bathroom and mudroom—established a recurring theme of enhancement. As Tahoe Modern principal Megan Bristol explains, the concept involved “finding moments where we could reuse and repurpose, asking, ‘How do we enhance what’s there?’ and then also having the honest conversation of what actually does need to get ripped out and changed.”

• Special and Unique Features: Among the personalized features, the project team created “his” and “her” office spaces and transformed an indoor pool into a gym and storage room. For the “her” office, they converted an upstairs loft space into a glass-encased office showcasing a bright and effeminate palette of finishes. The space is now private, soundproofed and accented by a corner lounge chair, creating a fun visual when looking up from the main level. For its “his” counterpart, the designers rethought the original downstairs bar room. They removed the bar and painted the walls a brooding Hale Navy, which, as Bristol says, makes you “want to sit in there and have a cigar.” As for the indoor pool, it was filled and covered while the space was separated into two areas: a workout facility complete with bifolding doors that open to the backyard, and a massive “non-garage” storage unit. 

• Why it Won an Award: What began as a partial remodel evolved into a complete transformation, turning a traditional wood-heavy mountain home into a highly personalized modern-day residence. Working with general contractor Brian Parker of Parker Construction, the Tahoe Modern team exhibited excellent design methodology, inventiveness and malleability as the scope of the project continued to expand.

The “his” office exudes character with its striking features: color-drenched walls in a dark, moody hue paired with herringbone floors, rich wood furniture and cognac leather accents

Merit Award:
Interior Remodel

Building Design: NA

Builder: Parker Construction

Interior Design: Tahoe Modern

Landscape Design: NA

Square Feet: 5,870