Eye-catching modern design and elegant decor boost the ‘wow’ factor of a stunning Schaffer’s Mill home

Located along the 14th hole of the Schaffer’s Mill Club golf course, the striking rear facade showcases large windows, covered and uncovered outdoor living areas and an elevated deck to take in the sweeping Carson Range views

Some homes are designed solely for function, while others blend form and function to transform a residence into a work of art. A newly constructed mountain-modern home at Schaffer’s Mill falls firmly into the latter camp.  

After searching for the perfect lot, the homeowners landed on a parcel with expansive eastern views of the Carson Range. The curvature of the site, which slopes gently downward and allows the home to nestle close to natural grade, served as the ideal canvas for the sculptural structure. 

“We were inspired by a simple mountain-modern architectural vernacular that utilized two primary shed forms, complemented by lower flat roof forms to provide deep cover and shadow to the massing,” says Ryan Marsden, principal of Marsden Architects in Truckee. 

The roof angles dramatically downward, while walls of glass and cedar siding stained in a warm charcoal gray help the house feel at home in its alpine surroundings. Marsden designed the lower roof to provide adequate cover over the front door and create a sense of scale in the tall entry and great room. The entry roof is separated from the wall, allowing the floor-to-ceiling windows to run uninterrupted and filter in natural light.

Spread across 4,583 square feet, the home features four bedrooms, an office with a view, and four and a half baths. The interiors are bright and airy throughout, giving the home a sophisticated and inviting feel. 

Emily Roose, who recently moved her eponymous interior design studio from Truckee to Nashville, worked with the homeowners to design modern, artistic and nature-influenced interiors. 

“This home took inspiration from around the world thanks to our clients’ love of traveling,” Roose says. “I incorporated different organic textures, patterns and colors throughout that bring nature in. The organic and round shapes help to soften the hard lines, creating a more organic modern feel. We blended dark elements and black accents throughout with the warmth of black walnut, whites, grays and then added pops of color.”

Curved shapes soften the modern linear lines to create a warm modern aesthetic, from the gray suede sectional and barstools to the organic hand-blown glass pendants over the island

Upon arrival, guests are ushered into a great room that combines the kitchen, living and dining spaces into one free-flowing, open-concept environment. A two-sided living area benefits from morning sun year-round and western light that filters through the trees in the afternoon. Large window and door systems here open to a substantial patio offering covered and uncovered outdoor living spaces. 

“One of the things that makes this home special is how the main living area ties to the exterior patio,” says Dan Webb, president of Truckee’s Dan Webb Builders Inc. “Even with the glass doors closed, it ties the outside together with the inside, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful Truckee weather year-round.”

The owners asked Marsden to use “the largest possible glass doors” to create both a seamless indoor-outdoor connection and an immediate “wow” effect upon entry.

“And yes,” the owner adds, “everybody who enters the doors for the first time says, ‘Oh wow!’” 

A 9-foot-wide board-formed concrete and black steel fireplace designed by Marsden stands out as the focal point of the great room. After the owners discovered the Luceplan Illan chandelier on display in three different sizes, Roose staggered a trio of the light fixtures in the great room at separate vantage points. 

“Since the ceiling height is so grand, it helped to fill the space while adding an element that feels like suspended art,” says Roose. “It also connected the wood T&G (tongue and groove) hemlock ceiling together with the rest of the space.” 

To continue the organic and rounded motif in the great room, Roose incorporated rounded tables, chairs and live-edge wood furniture. A large custom-carved wood wall art by French artist Etienne Moyat serves as a conversation piece and helps maintain the home’s connection to nature.

After searching for the perfect piece of art to hang by the staircase, the owners came across the work of award-winning local photographer Keoki Flagg. Called Holden’s Line, the 12-foot-tall image of a skier descending a steep Alaskan peak helps ground the home in its surroundings.

The loft above the kitchen offers a space for entertaining guests with access to the elevated deck, a modern pool table by Rasson, a wall-mounted TV and an eat-in counter with swivel counter stools

The owners also sought to incorporate the sleek look of European kitchens into their home. After looking at many examples, they went with German company Bauformat. The Bauformat kitchen was designed separately by Anton Sizer from the BostonTeam and assembled by Furnitalia in Sacramento. Black and brown cabinets selected by Roose add depth and texture to the kitchen and coordinate with the Sugi ban wall and black walnut used in other parts of the home. 

Neolith’s newly released Himalaya Crystal slab—selected by Roose for its beauty and durability—proved the perfect choice for the countertops, backsplash and cabinet fronts of the island. Roose used a live-edge black wood slab from Goodwood Nashville as the finishing touch for the eat-in kitchen portion of the island. Five hand-blown clear glass pendants were staggered over the island in height and location to create a more visually interesting and organic flow to the space. 

To subtly separate the entry space from the dining room, Roose used interlocking blocks from Modular Art Panels to create a see-through divider. “I wrapped [the screen] in black walnut and added integrated LED lighting all around to highlight the divider, making it a sculptural piece of art,” she says. 

A custom cedar sauna features a large window that captures the beauty of the mountain setting

An artsy fixture from Sonneman called Constellation is suspended over the modern live-edge dining table, replicating the feel of stars floating overhead. The dining chairs are completely wrapped in leather and are a sleek and modern design from the Italian furniture brand Natuzzi.

In the primary suite, high ceilings covered in T&G hemlock wood add warmth to the space, while a black steel beam at the top of the bed wall provides more architectural and structural detail. Roose designed a secondary headboard out of walnut framed in black metal, then had the panels wrapped around it to separate out the bed. A Phillip Jeffries wallpaper panel that is thin wood with a silver abstract line painted from end to end gives the illusion of a tree branch. A circular black metal see-through chandelier floats over the space, offering elegance while adhering to the light and airy feel of the room.

One of the home’s most unique features is what Marsden’s team dubbed the “spauna”: a dedicated space that could be used both as a gym and in-home spa, complete with a cold plunge, sauna and lounge area adjacent to the hot tub. To ensure optimal views, Marsden designed the sauna to face the Carson Range to the east with a floor-to-ceiling window. A moss art wall, an art TV and plants further connect the health spa area to nature. 

“The home leans toward a biophilic direction, connecting the interior with nature to promote health and relaxation,” Roose says. “It’s an all-around livable and functional piece of art.”

Award: Mountain Glam

Building Design: Marsden Architects

Builder: Dan Webb Builders Inc.

Interior Design: Emily Roose Interiors

Landscape Design: NA

Square Feet: 4,583