Classic meets man cave in this ultimate family getaway in Clear Creek Tahoe

The antler chandelier above the pool table was one of the owner’s must-have requests

Set on a downsloping lot on Clear Creek Tahoe’s third green, this family home proves that putting trust in the right team can lead to exceptional results. Ryan Marsden sums up his main directive for the design after earning his clients’ faith: “Make it awesome.” 

Marsden, president and principal of Marsden Architects, began the process by scouting sites in the community with the homeowners. While this lot had been overlooked for a while, he knew it held potential. 

“I love how the home is sited,” he says. “It nestles down below the road, making the setting feel well grounded, site responsive and private.” 

Marsden connected the family with interior designer Katie Geresy of Truckee’s KTG Design. 

“We were fortunate to have a lot of creative freedom on this project,” she says. “The homeowners trusted our vision and gave us the space to make bold and intentional design choices.” 

Geresy and Marsden agree that their collaboration from the beginning was among the keys to the project’s success.    

A transitional mountain home, the exterior includes traditional gable forms

“We get involved in not just our scope, but each other’s scopes,” says Geresy, whose team often works with Marsden’s. “It’s fun to spitball and get involved in schematics.” 

Working also with contractor Mark Tanner and project manager Casey Eberhardt of Truckee’s Mark Tanner Construction, the team put together a thoughtful, elegant and beautifully crafted home. 

Designed in a mountain transitional aesthetic, the home uses traditional forms, like clean, crisp gables, to reference a farmhouse style. The interior is fresh yet timeless.

“The palette and materials are typical for the region but the colors, textures, proportion and detailing feel unique in execution,” Marsden says.

In the entry, an open living space is anchored by a plaster fireplace. Hemlock ceilings and 8-foot-tall doors add a sense of expansiveness throughout, while a few of the furnishings are “found furniture” that Geresy and her team sourced from Round Top, Texas. 

“We wanted the design to feel welcoming, layered and filled with unique character that tells a story—from the materials used to the layout that fosters connection,” Geresy says. 

In the kitchen, dark and light play off each other with contrasting marble surfaces, a plaster hood and dark green cabinetry

In the kitchen, a 14-foot island is topped with a dark grigio Armani marble counter, while the backsplash nearby (complete with a built-in shelf) is clad in a light and elegant calacatta arabescato marble; the range hood is plaster, tying it to the fireplace across the room. 

Cabinetry is finished with Farrow & Ball’s studio green and accented by gold knobs. The refrigerator is hidden behind paneling and a back pantry provides additional counter space.

“That kitchen deserves a chef’s kiss,” Marsden says. 

The dining room is set off by checkered black-and-white marble floors, which adds to the home’s sense of timeless elegance. The custom dining table by Twisted Mountain Forge is overhung by five oversized wicker basket–like pendant lights for a touch of whimsy. Walls encompass three sides of the dining room; the eastern side is buffeted by two wine fridges, with cabinetry, counter space and big windows. The other two walls are primarily glass and fold open toward the north to the covered outdoor dining room and to the west to the firepit and seating area, strengthening the home’s indoor-outdoor connection. 

One wing of the house leads to the primary suite by way of a glass hallway, where the owner’s office is embedded. Behind the desk, a black-and-white photograph of Clear Creek Tahoe’s Coore & Crenshaw golf course was blown up and turned into a high-gloss wallpaper. On the opposite wall, a double-sided fireplace can be seen through to the great room. A large steel panel connected to a pulley system allows the owner to open and close the fire as desired. 

The office’s fireplace panel connects to a pulley system to open and close

Tanner credits KTG for the inspiration behind the pulley fireplace and his finish guild superintendent, Cody Osgood, for implementing the design. “Part of it was to deal with privacy because it’s a see-through fireplace from the great room to the office,” Tanner says. “That’s where we talked about having this shield on the office side.”

“The pulley panel was inspired by a desire to incorporate something functional yet unconventional,” Geresy says. “It’s a nod to industrial-era mechanisms, reimagined in a refined, modern context. It also serves as a practical way to conceal and reveal the fireplace, making the space feel dynamic.”

The wing continues to the primary suite. An elegant bedroom includes a four-poster bed, chandelier and cascading fireplace made of the same grigio Armani marble as the kitchen island, creating a sense of flow and understated luxury throughout the home. “That stepped marble is a staple of KTG and how they do interior fireplaces,” Eberhardt says.

The bathroom is luxurious, with a standalone tub, nearby steam shower and calacatta vagli marble countertops. Pops of gold in the custom mirrors, light sconces, chandelier and cabinet hardware add a subtle drama and elegance while maximizing the glam factor. A long, skinny mirror can pocket away, revealing a window hidden behind.

“We aimed to create a space that feels deeply personal, inviting and designed to stand the test of time while remaining functional for the homeowners’ everyday life,” Geresy says.

The other wing of the home leads above the garage to the children’s and guest wing. Here, a cozy en suite guestroom is tucked into a southern-facing gable. Two bunk rooms—one decorated in whites and pinks, the other in shades of blue—provide sweet, thoughtful spaces for the couple’s three young children. An upstairs lounge, with windows on three sides for light, doubles as the children’s hangout, complete with an entertainment area, couch, tables and whimsical artwork. 

Each member of the design-build team stressed the importance of cooperation and working together.  

“As with all projects, hiccups happen, and when you approach things in a collaborative team-minded way, you set yourself up for success. This wasn’t our first project together and there is an efficiency that we had to make it all happen,” Marsden says. 

The sunken conversation pit and entertainment area

The team was tested when the owner decided to add a second phase to the project. 

“Halfway through, [the owner] came to the realization that he wanted a bigger home,” Tanner says. “That’s a first in 30 years that we had a client remodel and expand considerably while under construction.” 

However, rather than look at the challenge as a problem, the team approached it as an opportunity. Phase two became known as the “Ranch,” a nod to the 1970s and the ultimate adult hangout. 

For the Ranch addition, Marsden and team responded by jumping in as if they were designing for themselves. 

“What would we think would make for an amazing mountain getaway fun zone?” he asks. “Bar: Check. Sunken cozy conversation pit/dreamy lounge situation: Check. Golf simulator: Check. Games table: Check. Arcade: Check. Patio with firepit: Check. Separate entrance: Check. Bathroom: Check. What more could you want?”

Geresy’s goal was to respect the era’s character while giving it a refreshed identity. 

“We leaned into textures and finishes that connected it to the main house—such as warm woods and curated lighting—while allowing retro vibes to shine through in subtle ways,” she says.

Fireclay Tile is used on the bathroom floor and sets the stage for the standalone tub and steam shower

Pops of orange come through in the bar stools and pendant lights near the bar, where Modelo and Coors are on tap. The area includes four televisions, a neon sign reading “The Ranch” with the Clear Creek Tahoe pinecone logo, a billiards table and, at the owner’s request, an antler chandelier. The built-in sofa in the sunken conversation pit features custom upholstery from L.A.’s Pacific Home, and arcade games such as Nitro Truck, NBA Jam and Pop-A-Shot line the walls. 

“The Ranch is the biggest highlight of the home, I think, because it’s a true kind of man cave,” Eberhardt says. “That was a really fun part of the project, seeing that come to life.” 

Construction began in May 2021 and hit a bump in the winter of 2022. “There was a lot of spring runoff,” Tanner says. “The site got quite a bit of groundwater, which made it challenging. We had water percolating in the site like a natural spring.” 

The team discovered the property and surrounding areas had significant underground water flow. “This was beyond what anyone could account for with the 100-year storm,” Tanner says, explaining his team engaged with civil engineers and undertook additional water remediation to eliminate future flooding. 

“These are all things we are used to working with in the Sierra, but this was next level,” Marsden says. “It’s another testament to the team approach and collaboration to work through it all.” 

Built as phase two in the project, the Ranch is meant to be the ultimate man cave

Between the water issues, COVID and the addition of the Ranch, construction took slightly longer than expected, ending in February 2024. 

“There were definitely challenges,” Tanner says. “It made the overall duration longer, but the clients understood and knew this would be their dream home in the end, and if this took an extra year to complete, well, they’ll have it for another 40 years.”

He adds, “It’s always a team affair, and the clients were exceptional. They weren’t hands-off, but they allowed Ryan and Katie to really create a design with them and allowed us to execute.” 

The home is a shining example of what a project team can accomplish with the confidence to run with their creative talents. In fact, Geresy and Marsden are now collaborating on the family’s full-time residence in the Bay Area. 

“These clients were very trusting of the design team and allowed us to offer fresh new ideas,” Marsden says. “It really shows in the finished product.”

Award: Mountain Fresh

Building Design: Marsden Architects

Builder: Mark Tanner Construction

Interior Design: KTG Design

Landscape Design: NA

Square Feet: 5,943