A thoughtfully designed pavilion layout maximizes a Clear Creek Tahoe home’s sweeping views of the Carson Valley

A large-format concrete paver walkway leads to the entry alongside a babbling water feature that flows under a bridge link to the junior primary pavilion

Sometimes everything clicks. 

That was the feeling for a California couple who, after their son left home, decided to try something new. After being introduced to Clear Creek Tahoe by friends, they bought a property with stunning Carson Valley views in July 2020 and within a week had settled on a project team: Marsden Architects, NSM Construction and KTG Design.

“We liked everyone, so it was a pretty easy decision,” the homeowner says. 

The couple wanted a house that functioned as a comfortable full-time residence for two but could also host a crowd. 

Marsden Architects principal Ryan Marsden created a site-responsive, mountain-contemporary home. The lot featured down-sloping topography from north to south, which Marsden says lent itself to a home that extended along the contour, affording most rooms with phenomenal views.  

A meandering driveway approaches the home, which feels at first slightly modest and understated.  

In the great room, a large open-corner Weiland lift-and-slide door allows the living space to flow seamlessly to the deck. Concrete panels and hearth crafted by Clastic Designs grace the fireplace facade, complemented by custom corrugated metal panels handmade by Bushey Ironworks

“Upon entering the home, the views open up and the plan unveils itself as much larger than perhaps initially perceived,” Marsden says. 

Positioned on a knoll on the hillside, the location dictated the design.

Keegan Byrnes, the project architect with Marsden Architects, notes the home is massed into several “pavilions”—the guest pod, the main gathering area and garage, and the primary pod—connected by bridge elements.

“These bridges not only create a sense of separation between the different volumes for the occupants, but also facilitate proper drainage around each section, responding effectively to the natural flow of water across the sloping site,” Byrnes says.

An exoskeletal design means the structural steelwork is noticeable both inside and outside the home.  

“We wanted to celebrate this structure rather than covering it up or burying it in the walls,” Marsden says. 

The last light grazes the top of Genoa Peak as the cascading rooflines articulate the home’s site-responsive layout

The structure is layered onto the facade, complementing the exterior’s mixed-grain clear western red cedar siding, while on the interior defining and framing spaces. In addition to the expressive qualities, the exoskeleton design plays a functional role. 

“By moving the steel structure to the exterior, we effectively remove a major thermal bridge,” Byrnes says. “Since steel conducts heat easily, expressing the steel at the exterior enhances the insulating efficiency of the home’s thermal envelope. This interplay of form and function is central to our design approach.” 

The home is immediately welcoming, a neon pink sign declaring “This must be the place” visible upon approach to the 6-by-10-foot pivot door designed by Reno’s Red Horse. 

Upon entry, to the left, a glass bridge spans a water feature and leads to the guest wing pod. To the right are the main living spaces, fronted by the circulation cube. Clad in ebonized oak slats, the cube includes an art niche that faces the entryway, a built-in mudroom bench area toward the garage and a hidden powder room, concealed by a blind-cut door. 

Large windows flood the open and airy kitchen with natural light. A stone-clad hood and backsplash anchor the kitchen wall, which screens a scullery beyond

“It’s a unique design moment and offers a sense of discovery when someone asks, ‘Where is the bathroom?’” Byrnes says. 

The cube also serves to enforce a sense of flow and movement into the main spaces.

The streamlined, minimal kitchen features a granite slab wall incorporating the range hood and two hidden niches in the backsplash. Sliding slab doors, the grain meticulously matched, conceal a spice shelf and a TV screen. 

“The level of creativity and design that went into some of the interior features was a team effort with outstanding results,” says builder Kyle LaMoureaux of NSM Construction. “With hidden doors, granite sliding backsplashes and custom cabinetry outlets, the team was creating one-off design elements to make the clients’ vision come to life.”

Behind the main kitchen is the “messy kitchen,” or scullery, which features windows and views at every opportunity. Countertops are taller than standard. 

The scullery serves as an overflow workspace for both kitchen use and personal use, with a floating slab “desk” set in front of the far window

“A lot of the things are customized for us,” the owner says. “My wife is about 4 inches taller than I am, so it means I can’t reach anything in the house.”

In the dining room, the steel exoskeleton frames a built-in bar on one side and, on the other, the open wine display with wire racking that separates the dining area from the common pathway. 

Throughout, the home balances restraint and luxury. 

“The style is driven by strong architectural lines, warm contemporary materials and a curated palette that brings serenity to every room,” says Katie Geresy, president and principal designer at KTG Design. “The views do so much heavy lifting in the design. We intentionally kept the palette soft and tonal to let the landscape remain the true focal point.”

A bronze-glass globe chandelier over the oak dining table is sculptural and moody, while in the living area, an organically shaped coffee table pairs with antique shearling chairs and earthy accent pieces. The living room fireplace anchors this space. 

“The fireplace is truly the sculptural centerpiece of the great room—monumental in scale but quiet in tone,” Geresy says. “The linearity of the fireplace mirrors the home’s clean lines, while its materiality keeps it tactile and warm.”

A custom stainless steel hot tub by Westland Spa and an outdoor shower beyond give the primary patio area a resort feel

Clad in custom-casted concrete panels with a blackened steel ribbed detail, the fireplace spans nearly 14 feet across the main well. Its pattern also serves a practical purpose: Instead of a standard fireplace vent, the team designed a custom reveal vent into the veneer panels, allowing heat to escape while seamlessly integrating with the architecture. 

Lift-and-slide Weiland doors here open to the deck and outdoor seating. Even details that seem minor, like the deck’s curved railing, were thoughtfully designed. 

“We laser-scanned the deck structure, then custom-fabricated the railing off-site to match the curved deck precisely,” Byrnes says. “The railing also features an integrated LED strip light, so details like concealing all the electrical connections had to be perfect.”

An upstairs office allows for natural views, light and a deck. 

“Ryan did a really good job of creating a house where, when we have folks here, it’s certainly a great gathering space in the middle, but it also gives you an opportunity to have your own space,” the owner says.

From the main area, another bridge connects to the primary pod, which is set up several steps, both in response to the site and to provide a sense of retreat and privacy. 

In the bedroom, the team installed a commercial track system for the enormous mechanized drapery. Custom-made from a substantial double-width linen blend with blackout lining, the fabric panels are more than 10 feet tall and run the entire length of the window wall.

Windows on the west side of the living room allow natural light to flood the staircase that leads to the lower level

“It’s visually dramatic, but functionally critical to controlling light and maintaining privacy in such a glass-heavy space,” Geresy says. 

A fully upholstered headboard spans the wall behind the bed, and is made of a luxurious ribbed cotton velvet. 

“It took a lot of time and coordination but is truly a statement and worth the meticulous detail,” Geresy says. 

The serene bathroom follows the home’s black-and-neutral color scheme and offers access to an outdoor shower and a stainless steel hot tub by Westland Spas. Laundry in the primary closet is a practical touch. 

From the main area, stairs set against a concrete wall lead down to the media room. The stairwell came as part of a kit from ViewRail, and the team mixed off-the-shelf parts with custom fabrication as a cost-effective solution that achieved a minimal design aesthetic.

A shuffleboard table is set behind the TV area’s U-shaped green couch, while a chess table stands near the stairwell. A bunk room and gym are also downstairs; outside, the landscape steps down to a bocce ball court. 

Construction began in summer 2021 and finished in summer 2023. Working during the pandemic meant long lead times. 

The home’s signature namesake neon sign suggests that you indeed have arrived

“Windows that were typically four to six weeks were now 26 to 30 weeks,” LaMoureaux says.  

Despite that challenge, LaMoureaux describes the teamwork as exceptional. 

“We had constant communication with the project team to make sure everyone was aligned,” he says. “This allowed everyone to have clear expectations during the process.”

Geresy agrees: “Working in tandem with Ryan and the team from the outset meant every detail, from millwork to lighting to furniture, was designed cohesively, and the home could evolve as a unified whole.”

Beyond the immediate team, they also credit consultants and subcontractors, including David Zachary and Jesse Brown of Zachary Engineering, Mike Voelkel of LVF Landscape Architects and Oscar and Ruben Nunez of RO Builders. 

At the beginning of the project, the owners and their team kicked off with a big dinner. 

“It was a way for us all to cheers the kickoff but also set the tone for the team-minded approach we all try so hard at,” Marsden says. “At the end of the project, I really think that shows. We worked together to solve problems when needed, but we also worked together to make it the best it could be from design to execution.”

Teamwork, dedication and great people—all the elements for that perfect click.

Award: Elevated Design

Building Design: Marsden Architects

Builder: NSM Construction

Interior Design: KTG Design

Landscape Design: LVF Landscape Architects

Square Feet: 6,592