• Objectives: Originally built in the 1970s for former Major League Baseball pitcher John Montefusco, this ranch-style home in Incline Village was sold to a family that cherished it for years as a vacation residence. Eventually, however, the house required an upgrade to accommodate their growing multigenerational family. The owners hired architect Elise Fett, Timberline Construction and KDS Design Group to help them create a contemporary home with low-maintenance finishes that achieved a balance between form, beauty and function. In addition to creating space for their family and friends, the owners wanted to pay homage to the property’s legacy by incorporating reclaimed materials from the existing home and fence, many of which had been designed and built by the owner’s parents. Indoor/outdoor flow and recreation were also paramount, resulting in many well-designed options to access the extensive balconies and active backyard spaces.

A bar in the lower-level game room was made from a reclaimed portion of a glulam from the original home built in the 1970s, photo by Ryan Hirschberg

• Special and Unique Features: Among the thoughtfully repurposed materials, the family-room bar was made from a reclaimed glulam from the original home; redwood walls and ceilings were salvaged, re-milled and reused to keep the home’s warmth, history and energy alive; and the owner meticulously turned what were once thick redwood bookshelves into a nook and dining table. Nearly all the home’s switches are Kasa Smart, which allow voice control, while the large shades and fireplaces are voice-controlled as well. Numerous other features incorporate “smart control” technology. The remodel also added an elevator to ensure enjoyment by all generations, including the owner’s mother, who is in her 90s.

• Why it Won an Award: This family estate, passed down from parents to their grown children, was transformed to meet the current and future needs of the owners so the property can continue as their Lake Tahoe legacy. The home weaves a fine line between the contemporary upgrade the owners desired, allowing for large window walls that provide a dramatic openness, while maintaining the warmth of the original redwood and keeping privacy from neighbors and the road. The impeccable craftsmanship, much of which was executed by the owner himself and his father, resulted in an attractive and functional multigenerational home to be enjoyed for years to come.

The game room interacts with the living room above and shares the large wall of glass that floods the house with natural light, photo by Ryan Hirschberg

Merit Award: Legacy Remodel

Building Design: Elise Fett & Associates, Ltd.

Builder: Timberline Construction

Interior Design: KDS Design Group; homeowners

Landscape Design: DeLux Landscaping

Square Feet: 5,110