Stellar views and expansive outdoor living highlight a masterful renovation in Olympic Valley

A covered outdoor living space off the great room features cozy furniture set in front of an in-wall fireplace and recessed TV

When a family of avid skiers looked to invest in a legacy retreat at Lake Tahoe, choosing a location was hardly a consideration. There was only one place they sought to plant roots: Olympic Valley, home of the legendary Palisades Tahoe ski resort.

“There’s just something about that mountain that I’ve always been in love with,” says the family patriarch.

After years of visiting from the Bay Area, the family truly made Palisades their home mountain in 2021 with the purchase of a 3,200-square-foot house perched high above the valley floor. Built in the mid-1990s on a 3-acre lot with spectacular views of the ski resort, the dwelling was in decent shape, but it had some peculiarities—most notably, a tiny living room and a long, dysfunctional driveway.

“The living room felt like a dorm room,” says the homeowner. “It was a very strange setup for a house that big.”

Motivated to fix the awkward floor plan, the owner reached out to Jude Gavigan of Truckee’s In House Builders to discuss renovation options. Gavigan saw the property’s potential and tapped Denver-based architect Ryan Borman to draw up a few different sketches, ranging from a basic refresh to a total rebuild. To round out the project team, the owners hired Julie Johnson-Holland of Interior Design by JJH. 

Along with its spectacularly framed view of Palisades Tahoe ski resort, the primary living area includes a custom area rug, custom 17-foot sofa and custom swivel chairs, seating at least 10 people

“We were planning to just do a facelift,” says the owner. “But we have a big family, so when Jude and Ryan presented us with a much more ambitious version of the remodel, it was like, ‘Oh wow, if we did something like that, it would give us a lot more room to bring family and friends to this special place that we love.’”

The plan was to expand the home to approximately 5,500 square feet, with an additional 3,000 square feet of outdoor patio space. Beyond increasing and integrating indoor and outdoor living spaces, the redesign strove to capitalize on the lot’s stunning views and create a sophisticated yet functional gathering place for friends and family to enjoy. 

Gavigan and team broke ground in July 2022. The first step was to pick apart the house and expose the framing that was being salvaged. 

The new “folded ribbon” roofline, as Borman describes it, was significantly lifted from its original height, and the entry completely transformed, but the new design also retained some existing structural elements. One of the goals was to intentionally blur the line between old and new so the house felt cohesive, which the team achieved to perfection. 

Light, airy and filled with spectacular views, the main floor flows from the outdoor patio all the way to the kitchen, allowing large groups to congregate in different spaces

“Most people don’t realize that it’s a remodel and addition,” says Borman. 

Challenges soon arose as the winter of 2022-23 was a monster, with Olympic Valley receiving over 35 feet of snow. Gavigan fought every inch to keep moving on the project, which was completed in December 2024.

“The snow was definitely one of the biggest challenges of the overall build,” says Gavigan. “But we’re well-versed in working through those types of conditions. We kept battling it, and we prevailed.”

The success of the project is on full display on approach to the home, which now features an expansive entry complete with ample driveway space, a front landing and an on-grade terrace located off a lower-level media room. 

“One of the immediate things I identified was that there was no arrival for the house,” says Borman. “It had a very long driveway that turned right at the top into a two-car garage, and a tiny front door stuck to the side of the stairs. There was no front porch, nowhere to load gear or turn around.” 

Custom walnut cabinets, white oak flooring, hand-selected lighting and tile fill the kitchen. Short staircases to the upper hallway help the space feel more open while tastefully including the structural beams

Moving up from the concrete planter boxes adjoining the entryway, the home’s new modern facade showcases stone, dark wood and metal that highlight a striking framework of floor-to-ceiling glazing.  

Inside the front door, black flamed granite tiles underfoot complement the warm tones of Shinnoki walnut wall paneling, while a built-in bench and coat hooks provide convenience for those coming or going.  

Beyond the entry to the left is a mudroom with built-in ski lockers, and to the right a media room with a TV and fireplace set in front of a cozy sofa. A wall with built-in custom cabinetry and open shelving sits opposite a large bifold door, which opens to a covered outdoor terrace.

“The media room is just stunning,” says Borman. “You would never know it used to be a two-car garage.”

From the entry, a short flight of stairs accesses the main floor above, which is open and airy and filled with dramatic views from the home’s lofty site. The impressive room feels connected yet separate thanks to a few small steps down from the kitchen and dining space to the primary living area. 

“The different floor levels make the house more interesting and create distinct zonal living,” notes one of the Tahoe Quarterly judging panelists who toured the home. 

A lower-level media room features a large custom sofa with a fireplace, TV and decorative paneled wood wall, along with a bar area, a foosball table, bean bags and bifold doors that lead out to a patio with seating

Sliding glass doors create a seamless connection to the outdoor terraces that wrap all sides of the home, providing distinct areas for lounging, entertaining and connecting with the landscape. The outdoor living spaces, covered by deep overhangs that help with passive solar control and allow for year-round use, are both Borman and Gavigan’s favorite addition to the house.

“There’s a firepit, an in-wall outdoor fireplace, a recessed outdoor TV, and then right around the corner is the custom in-ground spa. So it’s party central. The ultimate aprés spot. And you could literally host 100 people,” says Borman.

“Having a strong indoor/outdoor connection in any home in Tahoe is essential,” adds Gavigan. “Just to be able to feel and see the outside and not just be inside.”

Come storm days, the home is also comfortable and inviting thanks to a hydronic heating system, multiple fireplaces, warm materials, a retractable 85-inch TV cabinet and custom furnishings selected by Johnson-Holland, whose team also chose the tile and decorative lighting throughout the home.  

“One of the key highlights of our work was creating a warm and inviting atmosphere by incorporating organic and natural materials into the custom furniture,” says Johnson-Holland, who was brought on board early in the project and worked closely with the owners. 

The outdoor living area on the home’s main level is outfitted to entertain, with ample seating, a firepit, recessed TV and custom in-ground spa

“The homeowners were an enjoyable team to collaborate with,” she adds. “They were receptive to various ideas to design the ideal home for their family and friends. This resulted in a high level of creative expression throughout the home.”  

While the kitchen’s location did not change, it was hugely expanded and completely reappointed. Clastic Designs contributed custom concrete countertops, and S&S Millworks produced the Shinnoki walnut-wrapped cabinetry. A large island outfitted with a sink and seating for five anchors the space and helps delineate the kitchen from the nearby breakfast table. 

Short, matching staircases bookend the kitchen on either side and lead to the upper level, which contains the home’s bedrooms. In addition to an awe-inspiring view of the resort, the primary suite features a stone wall with a double-sided fireplace that can be enjoyed from the bedroom or while soaking in a freestanding tub in the spacious bathroom on the other side. The suite also has a private patio with access to the spa and—importantly for the owner—hiking trails.

“I love being able to walk out the door in the summertime and be on a trail that connects right to the Pacific Crest Trail without getting in a car,” he says.

Gavigan attributes much of the project’s success to the combined efforts of the team and homeowners. 

“They (the owners) understood the vision that we had in creating the spaces, and they really liked the collaborative nature of the design-build concept,” he says. “It’s always informative to work with the owner directly and show them what the possibilities are as they develop in the field.”

A freestanding tub next to a see-through fireplace in the primary bathroom creates a luxurious spa-like experience

“When we started,” says the owner, “we were not expecting to do something on this scale, or spend this much money, or build this type of a house. But it made sense once we saw that Jude had the ability to take on a project like this. He’s an incredible builder. His attention to detail is really impressive.”

Borman was honored to design the home as he feels it is a distinctive addition to Olympic Valley. 

“It’s strong and elegant, but not yelling at you,” he says. “And I would say it’s unique for Olympic Valley. There has not been a lot of Martis Camp–level of investment here.”

The owner has been told the house looks like it belongs in Martis Camp—a comment he takes as a compliment.

“It’s fun to have that kind of house in Olympic Valley,” he says. “I’m so happy with how it turned out.”

Award: Alpine Retreat

Building Design: Ryan Borman Architecture

Builder: In House Builders

Interior Design: Interior Design by JJH

Landscape Design: Rock & Rose

Square Feet: 5,489