Après Ski
Kirkwood, CAWhen a family of six—all passionate skiers—came to us to design their dream vacation home in Lake Tahoe, the brief wrote itself: warm, rugged, built to last, and built for living. The home needed to withstand the demands of mountain life—salt tracked in from the snow, four teenage boys in perpetual motion—while still feeling refined and intentional. We came in after the framing was already complete, working on interior architecture and furnishings in tandem. This fast-paced process pushed us creatively and produced some of our most inventive work. The result is what Linda calls "refined rusticity"—a home that feels rooted in the landscape around it, yet imbued with elegance and originality.
- Sullivan StudioInterior Designer
- Roger KatzArchitect
- Frank WatfordBuilder
- Lance GerberPhotographer
- Michael WaltersStylist
- Mountain Living
It’s a brand-new home but all the details add warmth and texture: the wood floor is reclaimed; the chandelier is made of twigs.
The kitchen was designed for a family of serious cooks. Quartzite countertops and stained oak cabinetry provides a durable, textural foundation, while a thread of blackened steel–from the range hood to the pendants and stool frames—ties the space to the architectural railing beyond. We added wood cladding to the ceiling to draw the eye up and connect the utilitarian space both with the rest of the home and the forest views outside.
We balanced all the rustic materials with their opposite: we’ve got velvet upholstery, leather details, metal fixtures.
From the back of the house, you can strap on your skis and glide straight to the lifts. We designed the ski version of a mudroom for the family’s gear, mixing hard-wearing porcelain tile floors with more refined touches like a leather bench. The oak millwork designed to hold skis was created bespoke for the project, as was the pool cue holder in the game room. Both spaces signal that this is a getaway for serious fun.
