Inspired by the original planked cedar walls, and an ode to eras prior, this Incline Village, Nevada, remodel was inspired by the original planked cedar walls and the 1970s.
We chatted with KTG Design to find out more about their work on this stunning remodel.
Do you have any details on the client brief?
This remodel took us right back to Tahoe in the 70’s. This remodel combines the natural color of the cedar walls with modern accents, textures, color palettes and lighting to transport one back to a timeless era. Lantern will be a legend in our book for eras to come.
What do you think was so special about the midcentury period in American design?
Midcentury design is all about sleek lines, organic shapes with layered identities encompassing the beauty of the era and the ease of living that the midcentury aesthetic beholds! The simple lines and pure forms of mid-century styles are what makes it so iconic. It is simple without being boring and eye-catching without being fussy.
What were your challenges for this project?
Remodels always present different challenges and this was no exception. When you want to completely reimagine a space, the existing structure and limitations leave you problem solving from day one.
The original floorplan was closed off, so opening the main living spaces and kitchen was a major priority. Building out a new island with the structural beam intact was one of those limitations. From a finish standpoint, we always wanted to keep and complement the existing cedar highlights of the home, while drawing out the brown tones as much as we could.
Working as a team to tone down the spectrum of variation in the boards made them feel more modern, consistent, and intentional with the finished space.
What was the house like previously?
Prior to the remodel, the interior of this home was dark, dated and felt heavy the instant you walked through the door. With the tone of the kitchen cabinetry and the closed-off main level floor plan, it was definitely a traditional Lake Tahoe 70’s “Tahoe Tunnel” cabin to its roots.
What in your opinion are the best features of the home?
The kitchen and primary bathroom. These spaces truly make this remodel worth the challenges. Opening the kitchen layout and incorporating the microtopped island make such a statement for the main level.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, so making this a gathering space for the family was a major priority. The primary bathroom was another space where we capitalized on every inch we could, to create a truly beautiful, spacious and functional bathroom for the homeowners.
Last but not least, do you have any tips for people interested in buying a midcentury house or building a new home with midcentury design elements? What should they pay attention to and why?
Midcentury architecture and design will always have its place, especially if you’re dealing with existing pieces or architecture from the era. We feel that mixing in clean lined and sleek finishes and furniture are a great way to not feel like you’ve gone right back to the 70’s, but rather complement the era paying tribute to its time.
This can be through furniture, accents or even color palette tones. The stain finish of the cabinetry in this remodel is a great example – it was important to complement the original cedar planks, but also lend to a timeless aesthetic and more modern approach to the overall design.
Photos by Kat Alves
