Created to foster fun, quality together time in the mountains for a San Francisco family, the Schneider Family Retreat, designed by SANDBOX and built by Tony Hardy, broke ground in June of 2010 and finished in September of 2011. The home is designed for use in all seasons and has a strong relationship with the outdoors. Abundant glass captures sun and views throughout the 4,800 square foot home, and the 2,000 square feet of terrace area allows for outdoor living on all sides, with spots just perfect for dining, sunning, reading, socializing by the firepit, and even soaking in the sunken spa! Photo (above) by Vance Fox shows the Front/South Elevation, with the large glass gable wall, custom structural trusses and sliding doors of the Great Room & Dining, which spill out onto the uncovered front firepit terrace and covered fireside dining terrace to the right.
The impressive Great Room is immediately visable upon entry, with heavy timber trusses supporting the exposed beam ceiling and a large double-sided stone fireplace, shared with the Dining Room, as its center piece. A large window wall with sliding doors opens towards the view and sunny terrace. Photo (above) by Vance Fox showing the fabulous lodge-style Great Room.
The exterior of the home is clad with a rustic mix of salvaged Montana Ghostwood, Cedar and native Sierra Granite stonework, befitting of its Tahoe context. Inside, the home takes on a more refined Greene-and-Greene Craftsman feel, with exquisite cabinetry and finish detailing. An open-style floor plan features a large great room with adjoining kitchen and dining areas, four comfortable bedroom suites, including two with fireplaces, a whimsical kids’ bunk suite, a cozy loft library, an office and a family/media room. Photo (above) by Vance Fox showing the Great Room as viewed from the open Kitchen.
The spacious Kitchen is designed to encourage social interaction and family time, with a large island bar for dinner party socializing or for the kids to do their homework while mom and dad cook. A true chef’s kitchen, it is fully equipped with a commercial appliance package, custom cabinetry and ample storage, including a walk-in pantry. Exquisite custom-crafted barstools hand-made by a local furniture maker complete the room. Photo of Kitchen (above) by Vance Fox with Family/Media Room visible off to the right.
Photo (above) by Vance Fox showing the custom built-in bunk beds.
The clients requested an oversized three-bay garage for parking their two cars, plus a boat and other Tahoe ‘toys’. Instead of having three bays in a row, SANDBOX split the garage massing so that it would not dominate the home. A looping drive pulls up to the gabled entry, flanked with two stone columns, and then continues on to access the garage. SANDBOX placed two adjacent bays on the side of the home, while the larger boat bay is accessed from the front – all three conveniently connected from the inside. Photo (above) by Vance Fox showing the Entry and functionally oversized yet discreet 3 garage bays.
