When the Kirschenbaums first commissioned SANDBOX to design a new home to replace their aging cabin on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe, their directive was to create something that would be cozy, timeless and eco-conscious. The resulting home is just that! At 2,700 square feet, the residence is large enough for guests and extended family, yet is very cozy with intimately proportioned interior spaces. On the exterior, the home has a timeless, rustic quality, using indigenous Tahoe materials such as stone and wood, and nestles quietly into the forested homesite, preserving several 200+ year old trees – some over five feet in diameter! Reclaimed materials and many ‘green building’ practices were implemented in the design and construction of the home. View of partial Front Elevation (above), tucked in the trees. Photo by Vance Fox.
Bringing natural light and views into the home wherever possible was an important goal for the Kirschenbaum Project, as it is with all SANDBOX homes. For example, the large window wall of the Great Room looks out to the forest and Lake Tahoe beyond, and allows natural light to bathe the interior space. Photo of partial Great Room (above) with window wall, stone fireplace, reclaimed barn siding on one wall and salvaged Oak on the floor. Photography by Vance Fox.
An interesting mix of materials - new and old, rustic and modern — occurs throughout the house, tying the clients’ Bay Area lifestyle to their Tahoe one. Photo of partial Kitchen and Dining (above) by Vance Fox.
Reclaimed materials are used both inside and out, including both salvaged Fir and Oak for exterior siding, interior wall accents and flooring. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Powder Room ‘outhouse’ (above left). The Master Bathroom is intended to be lighter and brighter and is finished out with new materials — a mix of Larch wood and natural stone (above right). Photos by Vance Fox Photography.
Downstairs resides several guest bedrooms, two bathrooms, a secondary mud entry & laundry area off of the garage, and a large rec room with custom built-in bunks for kids. Photo of bunks in Rec Room (above) by Vance Fox.
Photo of Side Elevation (above), showing SANDBOX’s use of indigenous materials and the site-specific design approach, with an organic stone walk/stair climbing up to the entry, and the house nestled delicately in between several large Cedar trees.
