This $2.75M 4,000 square foot, custom ski-in/ski-out home was designed by SANDBOX for a site near the top of California’s Northstar Ski Resort, in the exclusive Big Springs subdivision, with a ski trail running alongside the home! The client for this project is a retired stone mason from Sicily, and thus SANDBOX used substantial stone elements as a recurring design theme. Keeping with the client’s heritage, many details will be crafted according to Old World traditions. View of East/Front Elevation with heavy stonework under construction (above).
With a private, forested setting, the home was designed to take in the outdoors and mountain views with several patios, decks and glazed areas, including a screened Summer Porch. View of West/Rear Elevation under construction (above), with patios and decks on both levels.
One of the clients’ sons is a writer for whom SANDBOX designed a small Writer’s Cabin – a place for him to hide away and be creative. Only 150 square feet in size, it was designed to be reminiscent of a historic trapper’s cabin or miner’s cabin, common to the Tahoe-Truckee area in days gone by. View of nearly completed Trapper’s Cabin (above).
With a very difficult up-sloping site, the design of the house intentionally steps with the natural topography and appears ‘rooted’ in the Earth. As the house ‘climbs’ up the hillside, the views get better, as can be seen from the rear of the ‘Trapper’s Cabin’ (above) which is situated at the highest point on the homesite, capturing views of the distant mountains.
While generally rustic in tone both inside and out, SANDBOX gave the exterior of the home an interesting twist by combining traditional rustic mountain materials with ‘edgier’ industrial accents, as can be seen on the front of the Family Room (above), with the application of a corrugated steel wainscot and rusted steel upper chimney treatment. The interior will have the feel of a mountain lodge, with soaring wood ceilings, large timber beams and natural stone finishes, yet will feature all of the latest in modern amenities.
