This award-winning remodel project designed by SANDBOX was featured on the cover of the Tahoe Quarterly Magazine’s 2010 Annual Home Awards issue, recognized for its amazing transformation from a dilapidated A-frame into a gorgeous Donner Lake retreat. Cover shot by Vance Fox (above) showing the remodeled Entry. See Page 6 for ‘before’ photos of the original house.
SANDBOX converted the small, neglected 1,700 square foot A-frame into three levels and 3,800 square feet of fantastic living space, with an additional 1,000 square feet of deck and terrace area – virtually all with spectacular views of the lake. With the help of the interior designer client, many unique elements were found to finish the inside of the home, such as reclaimed stone flooring from Burgundy France, handpainted inset divider tiles from Spain, salvaged century-old Teak doors from India, 100+ year-old Oak barnwood for flooring in some areas of the home, with reclaimed Coopersmark Oak wine barrel staves, complete with their original stamps intact, used for flooring in other areas. Photos by Vance Fox showing the Rear Elevation from the lake (above left) and antique doors with wine cask floors (above right).
Reclaimed wood was a theme on the exterior, too, as is evident in the above photo of the main deck area by Vance Fox. Reclaimed hand-hewn 2” thick solid Oak planks were used for the siding, heavy solid Oak timbers were used for corner elements, and reclaimed wood from a deconstructed barn in the mid-West was used for the window and door trim, with red paint still intact!
Creating multiple zones for entertaining and accommodating extended family was an important component of the owners’ design program. The above fireside Billiards Room, Bar and sunken Lounge, with lakeview seating and a fireplace of its own (not shown), were carved out of a largely uninhabitable subterranean basement area under the original house. An additional guest suite and Art Conservatory were also created on this level, which also accesses a stone terrace and firepit, overlooking Donner Lake. Photo by Vance Fox.
The original main level Living Room (above) and Kitchen were also completely refinished to match the new. Photo by Vance Fox. A future SANDBOX-designed Guest Cottage is also planned.
Photos of the original house before remodel – Rear Elevation (above left) and original Front Entry (above right).
