SANDBOX created this 5,800 square foot family estate for a very private, forested 2.6 acre homesite in Martis Camp, to serve a young family of four from Los Angeles. Accessed by a meandering, looping driveway, the family compound, built by Mark Tanner Construction, consists of a Main House and a Guest House, sited to both relate well to each other while also individually capturing views, sun and privacy. Photo above by Vance Fox shows a partial view of the Guest House on the left, as it looks past a portion of the Main House on the right.
Designed with a very rustic palette of reclaimed heavy timber siding and stone, the home has a very commanding presence, yet is timeless and appropriate for its mountain context. Photo by Vance Fox shows a portion of the Rear Elevation (above), with its spaces spilling out through big glass doors onto several upper level decks and the sunny, lower level terrace below, complete with a firepit, hot tub and its very own meandering waterfall and stream – a magical place to spend an afternoon!
The Great Room, with its high vaulted ceilings, large heavy-timber trusses & massive stone fireplace, is jaw-dropping upon entry. Despite the significant volume of the space, it still manages to feel cozy & intimate thanks to a warm material palette. The open floor plan allows for great family and guest interaction, with the Great Room, Kitchen and Dining all flowing together. Custom details abound in this home, such as the TV above the main stone fireplace, which resides hidden behind a painting until it is activated, when the painting lifts up to expose the TV. View of the Great Room with Dining beyond (above) in photo by Vance Fox.
The owners and their guests will wind delicately through the trees on approach to a gabled, rusty steel-clad porte-cochere, protecting entry to the Main House from the snowy Tahoe weather. Photo of approach and porte cochere (above) by Vance Fox.
Designed for large family gatherings and entertaining, the Kitchen is packed with functionality, from commercial grade appliances, hidden behind reclaimed barnwood fronts, to the oversized island with seating for 6, ample storage and prep/serving counter space. Photo (above left) of Kitchen with its dramatic old-world plaster range hood. A short distance away is the Dining Room (above right), with a jumbo picture window looking out to the forest.
While predominantly single-story in appearance from the front, the topography drops away at the rear of the Main House, affording opportunities for two guest master suites, a theater/rec room, and a stone wine ‘cave’ on the lower level. Photo by Vance Fox showing the Media Room (above).
In addition to an abundance of hang-out and entertaining space inside the home, there is an equal amount outside, such as the great covered Fireside Terrace (photo above by Vance Fox), with both a fireplace and flatscreen TV.
Designed from the approach to look like a collection of cottages connected over time, the home is punctuated by the Master ‘Cottage’ which connects to the rest of the residence with an enclosed bridge spanning a rambling stream & waterfall. Photo of the Master Bedroom interior (above) with fun details by Anita Lang.
Carved out of the hill on the basement level is an ideal space for a wine cave (Vance Fox photo above left). Mark Tanner Construction crafted this beautifully, with stone walls and glass doors for a striking statement. Photo above right of one of the bathrooms in the home with a custom concrete trough sink and barnwood-clad vanity, typical of the great detailing throughout.
Continuing around on the circular drive from the Main House leads to the Guest House – just a short walk along a landscaped stone path from the Main House, yet completely private. Construction began on the 800 square foot structure in Summer of 2010 to give the owners a place to use while the Main House was being built. The Guest House was completed by Mark Tanner Construction in an astonishing 4.5 months – just in time for prime ski season! Photo (above) by Vance Fox shows the Guest House in the snow, shortly after completion, with its rustic palette of reclaimed Montana barnwood and rusted corrugated Corten steel roofing. Its covered wrap-around porch is an ideal place to sit and read a book or gaze out into the forest.
