High above the road at Northstar, carved into a steep Tahoe hillside, a contemporary mountain home quietly emerges from the landscape. Designed through a close collaboration between Holly Hollenbeck of HSH Interiors and Anthony Laney of Laney LA, the home was built for a family of East Bay attorneys seeking a ski retreat that would eventually become their primary residence. Function, longevity, and comfort were paramount — but never at the expense of beauty.
The steep site presented a real design challenge. Rather than sitting atop the slope, the home steps back into it across three terraced levels, with circulation designed to unfold gradually as occupants move through the architecture. Main living spaces occupy the top floor, where a wall of sliding glass doors opens fully to panoramic mountain views, blurring the line between inside and out. Materials throughout — bespoke stained cedar, limewashed ceilings, oak plank floors — reflect the natural surroundings while maintaining a clean, contemporary sensibility.
Outdoor living was central to the design from the start. Two Infratech SL-Series heaters in black were installed in the outdoor living room and on the spa patio, disappearing into the architecture while extending the usability of both spaces well beyond the warmer months. For a mountain retreat where the seasons shift quickly, the ability to step outside comfortably — whether gathered around the living area or soaking in the spa after a day on the slopes — is what makes the home truly livable year-round.
