When Sam and Will dreamed about their future home in the Sierra Nevada mountains, they had a certain feeling in mind. “They wanted it to be a fun place for adults, like an adult summer camp,” says Christine Lin, principal and founder of Form & Field.

The property they found fit the bill—it’s set in Truckee, on the banks of Donner Lake—but time had dulled its appeal. The two-story home lacked natural light, and while some charming details evoked its midcentury past, like the wood doors and ceilings, Lin and the owners knew other aspects had to change.

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

“There wasn’t a mudroom, which is critical for a ski house,” Lin says. “The kitchen wasn’t very functional, and the bottom floor was very dark, cold, and not really used.”

$29,319 HVAC	$77,439 Paint	$5,455 Appliances
$37,972 Plumbing	$40,669 Electrical	$15,789 Insulation
$65,000 Furnishings, Hardware, & Lighting	$963,357 Construction
Grand Total: $1,235,000

After: Mudroom

The couple sought a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and they wanted to be able to sleep up to 10 people, so Lin drew up plans to overhaul the home with fresh finishes and fixtures, a reconfigured kitchen, a new bedroom and bathroom on the highest floor, and a bunk room for grownups on the lower level.

There would be plenty of space for the couple to work during extended stays away from their jobs in San Francisco’s tech industry, but the overall look and feel would be about fun.

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

“We all wanted to retain that classic cabin feel, but they really wanted a modern look that blended Scandinavian and Japanese simplicity with a ’70s nostalgic vibe,” Lin says.

But before they could embrace that adult summer camp aesthetic, the couple and the firm had to address some challenges during construction. The deck off the main level was structurally unsound and had to be entirely rebuilt, and during demolition, the crew discovered that wood beneath the sliding doors had rotted through.

Before: Bedroom

After: Bedroom

“We also didn’t expect to need to replace the main roof, but we discovered it was damaged as we worked on the addition,” Lin continues. “Furthermore, the chimney was structurally unsound due to snow sliding into it from above, and it had to be reinforced and brought up to code.” They spent more than they planned on insulation, too, because the home hadn’t been shielded from the elements as it should have been.

Before: Bathroom

After: Bathrooms

When all of those headaches were resolved, it felt as if the countdown to camp could commence. The owners and Lin’s team chose a color palette that harkens back to the aforementioned groovy era, with emerald and terra-cotta mixed with warm woods, black accents, and plenty of cork.

“We loved the nostalgia of cork and its sustainability, and it was a great way to bring warmth and texture to a dark, basement-level space,” Lin says.

The bathrooms showcase the most playful side of the home, with tile laid in punchy plaid, color-blocked, and gridded motifs. “The patterns are a reference to rustic cabin vibes in a minimalist way,” says Lin.

Before: Bunk Room

“The best part of this project was being able to use affordable materials in a creative way to make something special—like the bunk room’s cork and the color schemes in the bathrooms,” Lin explains. “These were simple moves that really elevated the design.”

After: Bunk Room

The nearly three-year project wrapped up this past February, and Sam and Will are currently spending their first summer as camp leaders on-site.

“We got married this summer at nearby Sugar Bowl Ski Resort and hosted a large gathering in the great room and deck before the wedding,” Sam says. “It was nice to have all of the beds to host friends and family who came from far away.”

More Before & After stories:

A Wood-Laden Lake Tahoe Cabin Gets a Dose of Scandi Cool

A Couple Buy a Collapsing Cabin for $7K and Revamp it Into a Desert Oasis

A Decrepit 1970s A-Frame in Minnesota Is Reborn as a Cozy Family Escape

Project Details:

Architect of Record: JK Architecture Engineering

Builder: Mt. Lincoln Construction

Structural Engineer: JK Architecture Engineering

Interior Design: Form & Field / @formandfield

Cabinetry Design: Gamma Cabinetry

Appears In

Before & After: Every Day Is Summer Camp at This Groovy, ’70s-Inspired Cabin