R EAL ESTATE & MOUNTAIN LIFEST YLES | JUNE 2016
INSIDE
MARKET TRENDS
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GREAT GARDENS
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HIGH-SIERRA GOLF
BEYOND THE BEAR Achieving a Tahoe mountain look and feel without the cute kitsch
WE ARE WHERE OUR CLIENTS ARE… IN THE BEST LOCATIONS.
8336 VALHALLA DRIVE, MARTIS CAMP 6UL VM H RPUK 4HY[PZ *HTW ,Z[H[L c )LKYVVTZ c )H[OYVVTZ c :X\HYL -LL[ c 6Ɉ LYLK H[
TRUCKEE
LAKE TAHOE
MARIN PARK CITY SAN FRANCISCO NEWPORT BEACH ST. GEORGE BEVERLY HILLS LAGUNA BEACH LOS ANGELES
MONTECITO SAN DIEGO RANCH COAST SANTA BARBARA SANTA MONICA SHERMAN OAKS SOLANA BEACH WESTLAKE VILLAGE WORLDWIDE
Engel & Völkers Truckee 10091 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA 96161
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Engel & Völkers Lake Tahoe 210 Elks Point Road #102, Zephyr Cove, NV 89448
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©2016 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principals of the Fair Housing Act. If your property is currently represented by a real estate broker, WKLV LV QRW DQ DWWHPSW WR VROLFLW \RXU OLVWLQJ $OO LQIRUPDWLRQ SURYLGHG LV GHHPHG UHOLDEOH EXW LV QRW JXDUDQWHHG DQG VKRXOG EH LQGHSHQGHQWO\ YHUL¿ HG %5(
CHASE YOUR DREAMS
Managing Editor KEVIN S. MACMILLAN Contributing Editor CAITLIN ROW
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Design Team Manager AFTON POSPISILOVA Art Direction & Design MALISA SAMSEL Contributing Writers AMELIA RICHMOND KALEB M. ROEDEL ADAM JENSEN MARGARET MORAN
8 SIERRA SPOTLIGHT
A look inside plans for South Lake Tahoe’s Zalanta Resort at the Village
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10 BRIGHT SPACES
How you can bring more light into your Lake Tahoe mountain home
14 AN EASY TRANSITION
Industry pro Pam Aaron explain why Tahoe Traditional is still a popular remodel option
A custom-carved bar with a leathered granite top offers a stunning view of Lake Tahoe. photo by jen schmidt photography / sierra verde home design center
20 GRATEFUL GARDEN
Why using native vegetation is the way to go
22 FORE, SCORE
26 WINE & DINE
Make sure you’ve got the right glassware for your summer party plans
Top Tahoe golf pros offer high-elevation tips
WELCOME TO PARADISE
W Stonework, great wood textures or fun branches can create an instant feeling of being in the mountains. Photo: Catherine Macfee Interior Design
elcome to the inaugural edition of Lake Tahoe Home, a monthly magazine produced by the same hard-working and dedicated crew that brings you the award-winning summer and winter editions of Tahoe Magazine every year. At Lake Tahoe Home, our goal is to provide a product loaded with topical content and informative advertising on home improvement and décor ideas, new-age interior design trends, human interest features on industry professionals, and profiles on locally designed and renovated homes and businesses, along with fun content that focuses on cuisine, wine and the countless number of high-end recreation and unique mountain lifestyle opportunities that make the greater Tahoe-Truckee region a premier place to live, visit and play. Whether you’re marveling at the awe-inspiring homes along the famed Lakeshore Drive in Incline Village, viewing our majestic lakefront properties from the South and West Shores of Lake Tahoe by boat, or spotting the bountiful cabins in Martis Camp or high up in Tahoe Donner from an airplane, one thing’s for sure — there’s no mistaking our little slice of paradise here in the Sierra Nevada. I hope you learn a thing or two from this edition of Lake Tahoe Home about just why that is the case. And cheers to a wonderful summer season at Lake Tahoe and Truckee — let’s make it one to remember!
Kevin MacMillan is managing editor of Lake Tahoe Home, Tahoe Magazine and SierraSun.com. Have feedback or ideas about Lake Tahoe Home? Shoot him an email at kmacmillan@sierrasun.com, or hit him up on Twitter @Kevin1MacMillan.
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LAKE TAHOE HOME | JUNE 2016
Swift Communications Resort Operations GM JIM MORGAN Tahoe Daily Tribune/ Lake Tahoe Action Publisher ROB GALLOWAY Sierra Sun/North Lake Tahoe Bonanza Co-GM BEN ROGERS
WELCOME
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Contributing Photographers JEN SCHMIDT SCOT T THOMPSON NATHAN ENRIQUEZ ELLEN ZAGORY TRAVIS ALLEY JOHN BONCEK MARTIN MILLER
Advertising Executives PEGGY COCORES STACY COLLINS MICHELLE GEARY GAYLA GEORGIEVA JON LYONS SUSAN KOKEGNE CAROLAN LACROIX
TAHOEDAILYTRIBUNE.COM SIERRASUN.COM
Lake Tahoe Home is a product of the Tahoe Daily Tribune, Sierra Sun and North Lake Tahoe Bonanza. All content is copyrighted, June 2016. Lake Tahoe Home strives for accuracy and is not responsible if certain information changes after publication. Unless otherwise indicated, all photography in this magazine is property of Swift Communications, the parent company of Colorado Mountain News Media, Sierra Nevada Media Group and Lake Tahoe Home.
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A snapshot of real estate sales and activity from the Tahoe region's four main markets in April 2016
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE (CA)
EAST SHORE TAHOE (GLENBROOK TO STATELINE) (NV)
641
8
Number of single-family homes sold
Number of single-family homes sold
$481,250 $379,500
Median sales price of singlefamily homes sold
Median sales price of singlefamily homes sold
$4,220,400
90
Number of condo/townhome dwellings sold
8
Number of condo/ townhouse units sold
$302,500 $269,000
Median sales price of condo/townhome dwellings sold
Median sales price of condo/ townhouse units sold
$2,188,900
Total sales volume of condo/ townhouse units sold SOURCE: SOUTH TAHOE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS MLS
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LAKE TAHOE HOME | JUNE 2016
SOURCE: NORTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL MLS
*All the MLS information on this page is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.
Total sales volume of singlefamily homes sold
Timeless Architecture Dennis E. Zirbel, Architect now offers full Interior Design services, allowing us to meet more of your design needs and to make your project move smoother. Our mission is to deliver beautiful living spaces our clients will enjoy for years to come that reflect their personal lifestyles, tastes and dreams. Designing stylish, lasting environments of refined comfort and functional elegance that speak to the architecture of the home and its surroundings is our commitment and passion. For furnishings and other home decor, we are pleased to extend our Trade Discount to our clients whenever possible.
Services: • Interior Design • Space Planning • Finishes, Furnishings & Lighting Selections • Art & Decor Selections • Custom Window Treatments • Color Consultation • Kitchen & Bath Design • Project Management
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A snapshot of real estate sales and activity from the Tahoe region's four main markets in April 2016
TRUCKEE & LAKE TAHOE (CA)
INCLINE VILLAGE/ CRYSTAL BAY (NV)
12
130
Number of single-family homes sold
Number of single-family homes, condos and other listings sold
Median prices of single-family homes sold by market:
$622,000 $679,000 $875,000 $1,882,500 $550,000 $615,100 $535,875
$1,030,500
Median sales price of singlefamily homes sold
NORTH SHORE
$2,350,000
WEST SHORE
Highest-sold single-family home price
NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA
TRUCKEE TAHOE DONNER OUT OF AREA/ SIERRA COUNTY
$92,763,540
Total volume of sales of all dwellings in this region SOURCE: TAHOE SIERRA BOARD OF REALTORS MLS
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LAKE TAHOE HOME | JUNE 2016
15
Number of condo/planned unit developments sold
$447,500
Median sales price of condo/ PUDs sold
$2,700,000
Highest-sold condo/PUD price SOURCE: INCLINE VILL AGE BOARD OF REALTORS MLS
*All the MLS information on this page is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.
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SIERRA SPOTLIGHT
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
Luxury locale South Lake Tahoe’s Zalanta offering high-end condominiums within steps of Heavenly and the state line by ADAM JENSEN
saw “location, location, location” is true, South Lake Tahoe’s Zalanta Resort at the Village development will fulfill all three caveats. The whole-ownership luxury condominium project on the California side of the state line broke ground in fall 2015 and is set to provide a full slate of
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LAKE TAHOE HOME | JUNE 2016
amenities within short reach of South Shore’s recreation and entertainment offerings. Zalanta’s location is less than a quarter mile from Stateline’s casinos, allows for a short walk to Heavenly Village and the Heavenly Gondola, and provides quick access to nearby Lakeside Beach. The property is designed to appeal to outdoor enthusiasts who
want to be at the center of activity at South Shore, and Zalanta’s location is key to its identity. “If Zalanta wasn’t exactly where it is, it wouldn’t be what it is,” said Mike Dunn, Chase International’s sales and listing agent for the property. The 30-unit property includes two-, three- and four-bedroom floor plans ranging from 1,185
A rendering shows the lobby at the underconstruction Zalanta Resort at the Village.
to 2,331 square feet. Units start at $895,000 and go up to $2.125 million. Construction on the first phase is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2017. “This will be the best place to stay in South Lake Tahoe,” Dunn said.
PHOTOS: ZALANTA RESORT AT THE VILLAGE
I
F T H E O L D R E A L E S TAT E
BY THE NUMBERS 2-BEDROOM UNITS • 6 floor plans • 1,185 to 1,731 square feet • 10 units per floor • Starting at $895,000
3-BEDROOM UNITS • 3 floor plans • 1,617 to 1,843 square feet • 4 units per floor • Starting at $1.35 million
4-BEDROOM UNITS • 1 floor plan • 2,331 square feet • 1 unit per floor
THIS WILL BE THE BEST PLACE TO STAY IN SOUTH LAKE TAHOE.” — MIKE DUNN,
• Starting at $1.95 million Visit zalanta.com to view floor plans, request reservations and to learn much, much more.
CHASE INTERNATIONAL
Zalanta features a “mountain modern” design that’s selective in its use of wood elements, and is very clean, open and airy, Dunn said. The response to the offering has “far exceeded the expectations.” “We are the first wholeownership luxury development in 30 years,” Dunn said. Zalanta will allow prospective second-home owners to forego the hassles of second-home ownership, like maintenance and snow removal, and provide for a truly carefree experience, said Lew Feldman, who represents Zalanta Resort LLC. The development is also unique in that so few new condominiums are available in the Lake Tahoe Basin. “If you want something other than an interval-ownership
product and want to be in the heart of South Lake, it can’t get any better than this,” Feldman said. Being able to park your car and not need it during your stay, while still having access to a wide variety of dining, entertainment and recreation, is increasingly among the demands of travel-savvy visitors, said Carol Chaplin, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. South Shore largely delivers a midmarket product, and Zalanta will add to the high-end options available, she added.
“It’s going to be gorgeous,” Chaplin said. “It’s a different product, it’s a completely different product. It just widens the range of potential visitor we can appeal to.” Reservations are currently being accepted to purchase units. A second phase including 60 additional units on the lakeside of the first phase of
TOP: Zalanta will offer a wide selection of amenities right outside of its front door at South Shore’s state line. ABOVE: A rendering shows how the inside of one of Zalanta’s suites may look.
development is planned and is tentatively schedule to break ground on May 1, 2017. “The feedback is ‘finally, Tahoe is doing this,’” Dunn said. JUNE 2016 | LAKE TAHOE HOME
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INSIDE HOME
BRIGHTEN UP Spruce your home up for the summer season by adding a little light to those dark rooms by AMELIA RICHMOND
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LAKE TAHOE HOME | JUNE 2016
Still, the house has glorious white walls - a luxury in Tahoe’s rental market. Three doors up the street, the walls of my boyfriend’s last house were 1970s chic, clad in cheap, dark pressboard paneling with wall-towall asbestos flooring. The new house is an undeniable upgrade. Whether a result of tree shade or dark “wood” paneling, many Tahoe homes could use more light. We consulted Lake Tahoe’s
top interior design and lighting experts for advice on how to brighten your house’s dark rooms. Inspired By Rembrandt Before resolving to brighten your room, first ensure the shadows aren’t actually an asset to your desired look. Nancy Jones of Jones Lighting Design in Incline Village recommends starting by looking at the lighting (not light fixtures)
Expansive living and dining areas like these create the potential for all sorts of fun lighting options. PHOTO: NATHANENRIQUEZ / DINALLO DESIGNS
D
E S P I T E M Y LOV E F O R
bright, airy spaces, I routinely find myself living in homes that leave light to be desired. Moving into my house on Tahoe City’s West Shore, I found the living room didn’t have a single wall or ceiling light. The same was true for the master bedroom, where the room’s lone window was conveniently blocked by the two-car garage.
• • •
summer C O M E M A K E YO U R M E M O R I E S T H I S
you like, and evaluating what it is that has made it successful. “Look at how your favorite artist uses light to create the balanced composition,” says Jones. “Maybe you prefer a dark room, but it’s just not balanced correctly.” “If you love artists like Rembrandt, you might just need to embrace the darkness and go for the drama,” she continues. “Paint your walls a deep, rich color - and accent or highlight the statement piece or pieces of the room.” Just Add Paint If, after some reflecting, you still find you are drawn to lighter spaces, designers have a bevy of tips to achieve the look. Jones recommends painting your walls, including the dark wood beams and ceilings, a light, reflective color, and choosing fabrics and finishes that are similar in tone or variations of the same light color. Then she suggests selecting accents in vibrant colors. Treat your flooring in a similar fashion. Consider refinishing or replacing dark flooring - or, if this isn’t within your budget or your lease agreement, use a light-colored area rug to brighten the space. Marcio Decker, principal designer and co-owner of Aspen Leaf Interiors in Truckee, recommends adding reflective surfaces to the space, such as paint with high sheen, mirrors and lighter ceilings, to assist with “bouncing” light around the room. Color Me Happy Home improvement legend Bob Vila has gone digital, and his website BobVila.com recommends limiting dark, saturated colors to a single wall, and painting the other walls a light, bright color. In an article titled “9 Color Mistakes Everyone Makes,” the DIY TV icon’s website cautions readers not
to get stuck thinking “white” means a lack of color. “Homeowners often pass on white paint when they are looking for color, thinking that their choices will be limited to pure white and creamy ecru. But what we think of as “white” today has grown to include a broad range of shades that incorporate hints of lavender, green, blue, and gray. If a pale hue is intriguing, include this color family in your search.” The same article advises homeowners to avoid matching furnishings to a wall color. Carla Aston, principal of Designed with Carla Aston, cautions, “Never paint your walls first and then try to add furnishings and fabrics that coordinate with that color. You should always start with the items that occupy a room, like a rug or sofa, and then choose a paint color that works with them.” I Love Lamp While wall paint may be out of reach for those with a lease, both renters and homeowners can benefit from thoughtful, layered lighting to brighten dark spaces. Jones recommends balancing soft, reflected light that is bouncing around the room with brighter accent lights to highlight the room’s art, architecture and furniture. “Reflected light is normally multidirectional and diffuse, like the output from table lamps with light colored lamp shades,” says Jones. “It fills in shadows and reduces contrast - an important component in making people and rooms look good.” To get reflected light into an evening space, Jones suggests trying to get light to bounce off the ceiling to softly fill in the darker spaces and add height to the ceiling. While dispersed light is a critical component in a room, Jones adds that too much diffused light can be
C H E C K O U T W H AT S C H A F F E R ’ S M I L L H A S TO O F F E R • • •
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To learn how you and your family can start building memories to last a lifetime, call 530.582.6964 or visit SCHAFFERSMILL.COM
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11
INSIDE HOME
EVEN ONE BULB THAT HAS 16 MILLION COLOR OPTIONS CAN CREATE A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF DRAMA AND FUN.” — NANCY JONES, JONES LIGHTING DESIGN
incredibly boring, like a hospital waiting room. She also cautions against glare, calling it “the enemy of visual comfort.” “Take a good look at what’s comfortable light for you and what’s creating discomfort,” says Jones. “Glare isn’t comfortable light. Edison-style light bulbs are very popular at the moment and can add visual excitement, but 12
LAKE TAHOE HOME | JUNE 2016
seeing too many bare bulbs can make for a disseminated scene.” ‘Drama And Fun’ Decker advocates for layered lighting. “Start with lights that create mood and spaces within the room, such as can lighting, directional art lights, task lights, pendants and chandeliers. Then layer in
floor lamps and table lamps.” The designers also suggest rethinking the bulbs in your existing fixtures and adding dimmers to enhance the room’s lighting. Swap light bulbs out for higher lumens can be one easy fix to brighten a space. CFLs and LEDs provide higher light output for the amount
Whether you’re dealing with a unique hallway transition (top left), an animalinspired lounge area (bottom left) or an open kitchen (right), it’s important to brighten things up a bit.
TOP LEFT & RIGHT PHOTOS: CATHERINE MACFEE INTERIOR DESIGN // INSET: PHOTO: ASPEN LEAF INTERIORS
BOB VILA’S 10 CLASSIC WAYS TO BRIGHTEN A DARK ROOM 1. Paint the Ceiling White 2. Limit Dark Colors to Accents 3. Lighten Your Window Treatments 4. Minimize Furniture 5. Lighten Dark Floors 6. Diffuse Lighting 7. Use Brighter Lightbulbs 8. Add a Mirror 9. Lighten Up on Accessories and Art 10. Swap in a Glass Door Learn more online: BobVila.com
of energy they use, making home both brighter and more energy efficient. According to Jones, lighting control is the easiest way to make your lighting more dynamic. “Having a licensed electrician add dimmers to all lights, including table lamps, will go a long way to setting an evening mood. Even inexpensive room controllers are now available; Lutron sells this great thing called a Pico for $15-$25.” Jones adds that color changing LED lights can make for an exciting environment. She recommends the Philips Hue products, which have recently come down in price. “Even one bulb that has 16 million color options can create a ridiculous amount of drama and fun,” she says.
Keep It Simple A minimalist approach to furniture and accessories can also help brighten a dark space. The writers at BobVila. com caution that big, heavy furniture can overwhelm a room and make it feel darker. They suggest looking for pieces with smooth, sleek lines and light legs, and opting for light, solid colors rather than bold or dark prints. Removing the clutter in a room is another key component of creating a bright and elegant space. Too much “stuff” crowds a room and makes it feel darker. Focus instead on limiting the things in your room to bright accessories with clean lines. To The Window To maximize the natural light in a dark room, designers recommend avoiding curtains and window treatments that block the light - though skipping shades or curtains altogether is not the best solution. Decker and Jones both recommend sheer curtains in light colors. “It could be that too much daylight is being pushed through windows into one area making the adjacent areas appear darker,” notes Jones. “Sheer window treatments will soften and diffuse the light, reducing the high contrast that can create stress.” Minimalist options like blinds and roman shades also work well in dark spaces. Finally, for those with the ability, Jones suggests adding new windows and skylights, or changing the front door to frosted or textural glass as effective ways to bring light and comfort into your home.
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264 VILL AGE ROAD | SUITE 104 | INCLINE VILL AGE, NV 775-831-3666 | INCLINEL AWGROUP.C OM JUNE 2016 | LAKE TAHOE HOME
13
Q&A
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH
Sierra Verde Home Design Center’s Pam Aaron by KEVIN MACMILLAN
S
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LAKE TAHOE HOME | JUNE 2016
for Sierra Verde Home Design Center, as well as the company’s staff are dedicated to coordinating your home design projects from start to finish. Below is more information about the company and its mountain home decorating, by way of a Q-and-A with Lake Tahoe Home: LAKE TAHOE HOME :
What is the most important advice you would give someone thinking of remodeling their Tahoe home this summer? SIERRA VERDE : Hire a professional. We can help you make great selections, give you the end result that you are dreaming about and keep the project on budget and on
time. We get a lot of do-it-yourself folks who try to transform their home on their own and don’t like the results. They come to us for help. They have a general idea of what they want their home to look like, but they need help getting every detail just right. We know the local resources better than any homeowner would, and we have time-tested subcontractors that we trust to implement our ideas. LTH : What are a few of the newest trends in 2016 in Interior Design that homeowners should consider when eyeing an upgrade? SV : We are big fans of timeless design rather than trends for the
Inside a recently remodeled Incline Village mountain home. Kitchen remodel by Sierra Land Investment. Custom furnishings by Sierra Verde Group.
moment. When you invest in a remodel or new furnishings, you want the look to last. Functional beauty and livable, family friendly spaces never go out of style. When you are looking at investing tens of thousands of dollars, you want it to be your dream home realized, not just beauty for a moment. We have a lot of people who come to us and say, ‘This is going to be our final home. This is our forever home.’ You want a design that lasts you the rest of your life.
PHOTO: JEN SCHMIDT PHOTOGRAPHY / SIERRA VERDE HOME DESIGN CENTER
IERRA VERDE HOME Design Center and its sister company, Sierra Land Investment, provide interior design, new construction and remodeling services in Incline Village, North Lake Tahoe and South Reno. In addition to furniture, flooring, lighting and accessories, the Sierra Verde showroom has a full gallery of Hunter Douglas window coverings, including customer favorites like Duette Honeycomb Shades, Silhouette Window Shadings, Luminette Privacy Sheers, and vignette Roman Shades. Pam Aaron, Owner and Designer of the Incline Villagebased company, started the business in 2002 from her home. She expanded to the current location within the Village Center at the corner of Southwood and Mays boulevards in 2008. Pam says she knew she needed to expand the business to a storefront in order to “give our clients the best value.” “By being a local gallery, we can offer our clients the best options so they don’t have to go to Reno. There’s a great place to shop right here,” she said. “We are a certified Hunter Douglas dealer with our own installer on staff. We also own our own delivery truck, so as soon as the products come in, we get them delivered right way. It’s an easy transition.” Pam has been in the business of interior design for over 30 years, and has experience in the Pheonix and Scottsdale, Arizona, markets, as well as the Reno area. She has been living in North Lake Tahoe since 2002. Pam and Rebecca Cary, Designer and Showroom Manager
IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU… LTH :
What do you like about home decor and interior design when it comes to mountain homes, versus those in lower-elevation areas? SV : We get to mix it up! We use clients’ collectibles and personal memorabilia to incorporate their personal style with the elements found in nature. We often use natural elements like wood, metal and stone to bring the outside in. There are definitely three distinctive design styles common at the Lake. You have your Traditional Tahoe home, the Mountain Modern home, and then the very Contemporary home. Mountain Modern is very popular right now, and Mountain Traditional will always be here because everyone wants their Tahoe home - it’s what a lot of people ask for. LTH :
On your website, one of your fresh ideas for 2016 is to infuse the color chocolate into a home. What makes the color chocolate such a bold choice? SV : It is a rich color and not one that most people gravitate toward. Part of what we do is get homeowners out of their comfort zone. Our clients see how adding even just one accent wall in a deeper color can impact the overall feel in a
room. They are always thankful for the extra encouragement when they see the end result. That’s the reason people hire Designers, because they want honest feedback, and they appreciate the collaborative process. A lot of times, clients will come in with very general ideas of what they want their home to feel like, and we get to put the pieces together. LTH : What’s your favorite area or section of a home to work on when it comes to renovating? SV : We do it all and we love it all, but updating a kitchen or bathroom makes the biggest impact on a home’s resale value. The master suite and the kitchen are the two biggest areas that buyers look at when first shopping for a home because that is where they will spend the majority of their time. We can help you decided what changes to make to turn an ordinary space into an extraordinary one!
Your Taste. Your Budget. Your Lifestyle.
Call today for your complimentary consultation. KRISTEN FENCL , CID 775-250 -1426 | k fen@att.net kristenf.decoratingden.com
DECORATING DEN INTERIORS ®
INTERIOR DECORATING I REMODELING I FLOORING I WINDOW DESIGN I LIGHTING
To learn more about Sierra Verde Home Design Center, visit www.sierraverdegroup.com or call the store at 775-831-2204. Inside the same home, a hand-carved custom Ottoman from a local craftsman adorns the interior.
JUNE 2016 | LAKE TAHOE HOME
15
Bear
BEYOND THE
by Amelia Richmond
W
E LOVE OUR Tahoe homes nestled among alpine peaks, forests and waters, and we want our house to reflect the region’s natural beauty. To be a timeless place that inspires us to adventure and welcomes us back to the hearth. In short, to feel “mountain-y.” But how do we capture the mountain aesthetic in our homes? The easiest answer has long been to “put a bear on it.”
Look around cabins at Tahoe-Truckee, and you will find bears for every job. Bears welcome guests at the front door, hold coats in the entryway and store wine bottles in the kitchen. They adorn pillows, rugs, bedspreads, blankets and mantles. There is nothing wrong with bear figurines and pine cone finials, but for those seeking a more modern design, is it possible to leave the bears outside and still feel at home in the mountains? We asked interior design experts for tips on how to achieve a mountain look and feel without the cute kitsch.
Bring Nature In “The first step is to understand the environment surrounding the house,” advises Justine Macfee, creative director at Catherine Macfee Interior Design in Truckee. “By bringing in elements that reflect the home’s natural surroundings, such as stonework, great wood textures or fun branches, you can create an instant feeling of being in the mountains.” Marcio Decker, principal designer and co-owner of Aspen Leaf Interiors in Truckee, also advises bringing natural elements into the environment if you want to feel like you’re in a mountain home. “I like to bring in stumps and tables with a live edge, as well use metals like steel, copper and rust, rustic materials that have a rugged look to them,” Decker offers. Elisa DiNallo, principal at DiNallo Designs in Truckee, says, “Rustic can be perceived in a lot of different ways. It doesn’t have to be bears and canoes.”
She advises homeowners to bring the outdoors in by using organic, natural elements key to achieving a mountain feel. Focusing on specific design elements to reflect the mountain aesthetic, DiNallo points to metal, lots of wood, exposed beams, natural stone, earth tones, abstract designs and white walls with contrasting beams. And she is quick to clarify that earth tones can encompass a broad range of colors. “Earth tones aren’t just beige. You can have earthy oranges, rusts and reds, blues and greens. Use colors to bring the outdoors in.”
PHOTO: CATHERINE MACFEE INTERIOR DESIGN
CAN MOUNTAIN HOMES AT TRUCKEE AND LAKE TAHOE BE RUSTIC WITHOUT THE KITSCH?
Choose Texture Macfee advises taking existing architecture into account before deciding what design elements to adopt. “If there is already a lot of wood, bring in cooler hues. If not, work on bringing in warmth through wood pieces, pattern and texture.” Decker emphasizes the role of textiles in a mountain home. “Textiles are very important, they can also tell a story,” he says. “Choose textiles with a high pile that resemble fur and are comfortable. Same thing with rugs, you want to bring some elements with the rug that invoke nature in color, texture, pattern.” To create texture, DiNallo loves using wool and natural fibers in mountain homes. “Natural fibers already have a more textured look and feel, you don’t have to do much. “
Play At Whimsy Asked what she sees working well in mountain homes, Macfee points to eclectic textures and tribal patterns, such as those found in Native American and Morrocan cultures, as well as an overall sense of playfulness and whimsy. She looks for accessories with a sense of space, such as cool bookends, neat
JUNE 2016 | LAKE TAHOE HOME
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— MARCIO DECKER, ASPEN LEAF INTERIORS
“I like throwing a little vintage in, even in more modern designs. It brings the room down to earth - grounds it.” DiNallo combs through antique stores, salvage yards and import shops to find unique objects for homes. When it comes to art, DiNallo gravitates toward abstract art reminiscent of the mountains or trees, rather than more literal representations - an approach that can be applied to the bear concept at large.
Still Want A Bear? If you still want a bear, take DiNallo’s advice and look for ones that aren’t typical, adding she once found a large, handsome leather bear that she loved. Macfee similarly recommends looking for unique versions of bears, if you want to go down that road - such as a European version of a bear carved from wood from Germany’s Black Forest. Though if you really love cute kitsch and bear accessories, she says to have at it. “At the end of the day, surround yourself with things you love.”
PHOTO: ASPEN LEAF INTERIORS
rocks or crystals that can be brought inside and used in fun ways. Rather than bears, Macfee likes to use vintage skis, antlers and beautiful mounts, snowshoes, sleds or old farm tools. But don’t reach for the cabin catalogue just yet. “You have to find the real thing. Look for the vintage, salvaged, or found items with a patina of age, these things are not necessarily expensive items. Check out eBay, Craigslist, Chairish or Etsy. The key is to know what you are looking for.” Macfee also recommends establishing a collection of things, advising clients to think in terms of collections rather than themes. DiNallo has a passion for incorporating found objects in the homes she designs.
IF THERE IS ALREADY A LOT OF WOOD, BRING IN COOLER HUES.”
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Design Tips FOR THE MODERN M O U N TA I N H O M E : 1. Bring the outdoors in using wood, natural stone, earth tones and rustic-looking metals. 2. Create texture by choosing fabrics with natural fibers and high pile. 3. Create a sense of playfulness and whimsy by choosing bold, abstract patterns rather than literal interpretations. 4. Decorate with vintage items by looking for old and unique items, rather than reproduced accessories.
RIGHT PHOTO: SCOTT THOMPSON / SCOTTSHOTSPHOTO.COM // TOP PHOTO: CATHERINE MACFEE INTERIOR DESIGN
5. Surround yourself with things you love.
TAHOE TRENDS
An example of an ecological landscape.
GARDENS GIVE BACK When it comes to gardening around your mountain home, experts advise using native vegetation
A
GARDEN CAN NOT
only boost curb appeal to a mountain home, but if native vegetation is incorporated, it can be an asset to the local environment and wildlife. Native plants are those that occur naturally in a particular region or habitat without any human intervention. As a result, they have co-evolved with animals, fungi and bacteria to form a complex network of relationships. “Many native insect species cannot transfer to nonnative plants; they have to have the
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native plants,” said Ellen Zagory, director of horticulture for UC Davis Arboretum. “The more we put in nonnative (vegetation) in our yards instead of natives ... you are actually shrinking habitat.” The loss of these plants, which provide nectar, pollen and seeds that serve as food for native animals, can have ramifications to an ecological system. “As you remove (natural) landscapes, habitat disappears, and loss of habitat can result in extinction,” Zagory said. “Sometimes certain insects will only go to certain plants, then, if there’s a shift in the environment
that’s dramatic, the loss of that one species can cause a cascade basically of extinction.” For instance, the loss of that plant impacts the livelihood of the insect that dependents on it, which in turn impacts other animals that depend on the insect as a food source and/or their environmental contributions such as pollination services. All About Adaptation With the human population continuing to grow and spread out, and in turn shrinking and altering natural landscapes, wildlife is becoming increasingly dependent
on conservation areas and urban and suburban gardens, Zagory said. “Even in a place like this, surrounded by forests, I realized that after being here a number of times, there’s a lot of houses up in those forests, with yards that have been landscaped,” she said. “Taking out the natural vegetation and putting in different vegetation, it does have an affect.” To help offset this impact, Zagory suggests incorporating native vegetation - everything from trees, perennials and shrubs - in one’s landscape. In addition, since they are native to the area, once they are
PHOTOS: ELLEN ZAGORY / UC DAVIS
by MARGARET MORAN
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EIGHT TAHOE NATIVES: White fir (tree) Ponderosa pine (tree) Mt. alder (shrub)
Yori, owner of High Sierra Gardens in Incline Village, a North Lake Tahoe nursery that specializes in many species of plants and flowers. “ ... They are easily adaptable to our climate because they’re highaltitude plant material.”
Scouler’s willow (shrub) Columbine (perennials) Bleeding heart (perennials) Phlox (ground cover) Manzanita (ground cover) Note: This is only a brief list of Tahoe native vegetation, courtesy of High Sierra Gardens. To learn more about landscaping at Lake Tahoe, and what kinds of vegetation make sense, check out the University of Nevada, Reno Cooperative Extension’s “Home Landscaping Guide” here: bit.ly/1SO235d
TOP: As seen, native flowers can attract bees.
ABOVE: Native flowers can attract butterflies as well.
established, they are lower maintenance, requiring less water and little to no fertilizer and pesticides, according to the California Native Plant Society. “They will survive up here because they are already adaptable to the area; it’s all about adaptation,” said Dan
The Decorative Element However, both Yori and Zagory are not adverse to adding nonnative plants into landscapes. In fact, they are in favor of the practice, as it can add diversity and visual interest. “The landscapes in the areas around our homes, we treat them like the external version of interior decorating, except it’s our external decorating,” Zagory said. As for what nonnative plants to select, Yori said: “It’s all about texture and taste and design of what people want.” However, Zagory recommends making native plants the first choice when trying to add artistic touches and color to an arrangement. “When we put plants in the ground and design landscapes, putting in rocks and streams and beautiful things, it’s the plants that are really connecting that landscape to all of the wildlife in the world around us,” she said. “It creates links with insects, birds, mammals, fungi and bacteria.” For those who are new to the area or gardening, Yori recommends visiting a local nursery before planting. “There’s a lot of different things that you need to incorporate into your (design) plan,” he said. “You’re not just going to come here and grab something because it looks pretty; you got to know where to put it, how to put it. There’s sun location, there’s snow loads you got to take into consideration.” Zagory added: “It’s the right thing to do, to do a good job. Then everybody else goes, ‘Oh, I’m going to do that, too,’ and that’s how change happens.”
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*Manufacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for qualifying purchases made 4/12/16 – 6/27/16 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. A qualifying purchase is defined as a purchase of any of the product models set forth above in the quantities set forth above. If you purchase less than the specified quantity, you will not be entitled to a rebate. Offer excludes Nantucket™ Window Shadings, a collection of Silhouette® Window Shadings. Rebate will be issued in the form of a prepaid reward card and mailed within 6 weeks of rebate claim receipt. Funds do not expire. Subject to applicable law, a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 7 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. Additional limitations may apply. Ask participating dealer for details and rebate form. © 2016 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners.
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SIERRA FUN
The Golf Club at Gray’s Crossing, located in Truckee, is an especially slope-filled course, as seen here on hole No. 15.
TIPS FOR TAHOE GOLF
So, you’re a golfer looking to really embrace the mountain lifestyle ... here are some words of wisdom from some of Tahoe’s best courses and pros by KALEB M. ROEDEL
T
10 PERCENT RULE . For some golfers, this rule is wired into their psyche as they line up their shots - off the tee, from the fairway, or in the bunker - on high-altitude courses. Courses like the rolling green links tucked into the Sierra Nevada mountain ranges encompassing Lake Tahoe. For others, especially those who’ve honed their skills at sea level and are taking their first swings at Tahoe, this rule may be a foreign concept. But once that small white sphere coming off the end of your club cuts through the crisp mountain air farther than anticipated - perhaps
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LAKE TAHOE HOME | JUNE 2016
plunging into a water hazard - you’ll know all too well the meaning of the 10 percent rule. Simply put, “On average, most players realize about a 10 percent gain in yardage up here because of the thin air,” said Tony Nadeau, PGA professional at Martis Camp, an award-winning Tom Fazio golf course nestled between Truckee and Lake Tahoe. This bump in yardage is due to the dimples of a golf ball having little moisture to catch and react to in high altitudes. Meaning, “a golf ball doesn’t spin as much in mountain air,” said Travis Alley, director of golf at Old Greenwood and The Golf Club at
Gray’s Crossing in Truckee. “What we always tell a golfer coming from sea level to the mountains to play is, ‘10 percent difference is a really good starting point.’” Keyword: starting point. After all, the gain a golfer sees in his or her yardage, Nadeau said, also depends on a player’s “ball flight” - in other words, whether they’re prone to hit the ball at a low or high trajectory. “Guys who hit it really high might get 12 to 15 percent (gain),” said Nadeau, offering examples. “With a sand wedge, you might go from your average of 100 yards to 110-115. Driver, you could go from 250 yards to 275 or even 300.
Ball position: The wedges and short irons should be played with a ball position in the center portion of your stance. The mid-irons should be played with the ball slightly forward of center (about 1-2 ball widths). Long irons and fairway woods should be played with the ball about 2-3 ball widths forward of center. Attack angle: The club must return to the ball with a descending strike, creating minimal spin and penetrating flight. Centerness of contact: Finding the center of the club each times will create consistency. Arm speed: From the top of the swing, the arms needs to be in rhythm with the rotation of the golf swing to the finish. The player who can control the flight of each shot has the same arm speed with a wedge and a driver
PHOTO: MARTIN MILLER
RARIFIED AIR
A high ball flight in thin air makes controlling your distances difficult. In order to control your trajectory, keep these elements in mind with each shot.
JARVIS PHOTOGRAPHY
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Preserve History Thunderbird’s Flagship and Castle Club members are the keepers of Lake Tahoe’s rich heritage. Together, they protect, share, and inspire curiosity, appreciation, and understanding for Lake Tahoe’s art, history, and environment…and they have a lot of fun too! Programs, events, wine dinners, and special privileges. The gem of the lake never disappoints!
PHOTO BY LAUREN ARENDS
PHOTO BY LAUREN ARENDS
hunderbird Lodge may seem like just another beautiful estate on a stunning lake, but their vision—and future—is much greater. In the past 10 years, they have managed to preserve the late George Whittell’s Lake Tahoe residence and his prized Thunderbird yacht. Through public tours, charitable contributions in any amount, educational programs, exclusive corporate and social events, and
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a coveted membership program, Thunderbird Lake Tahoe is a global model for historic preservation. As a result, they will soon launch one of the nation’s first digital museums: showcasing on-line their entire collection of Lake Tahoe art, photographs, artifacts, films, and historic documents to researchers and audiences worldwide. More than 25,000 items will capture the lake’s cultural and
environmental history. In parallel, they continue to develop children’s history education programs as well as horticultural, art, culinary and leadership events for individuals and corporations. Presidents, celebrities, titans of industry, and icons have visited Thunderbird Lodge. Many important decisions, strategic roadmaps, and yes, nuptials have been signed and sealed at Thunderbird. It is said
that Lake Tahoe is a spiritual place … and so the gem of the lake continues to inspire. The future of the Thunderbird Lodge is intimately tied to the past— Native American heritage, Anglo settlement, mining, lumbering, maritime history, rusticating, gaming, conservation, and more. Through the intersection of the two, Thunderbird will continue to portray Lake Tahoe’s story for generations to come.
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“That makes a big difference as they play these mountain golf courses that also have changes in elevation in them.” Indeed, the mountainous golf courses at Tahoe-Truckee not only treat golfers to crisp thin air, but also myriad challenging uphill and downhill shots. This factor makes club selection all the more important, said Jarrett Bower, PGA professional at Coyote Moon Golf Course in Truckee. “Most people are familiar with playing down in flatlands,” Bower said. “Playing our courses, there are a lot of elevated tees and elevated greens. “It all ties into club selection. If people are standing on our signature Par-3 hole (No. 13), it’s downhill and drops off about 100 feet. They’re having to factor in what the drop-in is and what club they should use with the elevation we’re at here.”
PHOTO: TRAVIS ALLEY
SIERRA FUN
Ian Winters shoots from the fairway on hole No. 2 at Old Greenwood in Truckee.
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LAKE TAHOE HOME | JUNE 2016
IT ALL TIES INTO CLUB SELECTION.”
HAND
— JARRETT BOWER PGA PRO, COYOTE MOON GOLF COURSE
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PHOTO: JOHN BONCEK
Keith Lyford, director of instruction at The Golf Academy at Old Greenwood, teaches golfers the proper grip on a club during a lesson.
The Right Fit Speaking of clubs, if you don’t want your handicap to elevate while playing on Tahoe terrain, you should get fitted for clubs, according to PGA pros at Tahoe. With the use of launch monitors, such as Trackman or FlightScope, golfers can measure their ball launch, ball flight and club delivery in great detail, tailoring the club to their needs. “It fits people into the proper shaft and the proper head,” said Chris Holmes, PGA professional at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline. “It’s what most people should
be doing instead of buying something off the rack.” For Brian Eilders - who does fittings for Titleist and is a PGA professional at Old Brockway Golf Course in Kings Beach - playing with unfitted clubs hinders a golfer from swinging his or her club with solace. “It’d be like being in a car and not being able to adjust the car seat - that car’s going to be a pain to drive,” Eilders said. “There’s so many things that go into having the club—the right length, the right weight, the right loft ... having the club fit to you is very important.”
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TASTE OF TAHOE
DIVINE WINE Looking to throw a party at your mountain home this summer? Make sure you have the right tools for the right drink by LAKE TAHOE HOME
I
F YOU ’ RE PLANNING A
party this summer at Lake Tahoe, the way you approach various things like decorations, appetizers and party favors will differ if you’re thinking of an indoor get-together versus one outside your mountain home. However, there’s at least one thing you’ll want to plan on providing your guests that, if done the right way, won’t matter either way: wine. These days, with Sonoma and Napa only a few hours away, the vino variations found throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin are truly endless. And
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LAKE TAHOE HOME | JUNE 2016
whether you’re a fan of red or white, it’s important to know the best way to serve your guests all the wonderful variations. While it’s true any wine glass will allow you to enjoy the drink regardless of its shape, the right glass will bring out the best aromas, flavors and textures. All wine glasses are built with the specific goal of allowing the wine drinker to enjoy the special properties of a particular type of wine. Today, almost all wine glasses have a stem of some length separating the base from the bowl. Stemless wineglasses are
more of a modern aesthetic than a functional design. The stem allows you to hold your wine glass without warming the wine with the heat of your hand and without creating smudges on the bowl that will distract from the visual brilliance and look of the wine. With this in mind, Lake Tahoe Home magazine did a little digging in our Tahoe Magazine archives, along with information from the folks at basic-wine-knowledge.com, to provide the following helpful guide to make sure you have the right tools for the right drink.
If you’re hosting a summer party at Lake Tahoe, make sure your wine savvy is up to snuff.
Wine Glass Shapes and Sizes All good wine glasses will direct the wine to the part of your mouth where its flavor will be most enjoyed. The glasses’ shapes helps capture and distribute wine’s aroma toward your mouth and nose. In all types of wine glasses, the bowl must allow you to swirl the wine, aerating it so the aroma can be released. Swirling your wine is not just to show off, it really serves an important purpose.
Wine glass designs vary in size, precise shape, length and volume, but in general, these are the rules that decide their design. Red Wine A red wine glass bowl will be fuller and rounder with a larger opening to allow you to dip your nose into the glass and sniff the wine. The complex aromas and flavors of red wine demand a glass with a larger area for the wine to contact more air. Red wines will usually grow smoother as they aerate, this is why a decanter is often used for red wines. Several hours of decanting or an open bottle can soften a red wine for those who do not like the harsh spices and tannins but it can also ruin a red wine for those who like them fresh. For red wine, you may want both a Bordeaux and a Burgundy glass. A Bordeaux glass is taller but the bowl is not as large. It is designed for full bodied, heavier red wines such as Cabernets and Merlots. The tallness of the glass allows the wine to proceed directly to the back of the mouth to maximize its flavor. A Burgundy glass is for lighter, full bodied wines such as Pinot Noir.
It is not as tall, but the bowl is larger than the Bordeaux glass, directing the wine to the tip of the tongue to taste its more delicate flavors. White Wine A white wine glass bowl will be more U-shaped, allowing the aromas to be released while also maintaining a cooler temperature. For white wine, you may also want two types of wine glasses, one for younger, crisp whites and one for more mature, fuller whites. A fruity white wine glass is for younger whites and has a slightly larger opening directing the wine to the tip and sides of the tongue to taste its sweetness. The regular white wine glass for more mature whites will be straighter and taller to throw the wine to the back and sides of the tongue to taste its bolder, often more tart flavors. Rose or blush wines often come in various types of glasses depending on the method used to create it. Rose wine is usually a lightly crushed red grape such as Zinfandel or can also be a mixture of red and white, though this is highly frowned upon in the industry. Another method of extracting the “pink” from a red wine is
WINE AND TAHOE GO HAND IN HAND Looking for a fun wine-inspired adventure this month? Check out the annual Tahoe City Wine Walk, scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. June 18, rain or shine, in downtown Tahoe City. Sip, shop and explore Tahoe City along its scenic, lakeside sidewalks while tasting wines and sampling delicious morsels from acclaimed Lake Tahoe restaurants and caterers. Tickets for adult sippers are $40 before the event, or $50 day of. And what’s more, $20 tickets are available for designated drivers who want to experience the walk and shop portion of this popular North Lake Tahoe tradition. Visit tahoecitywinewalk.com to learn all the details and to buy your tickets today!
Using the right glass for the right wine will bring out the best aromas, flavors and textures.
A white wine glass bowl is more U-shaped.
used to create a blush while intensifying the original red wine. A sparkling wine glass (or flute) will be upright and more narrow to retain the carbonation and capture the flavor in the beverage. Sparkling wine, or champagne, glasses are also used specifically to show off bubbles. Dessert Wine A dessert wine glass should be smaller to direct the wine to the back of the mouth so the sweetness doesn’t overwhelm. Dessert wines generally have a higher alcohol content, making the small glass perfect for a smaller serving. The shape will often vary for ports, sherries and the larger sauternes glasses. All-Purpose An all-purpose glass is a cross between a white wine glass and bordeaux glass, but will tend to be larger. This is the best option for someone who just wants one set of glasses for reds, whites and roses. Glass Choice The best and most practical wine glass will be made with crystal or thin glass. As mentioned, designs vary so pick what suits your fancy and what you think you’ll actually use. And don’t forget those great wine charms for your next get-together. JUNE 2016 | LAKE TAHOE HOME
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BEYOND THE BEAR, INDEED!
We told you that Lake Tahoe homes and bears go hand in hand. This beautiful black bear was wandering around the Blue Lake Avenue neighborhood in South Lake Tahoe in mid-May, looking for something to do. He apparently didn’t care much for this home’s bear-inspired welcome sign, though..
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LAKE TAHOE HOME | JUNE 2016
PHOTO BY FRANK ROBINSON. CHECK OUT MORE OF FRANK’S LAKE TAHOE PHOTOGRAPHY HERE: FRANKROBINSON.PHOTOGRAPHY
Sierra Verde Group 797 Southwood Blvd Ste 4 Incline Village, NV M-F: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Sat: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm VILLAGE CENTER Lower Level 775-831-2204 www.sierraverdegroup.com ~B
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* Manufacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for qualifying purchases made 4/12/16 – 6/27/16 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. Rebate will be issued in the form of a prepaid reward card and mailed within 6 weeks of rebate claim receipt. Funds do not expire. Subject to applicable law, a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 7 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. Additional limitations may apply. Ask participating dealer for details and rebate form. ©2016 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners.2517698
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