4 min readWith the holidays coming up, San Francisco–based designer Noz Nozawa sought a Lake Tahoe rental for a New Year’s Eve getaway with some friends. But when she tried to book a few months out, “Everything left was dumpy, sad—and overpriced,” Nozawa says. Not eager to spend a weekend in those conditions, “I went to Zillow instead.”
There, she found a neglected 1970s cabin that had been on the market for six months. “The bathrooms were horrifying, and the kitchen was the worst thing I’d ever seen, which is an interior designer’s dream come true,” Nozawa says. She and her husband leveraged the home’s outdated interiors and long listing time to score a quick closing, but didn’t rush into the redesign. “We had to wait to figure out what the heck we wanted, identify budget, and find the right contractor,” she explains. She ended up breaking the project into three phases over the next five years.
Phase one comprised the primary bath and kitchen, where ventilation was so bad that the pair once made fajitas by warming a cast-iron pan in the oven and then running it out to the deck to cook the meat. More problematic for a couple who love to host was the room’s constricting peninsula island, which closed the space off to foot traffic. Nozawa nixed it, allowing easier access to the stove and sink, but kept a pony wall that keeps the kitchen visually connected to the great room. “We personalized the cabin layout to our vision of how we want to host but also, very specifically, to the friends that we knew we would host there,” the designer explains.
That vision extends to the airy great room, where she preserved the fireplace and rafters, then installed party-ready furniture, including the “Convotatsu” (a hybrid of a ’70s conversation pit and a Japanese kotatsu, a low table warmed by a space heater) she designed for the House Beautiful 2020 Whole Home and decided to keep. “I wanted it to connote coziness,” she says.
The basement, completed in phase two, ups the coziness with a reading nook surrounded by built-in bookcases. In phase three, a third “secret” bathroom was added to the basement. Now, between the sleeping nook, primary bedroom, guest room, and bunk room, the cabin sleeps 10.
As for that initial New Year’s? “We had mattresses on the floor, a couch, a table, and chairs,” Nozawa recalls. “Somehow, this cockamamie idea I had to host New Year’s in Tahoe ended up coming true.” As it turns out, it would be the first of many celebrations to come.
MUDROOM
A log cabin-inspired chandelier channels lakeside energy from the start.
Nozawa gave the original built-in pine bench and cabinet doors a backdrop of Maryville Brown paint by Benjamin Moore. Cabin touches, like a quilt-inspired rug, create a rustic vibe.
GREAT ROOM
Valuted ceilings add an airy atmosphere to the home’s do-it-all space.
The mantel is hand-painted with a folk art motif. The trophy “deer” is really art by Chase Halland of Faraway Lovely.
DINING NOOK
A custom table with integrated benches seats a crowd.
Noz Nozawa designed this Japanese-inspired conversation pit, suited to playing host to the constant crowds that find their way to the lakehouse.
KITCHEN
Two-tone cabinets bring drama to the open culinary space.
In this culinary corner, which is part of the great room, the BlueStar range is a vibrant burnt-orange hue, custom-mixed for Nozawa.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
A string globe pendant adds interest without visual weight.
Nozawa designed this quilt from remnants of Christopher Farr fabric.
BUNK ROOM
A classic buffalo check plaid brings the charm.
Nozawa’s husband’s childhood bunk bed got a fresh look with Martha Stewart bedding.
GUEST ROOM
A sunny yellow hue creates a cheerful retreat for visitors.
Wall art includes Japanese woodblock prints and a piece from when Nozawa worked at Ralph Lauren’s Philadelphia store.
SLEEPING NOOK
Ample shelving holds plenty of books for vacation-ready reading.
Another Nozawa custom special, this cozy corner is part reading nook, part guest room.
PRIMARY BATHROOM
A unique border draws the eye up to the vaulted ceilings.
An “obsession” with Bavarian cuckoo clocks inspired the decorative paint by artist Caroline Lizarraga that surrounds the top of the shower. A statement chandelier brings more glamour to the room.
GUEST BATHROOM
Custom checkered tile repeats a motif seen throughout the rest of the home.
“I’ve been in love with buffalo check for years,” Nozawa says of this custom pattern, which she created using Fireclay tiles.
EXTERIOR
An expansive back deck makes the most of the home’s rustic surroundings.
“We fell in love with the windows,” Nozawa says. She bought the wood bear on the railing along with the 1972 house.
About the Designer
Noz Design is a full-service interior design firm based in San Francisco, serving clients on residential, hospitality, and retail projects throughout the Bay Area, Lake Tahoe, New York City, and beyond. With a focus on spaces that feel narrative and collected over time, Noz Design creates effortlessly eclectic, thoughtful homes that not only reflect our dwellers' lifestyles and life stories, but also mind a space's functionality and a project's budget.
