Designer Forum: A hotel design blends materials for rusticity and elegance – January 2025

By Lea Wilson

The Incline Lodge is the first luxury boutique hotel on Lake Tahoe’s North Shore. With a concept focused on curating memorable experiences for any explorer, the property underwent a complete upgrade to accommodate modern conveniences while retaining the mountain charm of Lake Tahoe. During the project, the OneStudio D+A team formed a close bond with the property’s owners, Ali and Natasha Warner.

The Warners’ hands-on involvement and dedication to a successful design created an atmosphere of trust and camaraderie, which became a cornerstone of the project’s success-helping it garner the Commercial Real Estate Development Association’s (NAIOP) Hospitality Tenant Improvement of the Year Award and the American Society of Interior Designers’ (ASID) ANDYZ Award for Hospitality, as well as a finalist spot in Boutique Design’s Gold Key Awards and recognition by Travel + Leisure as one of Tahoe’s best hotels.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The young owners wanted to share their love of the region and create a launching point for any traveler’s adventures. While exterior improvements and modifications were limited by the local jurisdictions, the design team was able to update the exterior palette, refinish existing log fascia, add complementary log railings, improve lighting and update the landscaping.

Inside, the design team’s primary considerations were durability and aesthetics. Lake Tahoe is a world-class travel destination with a demanding climate that experiences dramatic seasonal changes. It was essential to select robust flooring that could withstand wear-and-tear while aligning with the property’s modern mountain design aesthetic and meet guests’ high expectations.

The hotel property, built in the1960s, first needed to be adapted to meet current accessibility requirements. With the additional goal of maintaining as many of the existing room configurations as possible, space planning became crucial for the overall guest experience and the project’s success. This challenge reinforced the importance of balancing historic preservation with modern upgrades, which will inform the team’s approach to similar projects in the future.

The lobby was relocated to the ground floor of the hotel, in what was originally three guestrooms. Previously ADA-compliant rooms were updated, and an accessible path was created to the new guest lounge and pool, which was not previously wheelchair accessible.

A new amenity for the property, the lobby provides a gathering spot that acts as both a coffee/wine bar and a concierge lounge. It includes an interior wood ceiling, rustic walls in the Tahoe timber vibe and picture windows that look out at evergreen trees. Metal details at the bar area provide a more elevated aesthetic. The fireplace was clad in a thin-brick stone veneer to emulate a classic mountain lodge and create a warm central gathering spot. The soft and inviting furnishings hint at a Nordic escape, and an interactive custom metal map inspires guests to explore the local outdoor adventures.

Capturing the warmth of real wood was critical in the lobby, as it is the guests’ first impression of this mountain retreat. The team selected a durable coated hardwood from Smartwood designed to perform in high-traffic areas and withstand Lake Tahoe’s dramatic seasonal changes. Area rugs were strategically used to define seating zones and create visual organization while also providing an acoustic buffer to soften sounds from the hard flooring surfaces.

While the lobby is bright and fresh, the new lounge, formerly the fitness area, is its dark and moody brother. It required a unique design solution to remedy the low existing ceiling heights. The team installed Shaw LVT in dark tones as both a floor and ceiling treatment. The ceilient pattern features a brass-inlay look, which adds a sense of richness to the space, elevating the overall design. In addition, the beams were finished in a warm wood tone, and bronze metal reveals were added so that the ceiling became a unique design element.

The lounge’s design is refined with luxurious finishes and fabrics, cozy banquettes and a dimensional centralized fireplace. The bar features custom shelving and a wine display, and the meeting area easily converts to accommodate many functions.

SECONDARY SPACES
The largest transformation was in the guestrooms. By removing dividing walls, adding air conditioning and expanding bathrooms, the guest experience was reimagined. Inspired by the year-round local sports, the new aesthetic evokes a modern ski chalet. Custom-designed casegoods, playfully curated artwork and the unique finish palette are timeless and comforting.

For the guestrooms and basement, OneStudio D+A opted for LVT due to its durability, ease of maintenance and ability to emulate natural materials, ultimately selecting Second Home Wood from Mohawk Group and Cut from Shaw Contract. Tahoe guests are adventure-seekers, often returning with snow-covered gear, dirty boots and beach towels-remnants of a perfect day outdoors. LVT’s resilience in these conditions makes it an ideal choice for spaces with heavy wear-and-tear.

Additionally, sound control was a key consideration during the renovation. To address this, the team installed inset carpet tile under the beds in most guestrooms; Patcraft’s Composed Layer added a residential feel while also absorbing sound. LVT was paired with a high-performance, sound-absorbing underlayment in the rest of the guestroom floors, effectively mitigating noise between spaces.

The choice of carpet in the corridors and stairwells was driven by the need to balance comfort, acoustics and aesthetics with durability for high-traffic areas. The team selected a high-performance carpet from Shaw Contract, called Edition, which provides a warm, inviting feel while ensuring long-term performance and resilience.

Tile from Bedrosians, Daltile and TileBar was used strategically to enhance various spaces and create a sense of luxury, texture and visual interest. In the guestrooms, large-scale subway tile in a vertical stack adds height, while pebble-look mosaics on the shower pan introduce a peaceful, biophilic touch.

The existing pool was dark and scary, but by adding perimeter and recessed lighting, a light-colored floor deck, sparkling stone walls and inviting furnishings, the space was transformed into a tranquil wellness retreat. The existing concrete was refinished with a light color that brightens and vitalizes the space, and a thin stone veneer was applied at the walls for a rustic yet modern touch.

The Incline Lodge transformation stands out for its thoughtful balance of modern luxury and mountain charm. The design successfully retains the property’s history while introducing elevated materials and amenities that cater to Lake Tahoe’s explorers. The resultant awards recognize OneStudio D+A’s ability to deliver a cohesive, high-quality experience that reflects the unique spirit of the region.

Copyright 2025 Floor Focus

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