Fresh Take on a Classic: A Log Cabin’s Western Vernacular and Modern Edge

Architect Ryan Marsden reimagines the traditional.

February 17, 2026

Mindy Pantiel,

Reminiscent of log cabins that the early settlers to the Lake Tahoe area would have constructed, the home features chinked timber-clad gable forms that anchor the facade. | Photo: Gibeon Photography

Ask most kindergarteners to draw a house, and they’ll likely sketch the familiar silhouette: a triangle perched on a rectangle; chimney optional. For architect Ryan Marsden, that archetype became a point of departure for a mountain home that reinterprets the classic American cabin for modern living. Set along the Clear Creek Tahoe golf course with easy proximity to Lake Tahoe, Marsden’s version features three such forms clustered around an auto court. “The cabin-like gable structures echo early settler structures such as those at the Mormon Station Trading Post in nearby Genoa,” he explains.

Marsden then layered those traditional shapes with intersecting contemporary shed roofs clad in raked western red cedar—stained jet black. Chinked timbers and stacked stone ground the home in a Western vernacular, while the sleek rooflines push it in a modern direction. The result reflects homeowners Julie and Michael Hughes’ request for a dwelling that balances past and present. “We wanted a new spin on a classic,” says Michael, who envisioned a home that could easily host gatherings—and coax their grown children back to visit. Single-level living was another priority, but the sloped property mandated some compromises.

Come evening, the Hennepin Made fixture casts a warm glow on the Wesley Hall sofa and Bernhardt chaise in the great room. The curving oxidized aluminum coffee table with a woodburl top is by Taracea. | Photo: Gibeon Photography

To develop the layout, the architect used the land’s natural descent to create a more dynamic entry procession. From the auto court, a few steps lead to the stone-clad entry, where a low-slung roof supported by a delicate steel structure creates a moment of compression. Passing through the steel front door, the experience expands into a soaring great room oriented toward the 15th green and the mountain views beyond. Patios cascade down the slope, shaping layered outdoor rooms and encouraging gatherings both large and small that flow seamlessly from the great room to the open air

The floor plan— which encompasses the primary suite, three bedrooms and gym on the main level, and the recreation area, bunk rooms and Michael’s office on the upper floor— is in sync with how the owners live. “Julie is a morning person, so the breakfast nook faces the sunrise, and I’m a night person, so my office is on the far side of the house,” says Michael. And a favorite detail of both homeowners—a kitchen window overlooking the auto court—offers a regular ritual of connection as one spouse arrives home and sees the other framed in the window.

Natural stone kitchen counters and oak cabinets complement the overall aesthetic. Counter stools are by RH. In the dining area, Old World Antieks side chairs and Century Furniture host chairs surround the Cohab Space table. | Photo: Gibeon Photography

Interior designer Martha Lord continued the home’s old-meets-new spirit with warm oak cabinetry and natural stone surfaces that echo the surrounding palette of timber, stone and metal. She paired a salvaged pine dining table with blown-glass and metal lighting, and placed a sculptural oxidized aluminum and wood-burl coffee table alongside a transitional sofa in the great room. “The table’s curves soften the architecture,” she notes.

In collaboration with Julie, the designer selected distinct wallpapers to bring personality to each bathroom. A feminine floral, for example, backs the wood vanity in the primary suite, while playful, vintage-style drawings of skiers and boaters in an upper-level bath are a nod to the locale. Coupled with the overall design, such moments contribute to a living experience that fully connects its inhabitants with their surroundings and to their lifestyle. As Michael concludes, “Ryan didn’t just build a house, he built a home just for us.”

Clad in stone veneer and timber siding, the entry sets the tone for the house. The wingback chair is by Hive and armchair is by Verellen. | Photo: Gibeon Photography

Kelly Ventura wallpaper enlivens the primary bathroom. | Photo: Gibeon Photography

To maximize privacy the primary suite is located down a separate hallway, where it enjoys a strong connection with nature. The bed is by Four Hands, the chair is by Wesley Hall, and the lamp is by Visual Comfort. | Photo: Gibeon Photography