Unique North Lake Tahoe House Built For Lovers Of Innovative Design

As the Tahoe luxury real estate market remains red hot, it’s always nice to find a relative bargain at the top. “Elevation 6229” is a unique elevated lakefront home in Tahoe Vista with an intriguingly creative design aesthetic, both inside and out — a contemplative, generous, multi-function space that will captivate lovers of innovative design and panoramic views. Tahoe Luxury Properties currently has it listed for $5,950,000.

I was able to spend two nights at the property last month, as you can do if you rent the space, test-driving it while contemplating a purchase. There are three discrete living areas — the main house, a guest house, and a studio apartment — and it comfortably accommodates up to 14 people across its 5,800 square-feet.  This video gives a good sense of the property’s layout, but the experience of being in the home is greater than the sum of its parts.

Owners John and Jill Waid chose the location for its unparalleled views of Lake Tahoe, but it was, admittedly, a challenge to build on the steep lot’s volcanic scree (with a 28 percent average slope), which gains 200 feet in elevation in just 1.2 acres. Enter architect Joel Sherman of Truckee-based JLS Design, who cleverly planned a series of glacial-stone towers that lift the home above the rocky terrain (instead of blasting into the hillside) and up over the utility lines for a 270-degree unobstructed view.

The entrance to the home takes you directly to the first of two elevators (and a staircase) that lead into the guest house (with two bedrooms and a full kitchen), off of which is the studio apartment (with a kitchenette). This wing of the property is ideal for visitors, extended family, older teenagers, or a live-in au pair.

The main home is reached by way of a covered stone bridge, which takes you to the second elevator (also adjacent to the stairs). The second level of the main house has two bedrooms at opposite ends (one decorated in an austere gray palette and the other in minimalist white and tan tones), separated by a long, wide hallway with a piano and a plush living room with a surprising corner window that opens on to the view. There’s also a room with bunk beds that’s perfect for kids. There are practical design touches throughout the property, but I especially like the mini-fridge installed on this floor, perfect for entertaining when you don’t need access to the full kitchen.

The top floor — which, in a typical house would be the fifth floor, I suppose! — is the most magical of all, with a huge master bedroom and serene office space with mesmerizing views. The vaulted wood ceilings play with the angles of the freestanding fireplace that serves as an implicit divider between the kitchen and living room/kitchen and dining room, without compromising the view from any place in the large space.

The kitchen has Miele appliances and a massive island with seating for six. The adjacent dining space is more intimate, currently with an oval table for six, but the space can accommodate a bigger dining table.

The property has 6.5 bathrooms, all spacious and decorated whimsically, with eclectic art on the walls and fine carpets lining the floors. I mention the decor because the owners are selling Elevation 6229 with furnishings as negotiable, reserving the right to exclude certain items. So much of the art and furniture imbues the strong sense of place here that a buyer will want to consider what might potentially remain.

The property is just across the street from Lake Tahoe, with CA State Lands Entitlement for 2 buoys and TRPA Approval on a shared pier (requires additional agency approval).

This post first appeared on Forbes.com. To see the original, click here.