The holidays are officially upon us and today’s tour will give you all the snuggly vibes you hope for this time of year. Pleasantly pared down, this Lake Tahoe cabin, designed by Whearley & Co., leans into a Scandinavian aesthetic and delivers a warm surrounding that feels like home, only woodsier. Read the story of this cozy home and see how it came together in the photos below.
From the designer… We kept an eye on Lake Tahoe for years, waiting for the perfect A-Frame cabin. In 2019, Wayfare Cabin was born. Tucked into a quiet forested neighborhood on Tahoe’s West shore, it’s a true getaway. When we closed escrow, it was the day before Thanksgiving. We piled our kids in the car, put the turkey in a cooler, and drove straight up to Tahoe to celebrate. We rolled sleeping bags out on the floor and got a roaring fire going in the stove. That first Thanksgiving there was perfectly cozy and charming, but the cabin needed a lot of work — the shower was leaking, the stairs needed to be rebuilt, there was brown carpeting everywhere, and we planned to reconfigure the space and move a few walls around.
We were really inspired by some of our favorite places that we stayed over the years — Manka’s in Inverness, CA (where we got married) and Killiehuntly in the Scottish Highlands, and by some of our favorite designers — Jersey Ice Cream Co. and Zio & Sons. We were inspired by the combination of old and new and refined and rustic that each of these spaces held. It’s a little bit Tahoe, a little bit Scottish, and a dash of Scandinavian design.
We started by rebuilding the stairs which are such a focal point in the space and painting all the old paneling in Farrow & Ball’s Wevet for a fresh look. And then we painted the two exterior doors and trim in Farrow & Ball’s Off Black for some contrast.
In the main living area, we moved a wall back to create a dining space. The cabin is snug but has a good flow and floorplan — you can snuggle up and watch a movie with the fire going, make dinner in the kitchen, and eat at the table and still all be together. We’re saving a larger kitchen remodel for down the road, but painted the cabinets in Benjamin Moore’s Tavern Gray to update them and add open shelves for storing our dishes and cooking essentials.
A friend of ours brought his crew up for three days and we completely remodeled the bathroom. We created a larger shower and added some much needed storage space. We ended up moving the sink underneath the window, which was a fun design challenge. We installed a ceramic Cedar & Moss pendant above the vanity and an antique style shaving mirror that extends out from the wall. Prints by artist Jess Blazejewski complete the space. And now it’s one of my favorite moments in the cabin.
Upstairs there was a big open loft and we added a wall to create two spaces — a more private sleeping area and a more open one for our kids. The loft is such a cozy space and it feels like a big slumber party when our family is up there together! We had a custom slipcover made for the bed’s headboard, found a pair of vintage nightstands, and installed a set of Scandinavian pleated sconces, and a custom ceramic pendant light from Notary Ceramics. In the loft, we had two custom headboards made and installed sconces from Old Brick Lighting along with botanical prints by Esther Clark.
Downstairs, we finished the bedroom with a cozy queen bed, luxurious linens and Pendleton blankets. We hung a full gallery wall with antique artwork, photographs of the cabin being built in the 1960s, and pieces by friends we’ve collected over the years.
We loved working on the Wayfare Cabin project and are excited to share the space with travelers in Lake Tahoe. It’s truly something to be thankful for. The space is available for rent on Airbnb and we release dates quarterly.
Like what you see? Take a peek at the talent behind the story… Interior Design: Whearley & Co. · Photography: Natalie Whearley of Whearley & Co.
