Charming Stone Cottage in Lake Tahoe

High in the Sierra Mountain range sits breathtaking Lake Tahoe. Known for its clear, fresh water and beauty, this area attracts tourists all year around. Even though I don't live there today, for me Tahoe is home - it's where I grew up.

So, I am thrilled to share with you a lovely Lake Tahoe stone cottage that was recently renovated by Elise Fett & Associates Architecture and Engineering of Incline Village, Nevada.

The home, which was built in 1927, is made of beautiful gray and silver granite mined from the Cave Rock tunnel which sits on the East shore of the lake. Like many empty-nesters today, the new homeowners downsized when they purchased the charming 1,200 square foot stone cottage. They choose to expand slightly by adding 550 square feet - a bathroom, laundry room and master suite upstairs. The home's integrity however stayed the same. In fact, the original single-paned metal windows were kept despite the freezing winter temperatures. The homeowners instead selected insulated Roman shades to keep in the heat from escaping.

The "L" shaped main living space features the beautifully remodeled open kitchen, living room and dining room. The small, yet gourmet kitchen features a center island in pine and topped with butcher block. It offers seating for guests, storage and of course, a food prep area. To the left of the island sits a simple, yet elegant custom china cabinet and refrigerator covered in red antiqued wooden paneling - both coordinate with the cabinets. In this image, the back double-dutch door is open to the backyard.

The red stove by Heartland is darling! It includes an exhaust system and therefore frees up space above the range for additional storage.

The perimeter countertops are slabs of Carrara marble with a crescent edge detail. It is a nice contrast to the red antiqued cabinets.

The hammered copper farmhouse sink by Counter Culture in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico is stunning and my favorite element in the kitchen.The faucet is Bridge by Cucina. Best yet, the kitchen window has incredible views of the lake below.

The stunning granite fireplace is original and is the focal point in the cozy living room. The natural sunlit room is open to the balcony upstairs and showcases gorgeous pine beams.

The quaint dining room sits off the the living room.

A soft leather armchair with nailhead trim sits in front of the living room's fireplace. Above hangs a fun vintage Lake Tahoe poster.

Makes me want to pack up the family and head to Tahoe!

*images from Simplified Bee