Creative power couple leaned into Tahoe cabin’s 1970s design while modernizing

A Lake Tahoe area retreat known as Rendezvous — on the market for $1.15 million — is not an attempt to modernize a mountain cabin by sanding away its past.

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Instead, owners Christopher Stringer and Elizabeth Paige Smith leaned into the home’s original character, preserving its redwood paneling, exposed beams, vaulted ceilings and sunken conversation pit while updating the systems and finishes.

Stringer is a former Apple industrial designer and the founder and chief design officer of audio company Syng. Smith is an artist and furniture designer. The creative power couple’s design sensibility drew attention when their 1927 Venice Beach bungalow appeared in Architectural Digest after a two-year renovation.

“Rendezvous is a rare example of a Tahoe home where the original 1970s design language has been embraced rather than erased,” listing agent Dave Westall of Sierra Sotheby’s International Realty said in a statement. “From the redwood paneling and vaulted ceilings to the conversation pit, sauna, and burnt-orange palette, every choice feels intentional and true to the era. The result is far more than a typical Tahoe retreat. It is a home with real personality, a conversation piece, and a place designed to be experienced, shared, and remembered.

The 1,172-square-foot Tahoe City cabin has three bedrooms and two bathrooms and was built in 1974. It sits on 0.26 acres bordered on three sides by California Tahoe Conservancy land, according to the listing brokerage.

Inside, the design takes a distinctly alpine turn. A slate entry beneath a skylight opens to a multilevel interior organized around a central living space and wood-burning fireplace. Burnt-orange upholstery, vintage-inspired carpeting and warm wood give the room the feel of a 1970s ski lounge with modern amenities.

The kitchen was redesigned with mahogany cabinetry and golden-yellow travertine counters. Appliances include a Wolf induction range and oven, a Zephyr vent hood, an Asko dishwasher and Fisher & Paykel refrigerator. Travertine continues in both renovated bathrooms, giving the home a consistent look.

Read more Creative power couple leaned into Tahoe cabin’s 1970s design while modernizing

Three bedrooms are split between the ground and upper levels. A dedicated laundry room and mudroom provide additional storage and utility, while a private sauna offers a place to warm up after a day on the slopes. The home also has multi-zone in-floor radiant heating with individual room controls.

Two redesigned decks extend the living space outdoors. The front deck looks across the surrounding forest toward the Sierra Crest, while the adjacent conservancy land provides separation from neighboring homes.

The home at 4076 Courchevel Road is in the Alpine Peaks community in Ward Valley. Homeowners association amenities include private tennis courts and neighborhood parking access near the Sherwood chairlift on the Alpine Meadows side of Palisades Tahoe, when the lift and terrain are open. The neighborhood also provides access to the Tahoe Rim Trail, with hiking and mountain biking nearby.

The property, listed in early September, is under a contingent contract, meaning the sale is pending while the buyer completes specified conditions.

“We were on the market for 18 days before accepting an offer (Monday),” Westall said in an email to The Bee. “For our market, that is pretty quick given that most buyers do not live in Tahoe and have to plan visits to look at homes. We had a number of buyers circling the property.”

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The home last sold in 2016 for $600,000, according to public property records.