Explore a California Cabin With Adventurous Style

Aaah, cabin life. Chill, cozy, and — in the case of this ’70s A-frame in Soda Springs, California — cramped, dark and dated! That was before designers Christina Valencia and Kele Dobrinski got their hands on it. Kele’s parents, Jim and Kim, had bought the Lake Tahoe–area house for their whole family to enjoy as a getaway. “There’s something so picturesque and quirky about A-frames,” says Christina. “The shape is just fun, like a permanent tent.” The whole house, trim included, is painted the same custom moody blue. The color is just as striking next to leafy trees in summer as it is to snow in winter.

Christina, Kele, Jim and Kim did the work themselves. It helped that Jim is a general contractor and Kim is the type to stand on a ladder and sand the ceiling. They reimagined all 2,600 square feet, letting in light, opening up the teeny kitchen, and creating two bedrooms out of the giant upper-level great room. Pale wood tones bring the rustic in a chic way, vintage and handmade pieces pile on charm and jolts of pattern hit groovy notes. “We wanted our home to feel like a cabin at its core but with a brighter take than a typical mountain home,” says Christina. They totally aced it!

Ash cabinets, gray quartz countertops and the matte black pulls, faucet and light fixtures serve up woodsy-meets-modern style. Triangles in the backsplash tiles (by Clé) wink at the home’s A-frame shape. The floors are durable laminate but look like real-deal wood planks.

Nothing says relaxed like denim upholstery on a roomy banquette where a big group can pile in. A Novogratz rug plays up the blue. Seats for the walnut table (by Scandanavian Designs) were made out of old wood found on the property. The vintage chandelier is from the renowned Alameda flea market in Northern California.

Kele designed the bunks and Jim built them. There’s even a loft where the kids pretend to camp with flashlights. “They’re always jockeying for the top bunk that has the entrance to it,” says Christina. The blankets are from Perigold.

The repetition of light wood, gray and black ties the cabin together. Signs of a home that doesn’t take itself too seriously: a Canadian Mountie statue (vintage), a whimsical bath mat and shower curtain (both by Urban Outfitters) and retro patch art (bought on eBay and framed).

Maximizing that A-frame height to their advantage, Kele and Christina added a transom window above sliding glass doors to let in extra sunshine and allow for stargazing. Kele scored the old wood slab that he used to make the headboard for $40 on Craigslist. The black-and-white quilt belonged to his grandmother. Also retro-fab: the lamps, which were also flea market finds.

With warm browns and tans, navy blue and a hit of mustard yellow, this hideaway has midcentury vibes. It may well be the first-ever palette based on a pair of ski gloves. “Inspiration really is everywhere,” says Christina.