A few weeks ago I received an email from my friends at Delta Faucet inviting me to come visit Lake Tahoe and take a tour of the 2014 HGTV Dream Home, and I honestly thought for a moment that I might be dreaming. The HGTV Dream Home!?! For reals?
Years ago when I started college for my interior design degree, it was simply because I was obsessed with watching HGTV shows, and I wanted to emulate everything I saw on television. I distinctly remember writing a paper in my junior year that discussed nothing other than how inspired by and motivated I was by several HGTV designers/hosts. I have been such a huge fan of HGTV for years, and the Dream Home has always been one of my favorite specials. After I re-read the email and stopped pinching myself, I jumped at the opportunity!
My husband and I arrived at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe on Monday afternoon, and the weather was icy cold with storm clouds rolling in. It was Mitch’s birthday, so we spent the evening exploring the hotel and taking in the scenery.
The elves were busy decorating for Christmas at the Ritz, including this real gingerbread house made from 480 pounds of gingerbread. 260 pounds of icing and 60 pounds of candy – impressive!
In the morning I had a delicious breakfast at the Ritz-Carlton with Delta Faucet representatives and three other bloggers that had been chosen to attend as well – Ashley Urke of Domestic Fashionista, Jeanne Chang of Shop Sweet Things and Cathe Holden of Just Something I Made. We had such a good time chatting and getting to know each other, and we learned that we were the first bloggers ever invited to tour the Dream Home – what an honor!
After breakfast we took a short drive to Schaffer’s Mill, an exclusive community set on the world-class Schaffer’s Mill Club golf course. The community boasts a Lake Club, ski shuttle, on-site spa services, fitness center, clubhouse, and a town square that hosts family-friendly activities such as movies, concerts and holiday festivities.
We pulled up to the 2014 HGTV Dream Home just as the snow was beginning to fall. It made for a gorgeous photo opportunity, and I have to admit that I was SO excited to be there as the area turned into a winter wonderland! We rarely ever get snow where I live (and when it does happen, it snows for about 10 minutes tops!), so it was a real treat to be there with all those big white flakes falling down from the sky.
The 3,200 square foot, 3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom Dream Home is split into two distinct wings designed for living and sleeping. Each floor boasts its own cozy but spacious living room space, and glass walls and abundant windows allow visual access to the other areas of the home as well as panoramic views of the Carson Mountain range.
One of my favorite exterior features of the home are these rain chains that take the place of standard down spouts. They’re both functional and stylish, and they tie in perfectly with the home’s “New Mountain Architecture” design esthetic which includes lots of mixed woods and metals.
From the moment that you walk through the doors of the 2014 HGTV Dream Home and in to the foyer you will notice the mix of steel, slate, wood and glass that is a recurring design element throughout the home.
How adorable is this dog room under the stairs?
Adjacent to the foyer (and visible through the home’s glass courtyard walls) is the most incredible kitchen I have ever set foot in. I honestly don’t even have words to describe how amazing this space is! I kept telling the home’s brilliant designers that I was speechless in awe of its perfection! The home has both a naturally rustic and modern feel, blended together flawlessly. Dream Home Interior Designer, Linda Woodrum, explained that her design inspiration was drawn from choosing warm bright colors (especially yellow!) that you normally wouldn’t associate with a Lake Tahoe mountain cabin. The result is a bright and airy Dream Home that feels like it’s full of light and sunshine, even when it’s dumping tons of snow outside!
The kitchen in the Dream Home is complete with a Trinsic Touch2O Kitchen Faucet which I think is one of the coolest things ever. With the Touch2O technology, all you have to do is tap the faucet spout, hub or handle to activate the flow of water. My boys and I are always cooking together in the kitchen, and a faucet like this would be amazing for keeping little dirty hand messes to a minimum! Check out the full line of Delta Touch2O Kitchen Faucets, and be sure to enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post!
I could absolutely get used to looking at this view while doing the dishes, and it’s so awesome to know that for someone that daydream really will come true! The Dream Home giveaway begins tomorrow, December 27, 2013 at 9 am EST, and runs through February 14th at 5 pm. You can enter twice per day, once at HGTV.com and once at FrontDoor.com.
Linda Woodrum, the Dream Home’s interior designer, is such a lovely and warm person, and it truly feels like the home is infused with her own personal style. Chic and elegant, but also relaxed and welcoming.
The dining room lighting arrangement of varied heights and mixed metals is one of my favorite features in the Dream Home. Actually, all of the lighting in the home is incredible, but this is the one that I most want to integrate into my own home!
Be still my heart. These yellow leather dining chairs had me at hello.
Us bloggers doing what we do best! That’s the adorable Ashley of Domestic Fashionista there (she might just have the opposite photo of me taking a photo of her over on her blog – plus she’s an amazing photographer who had a much better camera lens with her that day than I did, so you should definitely hop over and check out her Dream Home pics too!).
How incredible is this wood backsplash in the kitchen? It is made from reclaimed boat wood and gives the entire room a warm glow and cozy feeling. All of the materials used in the HGTV Dream Home are indigenous to the Lake Tahoe area, and many of the home’s art pieces are sourced from local Truckee artists as well. I love that!
The downstairs living room continues with the warm yellow and neutral color palette. The brilliant combination of modern elements with sleek lines and traditional pieces just makes my heart happy!
The downstairs half bath features an impressive free form bowl sink and Delta Faucet’s Compel Bath Faucet.
I love the industrial style of the metal stair railing paired with the natural wood treads and hand rails.
I had to take a stairwell self portrait…you know, just to prove that I was really there and all!
Every nook and cranny of the Dream Home maximizes the use of space, and this little sitting area at the top of the stair landing is perfect for reading or daydreaming as you stare out the windows at the stunning views.
The guest room…that bed! Ever since my husband built an orange bed for my oldest son last year, I’ve been fantasizing about one for myself, and this was like a dream come true! Those little bedside chandeliers were to-die-for too!
The bedding combines classic textures and patterns with modern favorites, and the results feel warm, comfortable and familiar.
The upstairs bathrooms are a luxurious combination of high end sleek fixtures and lush textiles. Seriously, all of the bathrooms in the Dream Home were full of inspirational design, and I wanted to come home and immediately give all of my own bathrooms makeovers!
Of course there’s a sleek Delta Faucet at every bathroom sink!
The freestanding tub and Delta Faucet Floor Mounted Tub Filler are a match made in heaven. I’m sure that the Dream Home giveaway winner will enjoy coming home from a chilly day on the mountain to a warm bubble bath here!
I love the curves of the Cassidy Bath Faucet so much that I ordered a Delta Faucet Cassidy Kitchen Faucet for my own home! Don’t forget to enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a Delta Faucet of your own too!
(and one more bathroom selfie, just because I’m inside the HGTV Dream Home!!!)
The master bedroom is complete with a sitting area around a cozy fireplace and near floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the breathtaking views.
An upstairs family room and media space showcases a beautiful orange leather sectional, unique wood wall treatment, local art and a private outdoor balcony.
Again, I was blown away by the layers of texture in this room! From the walls to the furniture to the textiles, everything blends together seamlessly, and the effect is rich and vibrant.
Oh, and there’s more inspiring lighting and exposed beams here as well (of course!)!
Natural elements infused with color and whimsy can be found in every room, and the kids bunk room is no exception. This basket of pinecones is a great compliment to the red and white classic design of the room.
The bunk bed arrangement is classic Tahoe cabin style, but the decorating is bold, vivid and unexpected. I’ve never really been a huge fan of red in bedrooms, but this room completely changed my mind…in fact, I can’t get this room out of my head! I would love to update Sutton & Simon’s room with these colors!
Outside, between the two wings of the home, is a covered patio with an outdoor dining table, a stainless steel BBQ grill and the most adorable wine and s’mores station ever!
There’s also an outdoor fireplace!
The dual deck and balcony combination lends to the indoor-outdoor living vibe. So much fun! I’m really hoping that someone I know wins the Dream Home this year so that I can go back and visit it again!
Ashley took this shot of me standing in the snow and grinning like a total dork as I took my photos. Seriously though, this whole experience was a dream, and I really couldn’t wipe that smile off my face the entire time!
One last mirror selfie of all of us! C’mon, we’re a bunch of bloggers…you know we had to do it!
The 2014 HGTV Dream Home Design Team: Linda Woodrum, Interior Designer; David Bourk, Architect ; Jack Thomasson, Professional House Planner; and John Marlin, Developer of Schaffer’s Mill Golf and Lake Club. It was such a pleasure getting to spent time chatting with all of these incredibly talented people, and it was a huge bonus that they were all as nice as can be! (Photo credit to Ashley at Domestic Fashionista)
(Photo Credit: The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe)
By the time we got back to the Ritz, nearly 10 inches of snow had fallen in just a few hours! It was breathtaking, but it certainly made for an exciting and rather treacherous drive home that afternoon!
I want to say a HUGE thank you to Delta Faucet for sponsoring this trip to Lake Tahoe and for allowing me the privilege of being one of the first bloggers allowed to tour the HGTV Dream Home. It was an incredible experience, and I truly cherished every moment of it!
Heidi Kundin has captivated the hearts of millions with her colorful and inspiring approach to crafting, celebrations, and family fun. With over 15 years of experience, Happiness is Homemade has become a must-visit destination for those seeking quick and easy creative ideas and last-minute solutions. Heidi’s warm personality shines through her posts, inviting readers to join her on a creative journey that’s fun, rewarding, and achievable. Heidi is also the author of Homemade Bath Bombs & More and DIY Tie-Dye.