A Fireplace Transformed: Bringing Warmth and Artistry to a Modern Mountain Retreat

BDG is currently working on a fabulous modern home in Martis Camp, located in Truckee, California. The home is situated right next to a Northstar ski lift, providing true ski-in/ski-out access. Though the project was built very recently and was move-in ready, the clients chose to work with us to infuse warmth into the very contemporary home characterized by strong angles and a significant amount of black metal. 

My immediate reaction was to reimagine the fireplace into a warmer, friendlier, and more creative centerpiece. In my view, fireplaces serve as the true focal point of any mountain home. If you browse the cover photos on our website for each of our projects , you’ll notice that every one of them highlights the fireplace in the living area. 

As you can see above, the original fireplace in this home was predominantly black, and I felt the white marble mantel and hearth were not well considered in terms of scale or materiality. While the home’s modern aesthetic is striking, its wood flooring and ceiling begged for a narrative connection at the fireplace. The home already featured ample black steel, so I proposed a walnut mantel and hearth to create a seamless flow with the adjacent cabinetry. However, I didn’t rule out the possibility of introducing a different metal into the design. 

As the concept evolved, we made an early decision to retain the clients' dining table, a stunning piece by Altura Furnishings. However, the finish needed to be more durable, and the clients ideally wanted a longer table. This led us to reimagine the table’s design. The table’s walnut finish paired beautifully with bronze accents—a metal I felt would complement the house perfectly. Bronze emanates warmth and conveys a substantial, timeless vibe. 

Whenever I consider incorporating metal into the interior design, my thoughts immediately turn to Henry Means and his son, Cole. They are exceptional craftsmen, and after years of collaborating with them, I can confidently say they are the best. If I can dream it, they can create it while enhancing the vision. 

Rendering of the redesigned fireplace concept with bronze and wood accents

To effectively communicate our design concept, which hinged on completely reimagining the fireplace in an expensive material like bronze, we created this rendering for the client. Trusting us with such a significant redesign is no small decision, so visuals were crucial. We also presented examples of other fireplaces Henry and Cole crafted for us in the past. I could genuinely tell the clients to “trust me” and feel confident in the recommendation.  There are benefits to my years of experience as a designer: having the confidence to trust not just my vision and relate it to my clients , but the access to exceptional resources and master craftsmen like Henry and Cole that make it possible to achieve exceptional results.  

Our clients just sent us a photo of the completed fireplace along with this lovely note: 

“By the way, the fireplace is stunning. Henry and Cole are master artisans. Excellent design!” 

It’s always rewarding to see a vision come to life so beautifully. The rest of the house is to come! Stay tuned.