Sierra Chalet

Toward the end of our chapter with The Cole, Mark and I began escaping Palm Springs for weekends in Big Bear. The mountains felt completely different — fresh air, snow, trees, a slower pace. Eventually I purchased a cabin that needed almost everything. The rear deck was unsafe enough that we were told not to walk on it. The property was tired. But the setting and potential were undeniable.

Mark is a licensed contractor, but this project became unusually personal because so much of the work was done by the two of us. We removed siding, opened walls, reworked plumbing, addressed electrical, rebuilt surfaces and constructed two large decks. There were days when insulation, debris and evidence of years of animals living inside the walls seemed to fall on top of us faster than we could remove it. It was exhausting — and incredibly rewarding. The upper deck was designed around the lake views. Below it, we created a screened outdoor living space with a spa and recreation area that could be enjoyed through Big Bear's changing seasons.

The original entry had been located on the second level. During redesign, the entry was repositioned. Then came an unusually heavy snowfall — and suddenly the reason for the old configuration became very clear. Fortunately, the new design protected the entrance well enough that access remained possible. But it was a perfect reminder: old houses often have reasons for being built the way they were, and mountain property will quickly expose anything you failed to consider.

Sierra Chalet changed the way I look at renovation. Things that appear simple rarely are. Moving one element can affect five others. Materials behave differently in extreme climates. Older construction often contains both ingenious solutions and unexpected surprises. Most importantly, I gained enormous respect for the labor required to physically transform a property.