2025 Tahoe Quarterly Home Awards
Lakefront Legacy
“If interior designer Justine Macfee were to list her ideal home locations, her first choice would be Lake Tahoe, her second choice would be Sea Ranch, an architecturally groundbreaking planned community built in the 1960s on the California coast.
So when contractor TJ Glidden of Tahoe City’s TJ Glidden Construction contacted her about updating a West Shore lakefront property and she realized the original architect was Richard Whitaker, one of Sea Ranch’s four principal architects, “I just about fell over in excitement,” Macfee says. “I am a huge fan of Sea Ranch.”
…Glidden worked with Todd Mather and Ron Driller on permitting and architecture, and credits much of the remodel’s design success to Macfee, of Justine Macfee Interior Design.”
Press
“Macfee incorporated moments of bright color, airy avenues for light to reflect and sculptural pieces for dimensional contrast. “Contemporary with slightly traditional gives it a bit of that edge of today, but also this mix into tomorrow,” the designer says on a morning tour of the home, when the City’s trademark fog has blanketed the Golden Gate Bridge, framed by each floor’s picture windows.”
“Justine embraced our desire to use the space with arguably the best view in the whole house as our home gym rather than a public entertaining space,” Stephanie says. “She really listens.”
— Nob Hill Gazette, An Edwardian in Presidio Heights Is Ready for its Next Era
Vibrant patterns and strong textures contribute to the home’s sense of laid-back elegance. Macfee’s approach involved playing and layering, “making everything coordinate, but not necessarily match.” Adding a touch of the rugged outdoors—from barnwood to limestone to a bouquet of branches—created a natural connection to the home’s alpine setting.
— Mountain Living, Cover Story
”My design philosophy revolves around creating environments that not only look beautiful but are deeply personal and resonate with the stories of their inhabitants."
— Justine Macfee