Not Your Average Chainsaw Bear

In Tahoe we love our bears.  I see a lot of bears in local interiors.  The problem with bears, however, is that they can get pretty kitchy if you're not careful.  It's a trap to beware of.

I do like bears when they are used judiciously and if they are well designed or charming.

I'm mad for this beautiful bear wallpaper mural from Iksel.  Best of all, it can be sized up to suit your wall.

Why not throw it into a room that needs a little impact?  It's a natural, of course, for a young boys cabin bedroom.  But, it's classy enough to put into an entry.  I can see it surrounded by walls covered in a beautiful textured grass-cloth (one of my favorite tricks for adding an element of quality and interest to rooms that don't have enough architectural detail).

Every entry needs a place to toss keys so let's just add a gorgeous chest of drawers like this one from Mill Creek (drawers are so practical in the mountains---one for gloves, sunglasses in another, dog leashes, ski goggles, hiking gear, boating gear, etc.):

Toss in a couple of these beautiful Leopard Silviera Lamps from Arteriors:

And let's finish it off with a handsome and practical leaf patterned area rug that won't show the trail dirt:

Now, that's how I like to do bears!

All fabrics and wallpapers are available from Dragonfly Designs.  To order, request free samples or enlist mountain design help, call 530 583-6076.  

Locker Room

My husband and I are members at the Squaw Valley Locker Room which we think is not only a convenience but a necessary luxury.  We keep our skis, boots and poles in our locker and it is only a few feet from the Locker Room door to shuffle on over to the Funitel.  Having a locker means we avoid clumping around in uncomfortable boots through a large icy parking lot carrying heavy skis (and skis are heavier these days!)
 
Lately though, I've seen another version of luxury ski lockers.  These are in private houses.  It makes perfect sense to put ski lockers into a mudroom off the garage entrance.  And, if you've got the space, why not give each family member their own locker?

The locker room in this beautiful house is kitted out with reclaimed lumber and limestone floors.  It's nice to have the built-in bench to sit down and change one's shoes, don't you think?

The grills with drip pans below make perfect sense for stowing snowy winter boots.
 

Take a closer look at the detailing inside each cubby.  The upper shelf is a safe place to store goggles, gloves and smaller items easily lost.  Hooks on all three walls make it easy to hang coats and sweaters.
This family stores their skis in the garage, but it would be just as easy to have included a taller locker for ski equipment, as in the house below:

I love the way each locker is a different color.  Great rustic bench, too.

Above, these charming hand-painted lockers were installed into the back hallway in a house I worked on some years ago.  There are four of them, two on either side of the hall.
 
And, below, storage lockers in a tiny lakefront cottage I am currently working on:

And, below a close up of the painted detail: