My husband Colin, our daughter Mika, and I moved into our home in the spring of 2021. At the time, we were living in LA, navigating pandemic life as a relatively new family of three, and longing to lay down roots. Like many others, we were searching for a home that felt right, but finding something within our means in LA or the Bay Area was proving really difficult.

After some thought, Colin and I decided to look beyond the obvious and explore places a bit more rural and removed. Lake Tahoe came to mind, as we had recently spent time there and found ourselves drawn to its peaceful energy and outdoor wonder. What started as a casual browse quickly became serious when we stumbled upon a home perched high in the mountains, nestled near the lake and iconic ski resorts. It called to us. After considering our family’s needs and the flexibility of our jobs, we took a leap of faith and moved to Truckee, CA, soon after.

It’s been four years since then, and we continue to fall in love with the area and make new discoveries. Our home has become our grounding place, growing and evolving with us. This winter, we’ve been fortunate to have a mama bear and her two cubs hibernating next door, and we often get to watch them from our kitchen window coming out to play and enjoying some sunshine. Their presence is a reminder of just how special this place is.

We named our home "Slope Haus" after its multiple sloping roofs, designed to shed snow during heavy Tahoe winters. They create soaring ceilings that have become one of the home’s hallmark features, and naming it felt like an opportunity to honor the architecture while also nodding to the ups and downs that sometimes come with building a life in the mountains.

Living in the Sierras has greatly influenced how I live and how our home feels. Being immersed in the elements has naturally slowed me down and created a sense of calm all around us.

But I still get a pull to city life. Having grown up in the Bay and lived in LA, I sometimes miss the energy, the cultural diversity, the ease of having everything at my fingertips. There’s a vibrancy and spontaneity in cities that we don’t always get in a quieter, more remote setting. But I’ve found that those moments of longing tend to be fleeting, more like a soft nostalgia than a real ache.

Balancing that pull has been about redefining what “enough” feels like. When I start to miss the city, I try to focus on what the mountains give us in return: space, stillness, and a constant connection to nature. There’s a rhythm here that forces you to be present. And when I do visit the city, it feels exciting and fresh, like a little recharge before returning home.

Our home is a living expression of us as a family—an amalgamation of our individual personalities, experiences, and shared adventures. When we first moved in, the house was fairly modern and stark. Over time, we’ve slowly layered in warmth, color, and texture, letting each space evolve organically as we lived in it. We’ve added personal touches and bold details, softened corners, and created vignettes that tell the story of who we are.

Since Colin and I both work from home, our house carries the weight of being everything—workspace, sanctuary, and gathering place. It was essential to create an environment that not only supported our day-to-day but also offered a calming sense of relief from life’s stresses. At the same time, we wanted it to be a place where Mika could freely run around, where friends could gather around the table for hours, and where the ebbs and flows of life felt welcomed.

I’ve learned to approach design with a sense of fluidity. I try not to rush decisions but instead allow rooms to come together slowly, layering in elements that speak to us over time. I’ve been more intentional about filling our space with meaningful objects, like those collected from our travels, and adding in a mix of materials—warm woods, soft textiles, bold patterns—to help achieve that sense of depth and comfort.

Yes! I’ve recently rediscovered running as a way to stay active, focus my attention, and challenge my discipline. No matter the pace or distance, running helps clear my head, which often brings moments of clarity. And when pushing my limits, it reminds me that I can do hard things and that I’m capable of more than I think.

Travel is another huge source of inspiration. I love experiencing new places, absorbing the culture and noticing how people live. While I’m traveling, I also make a point to seek out beautifully designed hotels and shops because the details there are so intentional and often tell a story. I also enjoy collecting interior design books. I appreciate the tactility of flipping through the pages and slowly studying compositions, and I love seeing how others define their spaces in unique ways.

Creativity takes on many forms in my life. As a Producer, much of my job revolves around leading complex marketing initiatives, so I channel creativity through strategic thinking, problem-solving, and organization. Outside of work, I tap into it through personal passions like interior design, styling, and, surprisingly, parenting—because it takes a lot of imagination to keep a kid entertained. My mind is constantly working through various puzzles, and approaching them with a creative mindset keeps me engaged and open to new ideas.

I’ve found that my best ideas rarely come when I’m actively searching for them but instead in the quiet, in-between moments—before bedtime, on a run, or even while cleaning or rearranging objects in our home. When I’m feeling stuck, I like to go for a long walk or a drive to unlock the thoughts in my head.

Our home is my happy place, and I deeply value how its canvas has flourished with us over the years. While there can be an intensity to spending so much time here, especially with everything happening under one roof, our home remains the foundation that grounds us.

I also see 'home' as more than just a place; it's a construct, rooted in the moments shared with my family and the simple rituals that anchor us. Ultimately, we could be anywhere, and as long as we're together, I feel at home.