This large two-sided stone fireplace was perfect for its setting — the double-duty living room of a home in Lake Tahoe, seen here as it was back in the early 1960s.
Two stories high, but positioned inside the room instead of against a wall, its placement allowed for two different experiences — one on either side of the space.
On one side, the room was wide open and welcoming, and the view off to the right looked out over the lake.
That angle featured a huge window wall, and outside, the deck’s roof repeated the inside ceiling height, to continue the feeling of spaciousness.
In the back on the left was the “cave” — a retreat where the family could enjoy the stone fireplace from the far side — an area that complemented this home’s openness and excitement.
A step down from the living room itself, this cozy area was reserved for relaxed conversation. The long built-in bench seating was comfortable, roomy, and filled with colorful throw pillows from end to end.
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Along with being partially screened from the vintage living room by the rugged two-way fireplace, the ceiling was lowered in this area, which increased the feeling of being tucked away inside a welcoming nook. All lighting was in the ceiling — the recessed fixtures were dimmer-switch controlled.
The split level landing above the cave offered balcony seating, and could even serve as a guest sleeping area.
Throughout this house, warm-toned light wood paneling — installed at an angle — filled the walls. On the far side of the room, a few retro-style metal cone-shaped wall sconces were positioned to shine both up and down.
On top of a low-pile green textured carpet, hip mid-century modern style furniture was used exclusively, arranged in two groupings.
