Obata Noblin Office introduces a modern wood interior to a 1970s wood cabin

At the base of Mount Disney at California’s Sugar Bowl Resort there sits an understated wooden structure. The house, which belongs to a family of four and its dog, embodies the quintessential cabin in the woods with a new cedar board and batten facade, shingles, and deck rails. Pennyroyal, an existing 1970s ski house, was recently renovated by San Francisco–based architecture firm, Obata Noblin Office (ONO).

A wood-clad 1960s ski house at the base of Mount Disney — For the exterior, the architects installed a new cedar board and batten facade, shingles, and deck rails (Bruce Damonte)

ONO wanted the interiors to reflect the beauty of the wood-clad exterior. As such, rich wood tones were brought to the forefront outside as well as in. Case in point: a monolithic oak staircase gently demands attention from one floor to the next. The oak millwork makes its presence known in every room of the house—from ceiling beams and door frames to entire walls. Hallways are completely clad in the warm material, garnering a cohesive design from one room to the next.

A living room with a white fireplace and artwork on either side at Pennyroyal — Dark gray granite lines the built-in bench along the fireplace (Bruce Damonte)

Dark gray granite also ties the 3,500-square-foot home together. The use of rock recalls the stone found in the surrounding mountains. It appears on the heated floor of the ski room, the kitchen countertops, and the long built-in bench along the living room’s fireplace.

A wood-clad cubby for ski gear lies in the Pennyroyal house — Clean millwork lines the ski room to organize and store jackets and gear (Bruce Damonte)

A close-up view of the wooden stairs at a 1970s ski house — A monolithic oak staircase anchors the first floor (Bruce Damonte)

A close-up shot of a wall and sloped ceiling all in wood, designed by Obata Noblin Office — Oak details provide a clean, linear interior (Bruce Damonte)

The repetition of oak and gray stone is balanced by a soft white trim moulding lining the base of the home’s walls. The crisp, clean lineal millwork exhibited in every room pairs well with the organized, simplistic layout of each floor, as observed in the compartmentalized ski room on the ground floor, where each family member has an individual cubby to organize its ski gear. On the second floor a dedicated communal space exhibits the primarily open floorplan. The third story was conceived to be more private as it holds the majority of the bedrooms. These sleeping quarters were designed to prioritize grand views of the surrounding landscape. Color was introduced to the neutral palette through contemporary works of art and the books lining the built-in shelving units.

A white bedroom with angled ceilings at Pennyroyal house — The house frames views of the landscape without competing against it (Bruce Damonte)

A wall contains a built-in oak shelf designed by Obata Noblin Office — Oak millwork runs throughout the home, providing warm tones to the cabin (Bruce Damonte)

A modern living room with a wood-clad hallway at a 1970s ski cabin — Even the hallways are completely oak creating intimate transitory zones (Bruce Damonte)

ONO partners Tyler Noblin and Max Obata shared on their website that, “We approach buildings and people alike—with integrity, transparency, and playfulness.” Although this home highlights only a few materials, the use of them is playful and comforting—which perfectly sets the tone after a day out on the slopes.

Obata Noblin Office introduces a wood-clad, modern interior to a 1970s ski house, Pennyroyal

New Slopes

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