By Cathy Nason, ASID Interior Design
Spirit Gallery, Truckee, CA
The Martis Camp experience is getting back to what living in Tahoe is about. My Dad and Mom used to haul all my 8 brothers and sisters and myself to get out of the Bay area and relax in Tahoe. The focus was for us to relax and spend quality time together as a family, which was difficult to do with such a large family and everyone going after their own personal dreams and pursuits. Coming to Tahoe allowed us to be together and really play without other distractions. As the principal Designer and owner of Spirit Interior Design and Gallery there hasn’t been a development that touches home as beautifully as Martis Camp. The Focus here is on Family with several amenities and activities such as the Lost Library, the Art Barn, bike trails, the Theatre, the bowling alley, lifts, skiing and golf. These facilities are ideal for creating family bonding as all of the family can participate in the activities proffered.
A unique feature of Martis Camp is in the quality of the buildings employed as well as their interiors. A high emphasis is placed on the comfort levels obtainable – not just physical comfort, but the comfort that appeals to the senses. I have always insisted that interior design is not just about objects, but in the way they are used. Used properly, with the clientele in mind, one should be able to create spaces that provides a calming and soothing effect to the nerves, and encourages open interaction, expression of opinion, and exchange of ideas.
I have had the privilege to work on a few new homes in Martis Camp this year, and the primary focus for our Clients is all about the family and relaxing! They are looking for durable fabrics and furniture where the kids can really have fun. The importance is not just in the aesthetic value, but in how many chairs we can get around the fire pit in order not to exclude anyone in the roasting of marshmallows. . It is really a change from what I have been working on in this area, and I am happy to see the focus change to this more relaxed life style aimed at bringing the family and friends together to play and love.
There is nothing more satisfying for me as a designer than to create environments for families to relax together in an area that brought such healing to my family. My husband’s family also came to Donner Lake to get away from the hustle and bustle of City life… and now we have raised our two daughters…in this beautiful area.. It is fun to create this for other families knowing the lifetime memories Martis Camp will hold for anyone who comes here, to be ensconced within the natural beauty of the Sierra’s.
Anyone visiting Martis Camp for the first time will be able to appreciate the breathtaking natural beauty of the resort. However, to really begin to understand and appreciate the benefits that may be derived from Martis Camp, as I have personally experienced, and witnessed in the lives of most, if not all of our clients, you would need to spend a short time there. There are several ways in which to go about this, the most obvious of which is to sign up as a member of this most pristine resort. By being a member at Martis Camp, you will have access to all the wonderful amenities that are available, mostly with a family based orientation – everyone in the family will be able to find something to do. Also, the whole family will be able to do a great number of things together as well.
Facility is available in Martis Camp for those who wish to own holiday homes. We at Spirit Interior Design and Gallery have lent our expertise in this regard by working with several families on designing ideal holiday spaces that everyone in the family will benefit from, as I have earlier mentioned. It might be instructive for new homeowners at Martis Camp to take a few hours or even days touring the facility. When there is an appreciation of the themes and nature of the entire complex, it will then be easy for them to use this knowledge and combine it with their own personal preferences to come up with an idea for their Martis Camp home.
We are always ready to listen to you and offer our advice, based on our knowledge of interior design as well as our insider experience of designing previously at Martis Camp. Every person is unique. As well, every family has their separate identities. Our approach at Spirit Interior Design and Gallery is to take these unique features in coming up with plans for spaces the family can thrive within. There is so much subtlety involved and realizing this, I insist that all the consultants that work with me study towards recognizing these differences.
Martis Camp is such an exquisite area so much so that I believe nothing mundane should be represented there. I have derived great joy from seeing the happiness expressed by the homeowners we have worked with in Martis Camp, and this is the icing on the top of dedicated effort.
We make efforts to work with sustainable material in all our designs and processes, as the sustenance of the environment is a major concern for us. At the same time, we go considerably lengths to get bargains on materials and processes for our clients, while not going “cheap” and substandard.
Martis Camp is indeed a great place for the family to come together and do some really serious bonding…and I would be willing to help any one who has a desire to have a family home in Martis Camp.
