Located on the edge of Yosemite National Park and situated on a cliff just above a waterfall, it was supposed to have been a rental vacation home. But after San Francisco-based Red Dot Studio transformed it into a breathtaking property—both inside and out—owners Emily Tharpe and Christopher Gebo decided to scrap their original plan and move there permanently.

Who could blame them? Aside from the jaw-dropping site and views, the home—once a warren of dark and cramped rooms with faux oak paneling and a mishmash of carpet and other flooring—now has open and bright interiors for easy living. The overall look is simple and streamlined.

That said, achieving it was challenging. There was the matter of the building’s irregular, multi-angled silhouette. There was the decrepit deck that needed to be replaced and secured to the boulder-strewn precipice. And there was the less-than-ideal budget. “Our clients have amazing taste but a limited budget,” says Camille Peignet, the lead designer on the project. “So they opted to do much of the finish work of the house themselves. They were amazing to work with as owner/builders.”

Join us for a tour of their pandemic getaway turned permanent home.

Photography by Henry Gao, unless otherwise noted.

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