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.
![\2\20;both the biggest challenge and biggest feature was the site perche 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/red-dot-studio-yosemite-waterfall-house-christopher-gebo-733x1017.jpg)
![the kitchen was reconfigured so that it now has access to the deck. a total of 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/red-dot-studio-yosemite-waterfall-house-2-733x505.jpg)
![the couple chose ikea cabinets to keep costs down but did splurge on a terrazzo 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/red-dot-studio-yosemite-waterfall-house-3-733x1026.jpeg)
![a second set of sliding doors in the living area offer another access to the wr 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/red-dot-studio-yosemite-waterfall-house-3-733x483.jpg)
![the main bedroom. every wall in the home is painted simply white by benjamin mo 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/red-dot-studio-yosemite-waterfall-house-4-733x489.jpeg)
![windows offer ample views. most of the windows in the home were enlarged during 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/red-dot-studio-yosemite-waterfall-house-5-733x996.jpeg)
![the guest bath, with tiles by daltile. 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/red-dot-studio-yosemite-waterfall-house-7-733x1002.jpg)
![chester (who\2\17;s since gone to doggie heaven) snoozes in a narrow spa 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/red-dot-studio-yosemite-waterfall-house-8-733x489.jpg)
![the view from the study. 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/red-dot-studio-yosemite-waterfall-house-6-733x489.jpg)
![the couple enjoy their outdoor fire bowl in the step down sitting area of the d 26](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/red-dot-studio-yosemite-waterfall-house-deck-733x489.jpg)
![\2\20;we designed to limit waste on the existing home. sometimes this me 27](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/red-dot-studio-yosemite-waterfall-house-9-733x489.jpg)
For more on vacation homes, see:
- Kitchen of the Week: A Not Too Precious Kitchen for ‘Faux Martha’ in Minnesota
- The Reset Club’s Cook House, a Chic Catskills Rental, Resources and Remodeling Advice Included
- Escape to the Hinterland: 12 Vacation Rental Homes in Germany
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