...doesn't anybody ever build a beautiful small log house? The answer, it turned out, was "Yes, we can!" It just so happened that Elyse and her architect husband, Lester Wertheimer, were looking for such a home on Lake Tahoe's north shore. How about building one and having Lester design it?  Alpine Log Homes embraced the opportunity to help with the log package. It wasn't long before two more brilliant local builders got into the act. With a full cast of committed professionals ready to go, the entire project took only six months from groundbreaking to picture hanging.

(Photos by Elyse Lewin)