Expert Julia Miller’s former career as a clinical social worker comes in surprisingly handy in her design projects.

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The clear crossover of soft skills, like bond building and interpreting needs, proved especially useful in reimagining this 1980s Sun Valley ski house. Purchased as a vacation retreat by a family from the Bay Area, the home’s vintage feel had sentimental ties for the husband who had spent his childhood winters in the Idaho resort town.

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“The clients wanted it to feel retro and fun,” says the founder of Yond Interiors. (Hint: a typically California-style scheme or overly contemporary mountain aesthetic was off the table.) The Expert knew exactly how to respond to the building’s strong cabin style and cedar-clad walls. She brought empathy to the table.

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“The level of relationship, investment, and skill in helping decipher what people need and want out of their homes is very similar to the work I did in the past,” she explains. “It was a matter of making it more functional and bringing it all together.” Low-slung furniture in soft silhouettes reminiscent of the 1970s ticked everyone’s boxes, with a vintage Patate sectional recovered in aubergine corduroy as the crowning piece.

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Julia even pulled off the request for wall-to-wall carpet by zoning areas with heavily textured wool rugs from specialist brand Beni: “Layering can be tricky, but a style with a heavy texture that’s completely different from the low-pile below creates an experience,” she explains.

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The chalet also had to be durable and usable; with relatives from Australia dropping by for several weeks at a time, the goal was to create many different spaces for people to work, study, play, or eat. In the breakfast nook, a banquette upholstered in a hard-wearing Pierre Frey plaid (which looks conceived specifically for the house) wraps around a travertine table. “It's the most durable finish you could get,” she says of the natural stone.

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Chunky vintage wood furniture, like the dining chairs, appealed not only because they complement the cozy walls. “Some of these older pieces are better constructed than modern-day equivalents and already have a level of wear and tear which makes them extra durable,” says Julia. Exquisite new finds are peppered throughout as well. Over the kitchen island—a spot as desirable for flicking through magazines as it is for tucking into a bowl of granola—a trio of Flowerpot pendants by Verner Panton taps into the retro-inspired palette.

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To stay on theme in the owners’ suite, Julia landed on Shoppe Amber Interiors’ stately Walker style. The accompanying nightstands were a meeting of minds between her studio and Faithful Roots, who brought them to life. The guest rooms are just as considered, with a fun, kid-friendly four-way bunk in the basement, and Beata Heuman’s Alma lights illuminating the other bedsides. “They add a punch of unexpected color,” she says. “The little on/off switch and flexible shade are also great for usability.”

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Julia’s most satisfying feat is the primary bathroom vanity. An artful blend of tonal oak and onyx, the challenge was creating as much storage as possible in a deceptively shallow space. “My team finds technically difficult tasks fun,” she explains. “Small details like ensuring that the backsplash lined up perfectly with the medicine cabinet took a lot of time to execute.”

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Secondary homes are often just as prized as main residences: “It’s an important experience,” muses the Expert. It blends the nostalgic early memories of seasonal getaways and serves as a gathering place for new traditions to form. “We take great care to ensure a thoughtful process, which requires a lot of emotional intelligence.” Arguably, no one is better qualified.