Our Team

  • Megan Bristol

    PRINCIPAL DESIGNER & CO-FOUNDER

    Megan leads Tahoe Modern's design team and is the creative director for the brand. If you love our Instagram, she is the one behind it (most often while drinking coffee in bed). She draws inspiration from Sierra Nevada's beauty, blending natural elements with contemporary style to achieve our signature West Coast Mountain Modern aesthetic. When she’s not designing or posting, you'll find her surfing, mountain biking, somewhere in Mexico with a margarita, or spending quality time with her dog Rex (aka Tahoe Modern’s lazy intern).

  • Nick Polinko

    CO-FOUNDER & CEO

    With a mechanical engineering and fine art background, Nick is the swiss army knife of Tahoe Modern. He builds complex models and internal systems to support our growth and efficency, custom designs one-of-a-kind art pieces to delight our clients, and leads all special projects.. When he's not doing it all, you can find him on a bike, surfing Baja, or finding fun and creative ways to make Megan smile.

  • Kyra Edwards

    SENIOR INTERIOR DESIGNER

    Before joining Tahoe Modern, Kyra worked at a variety of tech-based interior design startups. Her passion and enthusiasm for interior design shines through her vibrant mood boards, color stories, and 3D renderings. When she’s not designing, you can likely find her running after her (adorable) two year old daughter, Evie. Kyra also enjoys sewing her own custom dresses!

  • Justin Moore

    LEAD INTERIOR DESIGNER

    After an accomplished 11-year career in hospitality, Justin transitioned to interior design, merging his passion for creativity with a strong foundation in client-focused service. He refined his skills through formal education and hands-on experience, developing a thoughtful and innovative approach to design. Outside of work, Justin finds inspiration in the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe, his travels abroad, and the joy of exploring new cultures with his husband, Steve, and their two dogs, Buffy and Chip.

  • Kate Hirschfelt

    PROJECT MANAGER

    Kate comes from an art/design background and considers herself a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to interior design, graphic design, and marketing. She challenges herself to work on a variety of projects (from layout design to photoshop) and feels recharged when learning new skills along the way. As a nature-enthusiast, its been a dream come true to live and work in one of the world’s most beautiful mountain regions! Outside the office, you can find her reading (likely in a hammock with a glass of wine), plein-air painting, throwing pots for her growing plant collection, or hiking around local trails.

  • Julie Butler

    SHOWROOM SPECIALIST

    Julie is a natural communicator and connector with an eye for design. With a deep background in Tahoe real estate and a longtime passion for interior design, Julie brings a unique perspective to every client interaction. She is dedicated to providing personalized attention and ensuring that each space reflects the individual style and needs of her clients. Julie's expertise in both real estate and interior design allows her to offer comprehensive guidance for those looking to transform their dream home. When Julie is not on the floor of the Showroom you can find her on the tennis courts or the ski slopes.

  • Gina Updegraff

    SHOWROOM SPECIALIST

    Gina is a retired firefighter living her dream in Truckee! Working at Tahoe Modern completes that dream by allowing her to be a part of a cohesive, creative team. She has always enjoyed design and she and her husband have renovated, decorated and flipped several homes in Truckee over the last 10 years. When she's not helping clients in the Showroom or on installs, she loves to hike, mountain bike and spend time with family and friends.