Mountain Calling
Interior Architecture | France
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
Defining the Brief
A large luxurious chalet which is an iconic property and was one of the first of its kind in this popular French mountain resort. We worked with our clients and a local team of contractors over the duration of several seasons to transform the house layout internally as well as adding space through a sympathetic extension. Nothing was left untouched; every bedroom and ensuite was refurbished, the pool and wellness areas renovated and extended, two new kitchens fitted plus new amenities added such as a gym and massage room and wine cellar. The vision was to modernize and recolor the beautiful original alpine architecture to create a luxurious haven for extended groups of family and friends to enjoy winter and summer holidays.
Bathroom Design
The property features seven bedrooms and ensuites which were in various states of outdated decoration and functionality. Our studio designers worked in CAD and 3d models to meticulously and creatively redraw walls to reshape spaces. The local team of structural engineers and builders helped us realize the dream to optimize every suite by enlarging vanity units, recessing mirror cabinets, separating WCs, enlarging showers, improving lighting, ventilation and water pressure. The resulting bathrooms each feature different tiles and colour schemes which are reflected in the bedroom furnishings.
Kitchen Design
The house features two kitchens – one large pro space for the chalet staff to prepare catering – and one for the family which is located in the upstairs open plan living dining entertainment floor. The family kitchen was replaced to optimize storage and functionality and we built cabinetry from reclaimed timber and added modern appliances and a luxurious drinks and entertainment bar with backlit marble. The pro kitchen space was entirely redesigned through structural changes to walls and an extension and fitted with professional poliform cabinets and a vast array of new appliances.
INTERIOR DESIGN
Lighting Design
Setting the mood
Possibilities for lighting schemes have moved on greatly since many ski chalets were built some 20+ years ago and we rewired the entire property to add new circuits and new types of lighting. Some of those are controlled via a lighting control system but we don’t believe this is necessary to create beautifully atmospherically lit rooms. However, providing for varied layers of lighting and selecting appropriate fittings and style of fixtures which can be individually controlled is very effective. We added up lights to the beams, LED to interiors of joinery and backlit marble, grand chandeliers made from glass and porcelain as well as many sizes and height of floor and table lamps.
Bespoke Joinery
Realising the potential
Chalet bedrooms are typically limited in size and skiing as a sport and vacation destination entails travelling with a lot more luggage than going on a beach holiday. As such we believe guest rooms must be fitted with sufficient and appropriately designed joinery to offer wardrobes, vanity tables and bedsides with plenty of hanging space, drawers, lighting and sockets and hooks. We plan every room in great detail to ensure all the comforts you would want to offer your family and friends are provided for so they don’t have to live out of a suitcase. This true understanding of the requirements of comfort is what drives our passion to deliver the ultimate luxury experience for our clients homes.
INTERIOR StYLING
Soft Furnishing
Adding the finishing touches
Whether we furnish a ski chalet, a beachside villa or a city home we pay exceptional attention to details and this is no more true than when it comes to final selections of fabrics for curtains, production of bespoke rugs customized in colors to suit the rooms schemes or recovering sofas and armchairs with luxuriously textured and durable sustainable materials. For the chalet experience we opt predominantly for wool mixtures, real furs, boucle, mohair and leather, mixed with some glimmers of silver and gold threads to add a sparkle.
