Interior design and furnishing of a chalet in Chamonix (74)
With the interior design and furnishings of this three-storey, 800 m2 chalet, Agence Amevet has completed a major project in Chamonix Mont-Blanc, the world capital of skiing and mountaineering.
Facing the sparkling Bossons glacier, Granite Mountain Lodge is a particularly successful renovation, set against the rocks and set in a natural setting of small lakes and tall trees.
After numerous discussions with the owner, who had already spotted our agency and its work, Agence Amevet was chosen in 2021 to design the interior and furnish this splendid chalet.
From the drawing up of the initial plans to delivery in early 2023, the project is being carried out in perfect harmony with the architect Haag et Baquet in charge of the building, and in full compliance with the owner’s requirements, particularly in terms of detailed finishes and budget. All in a friendly, caring spirit!
Three floors and a guest house annex
Owned and rented out by a London family, this chalet occupies 800 m2 on three floors served by a lift. The layout of the corridors and a large room for people with reduced mobility will enable all types of guests to be accommodated.
In the immediate vicinity of the main building, a 180 m2 guest house annex offers two flats, one for the property manager, the other for stays or rentals. Agence Amevet also worked on this second chalet, with a simpler proposal.
Sobriety, simplicity, fluidity
From the many meetings with the client, all conducted in English, the key themes that have guided the agency’s work have gradually emerged.
The chalet will be contemporary, while respecting the usual standards of mountain architecture. YES to wood, stone, rendering and typical mountain materials! BUT, with moderation and sometimes even parsimony, so as not to block or even limit the entry of natural light! And to ensure that almost every room has unobstructed views of the glaciers and the access routes to the summit of Mont Blanc.
No ostentatious luxury, but a commitment to uniformity and unity, and the application of simple principles such as sobriety, fluidity and simplicity… Applied to shapes and colours, the absence of ‘frills’ enhances the presence of paintings, objects and works of art.
Storage and layout
Agence Amevet’s main challenge was to organise the space, optimising it by increasing the amount of storage space and using layout tips.
Anecdote: the visit to the owners’ London home, via FaceTime, to gain a better understanding of their way of life, their expectations and their tastes. And to illustrate their desire for clean, uncluttered spaces.
This desire led Élodie, the interior designer in charge of the project, to be extremely inventive in the design of the wardrobes and cupboards. For example, the toilet cupboards are built into the walls, giving the impression that the mirror is flush with the wall. The storage space is thus concealed behind the mirror. Or these ingenious plans, supplied to the Italian designer to enable a 4-bed dormitory bed to be converted almost instantly into a double bed for a couple.
A functional and welcoming garden level
On the garden level, the vast entrance has been designed as a waiting area for guests welcomed by the master of the house. A beautiful console table holds flower arrangements and decorative objects. Scattered among the storage cupboards, niches can house sculptures and works of art, to embellish this reception area that can be personalised over time.
The large, particularly comfortable ski room, equipped with a number of boot, helmet and clothes dryers, is large enough to accommodate everyone at the same time.
In the preparation kitchen, you can imagine a chef preparing dishes, which are then taken up to the second kitchen on the ground floor, where they are prepared for service.
As well as being a reading room, the library is like a second living room, designed for relaxation, games and cinema, with state-of-the-art equipment, a roll-up screen and blackout curtains. On the wall, numerous storage compartments conceal the projection equipment, and house board games and plaids.
A children’s dormitory provides additional capacity.
A very bright ground floor
The ground floor is characterised by large, almost monumental rooms that are always very sober.
Ten people were needed to carry the solid wood table, where sixteen guests can share the meals prepared on the ground floor and transported to the second kitchen.
A central fireplace divides the space between the living room on one side and the dining room on the other. In the living room, a large bay window offers a breathtaking view of the seracs of the Bossons glacier. If you look up, you’ll discover a large office on the upper level, with two fully equipped workstations. A glass pane provides a view of the fireplace and warms the working atmosphere.
Also on the ground floor is the wellness and fitness area, with a large swimming pool, a glass-enclosed sauna, a gym and a shower area.
An adapted first floor
All four bedrooms on the first floor have en-suite bathrooms.
The first ‘Master’ bedroom has a cosy area where you can contemplate the view of the Mont Blanc massif.
The second ‘Master’ bedroom, located under a sloping roof, has large skylights that give it plenty of natural light.
The third bedroom and its bathroom are designed to accommodate people with reduced mobility.
In total, the chalet can welcome 15 people for the night.
Sober and elegant furniture
Admittedly, there are some very fine pieces of substantial size, such as the solid wood table in the dining room, or the fantastic sofas in the living room.
But the owners’ brief was to keep things simple, solid and easy to maintain, in order to meet the constraints of the rental market.
This was a great challenge for Cyril, Agence Amevet’s furniture expert, who rose to the challenge by proposing products offering excellent value for money.
In the end, the furniture plays a key role in enhancing the appeal of this beautiful chalet, which, while remaining very ‘mountain’ in its overall design, has all the hallmarks of a contemporary chalet.
Date:
10 October 2023
Category:
Particuliers
