Houzz Tour: A Stylish Alpine Chalet With Incredible Mountain Views
Customized technology, design details and art add to the splendor of this vacation home in the Swiss Alps
“ ‘James Bond meets Austin Powers’ was the challenge the owner set!” says Davina Merola, who created the interior of this fresh and fun three-story chalet in the Swiss Alps. “He wanted color everywhere. This was to be a vibrant second home that made the most of the views but felt funky and contemporary too.”
So rather than sporting traditional ski chalet style — think lots of beige tones and wood furniture — the house sings with color, from striped rugs and cushions to an art-installation-style dining table that positively glows. “The owner had an aversion to neutrals,” Merola says, “so I was able to have lots of fun with soft furnishings. The design boards looked quite crazy at first, with all the Kenzo and Missoni colors, but when spread throughout the house, they work really well.”
So rather than sporting traditional ski chalet style — think lots of beige tones and wood furniture — the house sings with color, from striped rugs and cushions to an art-installation-style dining table that positively glows. “The owner had an aversion to neutrals,” Merola says, “so I was able to have lots of fun with soft furnishings. The design boards looked quite crazy at first, with all the Kenzo and Missoni colors, but when spread throughout the house, they work really well.”
The owner of the chalet bought the land and then employed a team of builders and architects to create his home. “I was involved from the start,” says interior designer Davina Merola, “which meant I could contribute to the spatial arrangements, lighting and AV specifications.”
The owner wanted to install quality sound and vision technology and Lutron lighting, all on Crestron intelligent-control systems. “He brought a team over from the U.K. to rig up the house,” Merola says. “It was a very complex installation…. Now he has remote access and monitoring of the heating, lighting and security systems over a secure Web link, so he can adjust any of them from anywhere in the world.”
The owner wanted to install quality sound and vision technology and Lutron lighting, all on Crestron intelligent-control systems. “He brought a team over from the U.K. to rig up the house,” Merola says. “It was a very complex installation…. Now he has remote access and monitoring of the heating, lighting and security systems over a secure Web link, so he can adjust any of them from anywhere in the world.”
The owner loves to cook and wanted a crisp, white kitchen. “He wanted to install something very modern, pared-back and quite architectural,” Merola says. “He had trained as a chef, so there are stainless steel worktops too, which are a nice professional touch.”
The dining table incorporates a light installation by artists Rob and Nick Carter. “The owner came across them on [TV program] The Apprentice,” Merola says. “They were working with a contestant. He loved their work and got in touch, asking them to design something. At first they thought he meant an artwork for the walls, but no, it was a table!”
The lights go through different color themes, pre-programmed by the artists. “I had to amalgamate it with the table structure, which we had made from steel,” Merola says. “The cabling runs out through the legs, and it had to be positioned just under the sculptural pendant light.”
Aloe Blossom light: Jeremy Cole
The lights go through different color themes, pre-programmed by the artists. “I had to amalgamate it with the table structure, which we had made from steel,” Merola says. “The cabling runs out through the legs, and it had to be positioned just under the sculptural pendant light.”
Aloe Blossom light: Jeremy Cole
“We had fun with the fireplace,” Merola says. “It’s designed to look like a mini mountain. When you come up the stairs from the ground floor, your eyes are in line with the fire and then there are the mountains behind it. It seems to add to the run of mountains outside.”
Designing the fireplace was an interesting challenge. “I didn’t want a flue carving up the space, but we wanted it in a central position,” Merola says. The solution was a system that draws the smoke down and then out through a flue running up the stairwell. “So now it looks like a floating mountain,” she says. “The lid hinges up to add logs. We had it made by a French steelworking company.”
The interior of the living floor is deliberately pared-down to create a space in which visitors can easily move around. “The owner entertains a lot and has parties, so he wanted the rooms to feel sociable,” Merola says. “Most of the middle floor is open-plan living space.”
“Tech is the owner’s passion,” Merola says. “He really enjoyed working all that in.” The TV is flanked by three speakers with subdued LED lighting behind each. Henry the chow chow seems oblivious though.
Sofa: Leolux; rug: Paul Smith for The Rug Company; footstool: Missoni Home
Sofa: Leolux; rug: Paul Smith for The Rug Company; footstool: Missoni Home
The entrance hall is home to a custom chandelier, which Merola designed with a glassblower. It represents Earth, with its red molten middle at the bottom, rising up to blue sky at the top. “The hall has a lot of wood in it, but this unique piece really softens the space,” Merola says.
This bedroom on the top floor features plaster on some of its walls. “Some people plaster over a lot more of the walls in a chalet so it’s not all wood,” Merola says. “Here, though, the owner wanted to have as much of the wood showing as possible.”
To keep the look light, wide planks fitted on the horizontal were specified, unlike the thinner planks from which most chalets are typically made. The table lamps were designed by Merola and made in Switzerland.
To keep the look light, wide planks fitted on the horizontal were specified, unlike the thinner planks from which most chalets are typically made. The table lamps were designed by Merola and made in Switzerland.
The lime and chocolate colors in this bathroom continue the palette in the adjoining bedroom (seen in the previous picture). “No beige or gray was allowed!” Merola says. The owner also wanted a big bathtub. This one is about 6½ feet long, bigger than a standard-size tub. “It’s made of a quartz composite, which is lighter,” Merola says. “The basins are solid limestone.”
La Vasca bathtub: Via Arkadia
La Vasca bathtub: Via Arkadia
Lights fitted into the recess on the wall behind the huge bath create a glow after dark.
“I love the design of these taps,” Merola says. “You can turn them on even if you have very soapy hands!”
Tara faucets: Dornbracht
Tara faucets: Dornbracht
“The owner wanted to make sure the views were not compromised in any way,” Merola says, “but he also wanted very big screens in all the bedrooms.” The solution was a media screen that drops down from the ceiling. The master bedroom also features mirrored wardrobes that reflect the view.
This bathroom, behind the master bedroom, features strong lines. “The taps, shower and bespoke towel rail are all quite square and linear,” Merola says. “I managed to get some gray in here, but I did have to put blue tiles on the floor to brighten it up!”
Axor faucet and shower head: Hansgrohe
Axor faucet and shower head: Hansgrohe
“I wanted to make the bedrooms a little bit different,” Merola explains. The walls are partially plastered, to lighten up the space. “It breaks up the wood, which can be a little bit oppressive, particularly in a bedroom.”
Headboard fabric: Missoni Home; throw and cushions: Kenzo Home; Louis Ghost chair by Philippe Starck: The Conran Shop
Headboard fabric: Missoni Home; throw and cushions: Kenzo Home; Louis Ghost chair by Philippe Starck: The Conran Shop
The headboard in this guest bedroom, like the previous one, is covered in Missoni fabric.
Pillows and throw: Missoni Home
Pillows and throw: Missoni Home
This beautifully lit sauna is on the bottom floor of the house, where the master bath and bedroom, two guest rooms and a home theater are also situated. There’s also a specially ventilated equipment room on this floor. “The owner has a massive sound and DVD collection, which is stored on a big server down here,” Merola says.
The chalet’s exterior, which is beautifully lit, features a hot tub and speakers. “When the dining table is doing its light show, it makes for a wonderful view from out here,” Merola says. “It changes color like a UFO.”
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Who lives here: An entrepreneurial businessman, along with visiting family and friends
Location: The Swiss Alps
Size: Five bedrooms, five bathrooms
Interior designer: Davina Merola of Space Alchemy Interior Design
A priority for the interior design of this home was that it make the most of the wonderful mountain views. On the central living floor, two Bond-esque armchairs provide the perfect spot from which to take in the vistas.
Lounge chairs: Geoffrey Drayton; Illusion table by John Brauer: Panik Design