cropped favicon.png
amdéco
COTTAGE RENOVATION

Your mountain chalet renovation expert

Renovating an old cottage and designing a new one present distinct challenges and opportunities for an interior designer. Agence Amevet has nearly 30 years’ specific experience and numerous interior renovation projects to its credit, throughout the Alps!

Enhance your mountain chalet with Agence Amevet

3 good reasons to choose Agence Amevet interior designers for your renovation project. Proven expertise with a long list of references in the mountains. Ideas for personalized design and style tailored to each homeowner. The proven ability to carry out a harmonious and successful renovation project from A to Z, at the agreed price.

Contact us

Constant support, professional advice, decision-making assistance, unexpected problem-solving… Agence Amevet’s team makes life easier for you, by accompanying you every step of the way.

  • Personalized design: creation of an interior design for a tailor-made layout and renovation of your “mountain home”.
  • Harmonization of style: preservation of the original mountain character and charm, integration of modern, practical elements. Choice of colors, materials and textures in harmony with nature and the nearby mountain pastures.
  • Space optimization: rearranging rooms to improve circulation, intelligent storage solutions.
  • Selection of sustainable, local, environmentally integrated and climate-resistant materials.
  • Knowledge of standards and regulations: local building codes, safety regulations, technical standards (insulation, waterproofing, etc.). A good architect’s bible!
  • Follow-up: coordination of tradesmen (carpenter, electrician, plumber). Budget, schedule.
  • Improving energy efficiency: energy-efficient solutions for thermal insulation, heating and ventilation systems, recommendations for energy-efficient appliances and smart home technologies.
  • Creating friendly, comfortable atmospheres: lighting, textures, decorative elements…
  • Heritage enhancement: integration of contemporary design elements while respecting the historic character of the chalet. Restoration of architectural elements (exposed beams, old fireplaces).

For the various living spaces, from bedrooms to living rooms, Agence Amevet’s architects bring specific ideas, technical and aesthetic skills to the table.

  • Bathrooms: while combining materials extracted from nearby nature, soft lighting, windows for light and panoramic views, it is necessary to ensure excellent technical insulation, install underfloor heating and efficient ventilation. A glass-enclosed walk-in shower, towel warmer, toilet and stone or ceramic washbasin are the musts of a cosy, comfortable bathroom.
  • The kitchen: it should be wide open, and the colors and materials used should be consistent with the living areas, including the dining room. From there, almost anything goes. Combine modern, energy-efficient appliances, sturdy granite or wood worktops, a stainless steel sink with natural materials and lighting that’s as precise as it is warm. A central island enhances functionality.
  • Bedrooms: you can use local materials, choose elegant, comfortable furniture, with custom-made layouts, add soft, warm lighting… For beds, with or without built-in storage, select high-quality mattresses, favor single or custom-made headboards, which can be trimmed with fabrics to personalize your decor.
  • The living room: large openings will maximize outside light and enhance panoramic views. The stone hearth creates a welcoming focal point. Soft lighting, natural materials, wool rugs and cushions add to the feeling of comfort. For your living room, choose furniture that combines comfort, durability and aesthetics. Sofas in leather or thick fabrics, armchairs with comfortable cushions, for example.

Maximizing comfort and energy efficiency

For your “home at altitude”, make insulation and energy efficiency a priority! Their combination guarantees comfort. Insulating facades, walls, roofs and floors reduces energy costs and optimizes the operation of modern, environmentally-friendly heating systems such as heat pumps. Warmer, cozier and more energy-efficient, your property will benefit economically.

Boost the real estate value of your chalet

Renovating a mountain chalet increases its value by improving its aesthetic appeal, modernity, energy efficiency, comfort and durability. This is essential, whether for resale or to maximize income from chalet rentals. A good architect knows this!

Points that create value :

  • As in a house, optimizing energy efficiency by improving thermal insulation and installing heating systems that are more efficient and more economical than in older buildings.
  • Upmarket comfort and functionality through kitchen and bathroom modernization, space redesign, high-quality equipment and finishes, home automation, excellent Internet connectivity…
  • Aesthetics enhanced by a warm, contemporary interior design that respects the traditional character of the property.
  • Our commitment to the environment, reflected in our use of ecological, sustainable materials and energy certification…
  • Adding surface areas, “pushing the walls” to integrate leisure and wellness zones (spa, sauna, swimming pool, gym).
Amevet

Durable, elegant materials to renovate your cottage

When it comes to restoring mountain chalets, we prefer “durable” materials that can withstand harsh climatic conditions and blend harmoniously with their surroundings. Here are a few examples, chosen for their technical performance, but also for their ability to preserve the authenticity and character of the buildings.

  • Different types of wood (spruce, larch, oak), for cladding, flooring, fittings and furniture, such as the large dining room table.
  • Slate and other minerals, which are increasingly finding their way into interiors (fireplaces, etc.).
  • Metal, such as steel used for structural elements (staircases, etc.) and decoration.
  • Glass, for windows and bay windows, but also for furniture and decoration.
  • Insulation, increasingly ecological: rock wool, fiber, hemp, lime…

Chalet Furnishing Service

Planning your renovation project

The human relationship is crucial to the success and enjoyment of the next steps. It ensures clear communication, mutual understanding and effective collaboration.

  1. Initial consultation: your needs, your budget, your expectations.
  2. Assessment: visit, audit, measurements…
  3. Design: plans, sketches, choice of materials and furniture.
  4. Validation: presentation of the project, adjustments up to the final OK.
  5. Planning: work schedule, coordination with contractors.
  6. Works supervision: regular supervision, site meetings.
  7. Delivery: inspection, any adjustments, handover of keys.

<b>Cottage renovation</b> FAQs
  • 01.
    What are the key elements to consider before starting a cottage renovation?
    • Assessment of the existing structure and its limitations: building condition, insulation, electrical and plumbing installations, etc. Respect for the history and character of the building. Restoration of original architectural elements. Performance improvements: insulation, energy efficiency, carbon footprint reduction, etc. Use or reuse of existing structures and materials. The variability of the budget, which must include room for "surprises". The same applies to duration: a renovation may take longer, due to unforeseen discoveries and the need to preserve or restore existing elements.
  • 02.
    How much should I budget for a complete renovation of my chalet?
    • Your budget depends above all on the condition of the property to be renovated and the ambition of your project. This ambition can be expressed in terms of surface area, floors, fittings, furniture and decoration, not to mention the personal touch that will make this chalet unlike any other. It's also useful to know whether the property will be rented out, as this can have a major influence on how it's furnished. Agence Amevet is at your disposal to listen to you, to meet with you, to visit the site with you, and to produce a first envelope with a schedule as quickly as possible.
  • 03.
    Are there any specific constraints to renovating a chalet in a protected area or in the high mountains?
    • The mountains are by nature a more complicated terrain for expression than the plains. Agence Amevet, which has carried out 90% of its projects in the mountains, is well aware of this. Behind the sophistication of winter sports resorts lie ever-changing challenges: the routing of goods, snow removal, security, climatic conditions, etc. Added to this are stricter regulations, the dissociation between parking areas and pedestrian zones, the need to avoid disturbing the peace and quiet of holidaymakers, and so on. This context often has an impact on costs and deadlines. That's why it's best to entrust this type of project to a professional experienced in all these constraints and steeped in mountain culture.
  • 04.
    Can you preserve a chalet's historic features while modernizing it?
    • Numerous chalets successfully renovated by Agence Amevet show that it's possible to combine tradition and modernity. Their wood or natural stone facades, exposed frameworks, original stone fireplaces and period moldings have been preserved, but their insulation has been completely rethought. Modern heating and plumbing systems were concealed behind walls and design elements. Windows have been replaced while retaining a character close to the original style. Bathrooms, kitchens, wellness areas and high-end media have found their place in the old structures. Home automation controls everything. And the decor and furnishings have established a harmonious link between the before and after.
  • 05.
    What is the process for obtaining a renovation estimate from Agence Amevet?
    • Once you've contacted us, Pierre-François Amevet, the agency's founder and director, will get in touch with you. It will then probably be necessary to meet you on site, for initial assessments. On site, the Amevet team will visit the site with you, taking notes and producing photos and videos for more in-depth work back at the office. This visit provides an opportunity to discuss your project vision in greater detail. We'll ask you about your budget, timetable and so on. If you're not quite there yet, don't worry! We'll have enough information to quickly give you an initial budget, including a "margin for manoeuvre" - since renovation isn't an exact science! Estimates, like schedules, will be refined as the weeks go by.
renovation chalet en fuste 02
CONTACT

You have a project, a question, you would like to be contacted

Use the form

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Let us know what you think. Got a question for us? We'd love to hear from you.