Between alpine elegance and discreet modernity

Interior design and furnishings for a chalet in Chamonix (74)

With the interior design and furnishing of this 800 sqm chalet spread over three levels, Agence Amevet delivers a large-scale project in Chamonix Mont-Blanc, the world capital of skiing and mountaineering.

Facing the sparkling Bossons Glacier, the Granite Mountain Lodge is a particularly successful renovation, set against the rock face and nestled within a natural setting of small lakes and towering trees.

After numerous discussions with the owner-who had previously identified our agency and its projects-Agence Amevet was selected in 2021 to handle the interior design and furniture for this magnificent chalet.

From the development of the initial plans to delivery in early 2023, the project was carried out in perfect harmony with architects Haag et Baquet, responsible for the building structure, and in full respect of the owner’s requirements, particularly regarding finishing details and budget. All of this in a friendly and collaborative spirit!

Sobriety, simplicity, fluidity

Numerous meetings with the customer, all conducted in English, gradually led to the emergence of the main themes that guided the agency’s work.

The chalet will be contemporary, while respecting the usual standards of mountain architecture. YES to wood, stone, rendering and other typical mountain materials! BUT, in moderation and sometimes even sparingly, 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 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, simplicity… Applied to shapes and shades, the absence of “frills” enhances the presence of paintings, objects and works of art.

Three floors and adjoining guest house

Owned and rented out by a London family, this chalet occupies 800 m2 on three floors, served by an elevator.

The layout of the corridors and a large room for people with reduced mobility will make it possible to accommodate all types of public.

In the immediate vicinity of the main building, a 180 m2 guest house annex offers two apartments, one for the property manager, the other for stays or rentals. Agence Amevet also worked on this second chalet, with a simpler proposal.

Storage and furnishings

Agence Amevet’s main challenge was to organize the space and optimize it by multiplying storage and layout tips.

Anecdote: a visit to the owners’ London home, via FaceTime, to better understand their way of life, their expectations and their tastes. To illustrate their desire for clean, uncluttered spaces.

This led Élodie, the interior designer in charge of the project, to deploy a wealth of inventiveness in the design of dressers and closets. For example, the toilet cabinets are recessed into the partition walls, giving the impression that the mirror is flush with the wall. Storage space is thus concealed behind the mirror. Or these ingenious plans, supplied to the Italian designer to enable the almost instantaneous transformation of a 4-bed dormitory bed into a double bed for a couple.

A bright first floor

The first floor is characterized by large, almost monumental rooms that are always very sober.
It took ten people to carry the solid wood table, where sixteen guests can share meals prepared on the first 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 masterfully equipped workstations. A glass pane provides a view of the fireplace, warming the working atmosphere.
The first floor also features a wellness and fitness area, with a large swimming pool, glazed sauna, gym and shower area.

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 or decorative objects. Scattered among the storage cupboards, niches can house sculptures and works of art, to embellish this welcoming space that can be personalized over time.
The large, particularly comfortable ski room, equipped with several boot, helmet and clothing dryers, is large enough to accommodate everyone at once.
In the preparation kitchen, you can imagine a chef preparing dishes, which are then taken upstairs to the second kitchen on the first 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 including a roll-up screen and blackout curtains. On the wall, numerous storage compartments conceal projection equipment, and house board games and plaids.
A dormitory, designed for children, increases the reception capacity.

An adapted second floor

The four bedrooms on the first floor all 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 make it very bright.

The third bedroom and its bathroom are designed to accommodate people with reduced mobility.

In total, the chalet can accommodate 15 people for the night.

Sober, elegant furniture

Of course, there are some very beautiful 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 had other aims and specifications in mind: simplicity, sturdiness and ease of maintenance, to meet the constraints of rental.
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 final analysis, the furniture plays a full part in enhancing this beautiful, enveloping chalet which, while remaining very “mountain” in its overall design, displays all the contemporary codes.