No.7
Interior designer Nicky Dobree has reached the height of success with the elegant renovation of a family-friendly French ski chalet
FEATURE VIVIENNE AYERS
EXTERIOR
The chalet has fabulous views of the Mont Blanc mountain range from its many decks and terraces
H OM E TRUTHS
THE PROPERTY A new build ski chalet
ROOMS Open-plan kitchen/living/dining room, TV and games room, spa, ski room, cinema room, bar, wine cellar, cloakroom, six bedrooms, six bathrooms
LOCATION Southeast France
HOW DID YOU COME TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT?
The client approached me directly as he wanted to build a chalet and I’m known in the industry for being a chalet designer.
WHAT WAS THE BRIEF?
The client has children and grandchildren, and he very much wanted a place to spend time with family and friends. The brief for the project was to design a family home that was a place to escape from the city.
HOW INVOLVED WAS THE HOMEOWNER?
He’s passionate about cooking, music and cinema. He felt very strongly about all those areas and so was particularly involved in the detail of what was chosen in them.
DESCRIBE THE HOMEOWNER’S STYLE
His aesthetic is classic contemporary.
WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION FOR THE SCHEME?
Nature itself – and, of course, inspiration always comes from the chalet’s location.
LIVING AREA
The wow factor open plan room incorporates spaces for relaxing and dining. The large table made from old French timber extends for entertaining. Leather Cab chairs by Cassina. Pendant light, Lindsey Adelman Studio. Table, bespoke
SKI ROOM
The bench provides the perfect place to put on or take off boots after a day’s skiing. Wall lights, Porta Romana
WHAT WERE YOUR MAIN PRIORITIES?
When designing a chalet, a sense of place is key. It’s incredibly important that it sits comfortably within its environment and its location. The materials that you use when you’re designing a chalet are dependent on the place and the timbers and natural stone from the local area. You are very much working with naturally sourced materials that are a reflection of the landscape in which the chalet is sitting and so you bring the outside in. Then, because stone and timber are quite hard materials, a layering of materials within the interior is crucial to soften the feel. In the bedrooms, for instance, we added leather to all the timber wardrobe doors to soften the wood.
WHICH ROOM WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT TO THE HOMEOWNER?
