This mountain retreat made modern is a seriously stylish Alpine abode that takes chalet chic to another level
ENTRANCE
This is the entrance to the apartment building, which was designed in 1939. All the fixtures and fittings are original, including the fabulous mosaic floor
BAR/KITCHEN
Part of the open-plan living space, this drinks area allows for cocktails to be served while dinner is cooking.
LIVING SPACE
The modern-retro style was inspired by the historical context of the building. Fanny took influences from the interiors of the 1950s, when the building was converted from a hotel into apartments.
Fanny Rossi and her family first fell in love with the charming French ski resort of Megève six years ago. ‘The children were amazed by the horse-drawn carriages and the magical Christmas lights,’ she says. ‘The resort is very family-friendly and festive; although, actually, it is just as pleasant to visit in the summer as it is during winter.’
Their fondness for the village prompted them to buy their own place there. Located in a listed building, this apartment, with its beautiful volumes and magnificent views over mountains, was perfect. ‘I could immediately see myself here,’ says Fanny. It had been renovated 18 years previously, although she felt it had not been ‘at all optimised – there was lots of unused attic space.’
For her revamp, Fanny teamed up with architecture agency Les Montagnardes, headed up by Hélène Roux. ‘Lise Marchessi from Les Montagnardes worked closely with me throughout the project,’ says Fanny. ‘She selected trusted companies and she gave good advice on optimising storage space, as well as regarding the materials.’ It was a real joint effort and Fanny delved deep into the nitty gritty of the new design for the apartment, helping with the rejig the layout and choosing new materials inspired by boutique hotels and restaurants she had visited over the years, as well as features spotted in magazines. ‘I gather small touches of different ideas to create my own universe,’ she says.
Over six months, basic renovations were carried out. Fanny ensured many of the features – such as the wooden floors, storage niches, remaining doors by the architect, Henry Jacques Le Même, and granite fireplace – were kept. ‘In the end, we decided to place the kitchen in the living room,’ says Fanny. ‘And, for privacy reasons, we thought it was important to give everyone their own bathroom. We also added lots of custom-made st
