An old chalet in Val d’Isère has been transformed into a cosy and luxurious family ski retreat and rental property.
Husband and wife duo, Amy and Hewie Dalrymple, of London-based interior design firm Dalrymple Studio, have recently completed the redesign of Chalet Blackcomb – a large, four-level family chalet in the magical Val d’Isère ski resort village in the French Alps.
The chalet was previously owned by a local Val d’Isère family who were avid downhill racers, and was originally split into two different dwellings – living areas for the family, and a small rental property on the ground level.
The chalet’s new owners are a family with three children who want to spend school holidays and Christmases at the property. They are also looking to rent the property out to holidaymakers when they are not using it. Their request was to double the size of the chalet and turn it into contemporary ski retreat with a cosy, soft palette, and light green hues.
To meet their requests, the Dalrymples completely gutted and extended the old chalet, and redesigned the entire property, from the internal architecture and spatial layouts, to the interior decor styling. They also created all the bespoke joinery and most of the bespoke furnishings used in the project, bringing an eclectic British aesthetic to the typical French chalet setting. They also added a basement level where a new pool and spa are located.
Because the original chalet was set up as two dwellings, the Dalrymples had to completely reimagine the layout and interior architecture.
“We only had the existing shell of the chalet, and a new extension which doubled the floor space for us to work with. We had to decide on the positioning of all new internal walls, along with a new staircase in order to maximise space and ensure we could include enough en suite bedrooms,” Hewie says.
Adds Amy: “Chalet Blackcomb is in a secluded part of Val d’Isère, in a cluster of chalets mostly owned by local families that have lived in the area for years.
“When designing the initial layout of the chalet, we had to be conscious of the window locations and positioning to ensure everyone in the family gets a good view from their rooms. It was also important the entire new back extension blended in with the existing features of the original building.”
The only interior architectural features from the old chalet that were retained were the large beams in the main sitting area. The Dalrymples replicated the aesthetics of these old beams for the new beams that they used in the extension, which contains the magnificent green kitchen.
The chalet has an open plan living room, a dining room, kitchen, a wrap-around balcony with a hot tub, five en suite bedrooms, three bathrooms, a study area, a pool and spa, and a laundry and utility room spread across four levels.
The storage spaces and utility room are contained within the basement, along with a 10-metre swimming pool and bar area with limewashed walls and overhead cladding.
“The stone for this space was sourced from a local company in Val d’Isère, and the old vintage sledge table adds a distinctly local character to this restorative space,” Amy says.
The entrance hall, boot room, guest bathroom and parking garage are on the ground level. “At the entrance hall, we included a bespoke, red ski chairlift which has the chalet’s name – Chalet Blackcomb – at the top,” Hewie says.
All five bedrooms, the study, and the balcony with the hot tub, are located on the first level.
On the top level, to the left of the staircase landing, is the main living room, dining and bar area, a reading corner, and a balcony that looks out to the village. The kitchen is set to the left of the staircase landing and is visually connected to the other communal area via a glass-panelled French partition wall and a door. Through the kitchen is another smaller living room with window seats and another guest bathroom.
Amy says the colour scheme was steered by the owners who wanted a pared-back palette that would harmonise with the wooden finishing. Pale green colours were used throughout, and a neutral-hued limewash with a lovely brush stroked finish was used for the pool area.
Much of the furniture in the chalet was custom designed by Dalrymple Studio and specifically made to fit into awkward corners. Some pieces, such as the statement live edge dining table, were handmade from fallen oak. The kitchen – one of the project’s most impressive spaces – was designed in a shaker style and painted green.
“What we created here is a contemporary and charming family holiday chalet that combines traditional and modern elements with interesting textures in a way that subtly links the old with the new,” Amy says.
Photos by Kensington Leverne