MOUNTAIN CHALET

Discover why the traditional chalet style captivates residents of the plains who grew up by the sea.

The Origin of Chalet Style

The chalet style originated in southeastern France. The word “chalet” literally translates to “shepherd’s hut” in French. However, modern chalets are far from simple huts; they are comfortable, warm, and cozy homes found in private estates or tourist ski resorts like the Górska Osada Luxury Chalet in Zakopane, Poland. The interiors of these chalets serve as illustrations for this article.

The Appeal of Alpine Style

Today, the Alpine style is highly sought after by residents of the plains. Returning from vacations in the mountains, they want to bring the cozy chalet feel into their homes.

Architecture

Originally, the architectural features and interiors of “shepherd’s huts” were dictated by natural and climatic conditions. Surrounded by mountains and forests, with snow all around, roofs were made steep and gabled to prevent snow accumulation. Traditional architecture influenced interiors with very high ceilings and exposed ceiling beams, often left unplastered and highlighted with color. We are currently working on an Alpine-style home on the coast. Despite being a single-story building, the ceiling height at the ridge reaches 8.5 meters.

Materials

Nature dictates the choice of furniture, wall and ceiling finishes, and accessories. Wood is prioritized, as shown in the interiors of Górska Osada Luxury Chalet. When surrounded by mountains and forests, the question of what to make furniture from doesn’t arise. You cut down a suitable tree, hew it, and craft it—everything is as simple as possible. This is the root of another important style feature—the wood should have a natural rough texture, so it undergoes minimal processing and is often left unpainted.

Stone, originally used to strengthen the foundations of authentic chalets to prevent them from being swept away by avalanches, is now used alongside wood for wall finishes, fireplace cladding, and accessories. The fireplace in Górska Osada Luxury Chalet was built on a mountain rock weighing over 3 tons, which had to be installed during the construction phase, making its assembly quite a challenge. This impressive feature not only enhances the rustic charm of the chalet but also serves as a focal point that brings warmth and character to the living space.

In modern chalet decor, glass is often used. It works well in combination with wood and stone, for example, in stair railings. This mix helps make the interior lighter while retaining its natural charm.

Furniture

As seen in Górska Osada Luxury Chalet, in addition to wooden items, a spacious sofa with many cushions is essential, accommodating the whole family. A large wooden table for friendly gatherings is also a must.

It’s important to organize individual comfort zones—a cozy chair with a floor lamp next to it creates a relaxing atmosphere.

Loft-style items and vintage furniture blend well with wood and stone in chalet interiors but should be incorporated delicately.

Essential Element – The Fireplace

Fireplaces in Alpine homes were the main heat source, made large and rugged, clad with boulders, or with an open hearth.

Modern chalets have more advanced heating systems, but they are unimaginable without a fireplace. An intentionally “rugged” fireplace serves as the main accent, anchoring the interior, while all other items are subordinate to it. A minimalist designer fireplace also fits perfectly into a chalet-style living room.

Local Adaptations

Blindly copying any style is dull and outdated. Designing a traditional chalet with all its attributes in the Baltics, for example, is somewhat inappropriate and impractical. In the Alps, clean white snow can be easily brushed off shoes, while in our region, slush and dirty wet footprints on wooden floors are inevitable. Therefore, it makes more sense to use tiles with a wood-like texture and other non-traditional chalet materials.

When using natural wood in finishes, remember temperature and humidity fluctuations, so choose durable, reliable wood species like oak or larch.

Modern chalets favor large panoramic windows offering views of picturesque landscapes. Our views are no less beautiful, but we must consider the strong winds typical of the region, so windows should be wind-resistant.

Distinctive Features

One distinguishing feature is the use of animal horns and skins. However, living surrounded by such decor might not be very comfortable. So, a designer lamp can be preferred over a chandelier made of deer antlers, and a carpet instead of a natural hide.

When choosing textiles, prioritize natural materials: linen, heavy cotton, and wool. The color palette should also be natural—shades of beige, brown, gray, and creamy. Bright accents are permissible but should be used sparingly.

Designer: Urszula Górska Iwicka. Photos: Rafał Lipski. www.gorskaosada.com

Note: The original article referenced the domain gorskaosada.pl. The domain has since been updated to gorskaosada.com.