Carte Blanche
It is not often that an interior designer is given complete free rein by the client, even less so when the brief is to create a chalet which feels like a hotel. When presented with this opportunity for a house in the Charlevoix ski area, Quebecois interior design firm Perron took on the challenge with the enthusiasm of a keen skier on virgin powder and created a delightful holiday home perfect for large gatherings.
Instead of the predictable Alpine look with ubiquitous wood cladding, the designers opted to use a selection of sleek contemporary furniture to create multiple areas with distinct personalities. The entrance lobby offers a warm welcome with its brick paving and suspended fireplace. This leads to a flamboyant hallway (with four ensuite bedrooms branching off it) complete with fluted panel walls, a platform sofa against a picture window and a dramatic carpet, in a style that would not look out of place in a hip boutique hotel.
An open staircase leads up to the double-height great room on the first floor, dominated by a grand horseshoe-shaped kitchen island with enough counter seating for the entire Canadian ski team. There is a formal dining area with a rough hewn wooden table and chairs with different shaped seat backs, which bring an element of informality to a formal setting. For casual dining there is a joyous breakfast nook, anchored by a red banquette with tables and lights in a riotous burst of colours. The main living area, dominated by a sage green centre sofa, offers a refuge for calm relaxation, as does the cosy seating area with a very hygge suspended armchair and furry sofa.
The kids have the free run of the lower ground floor, which can be reached by stairs or, for those who are in a rush, a slide. This includes a "dormitory" of bunk beds, lounging and dining areas as well as a playroom with a climbing wall, swing and ping-pong table. There is also a fifth ensuite bedroom, reserved no doubt for the supervising adults who drew the short straw.
The designers have created a panoply of thoughtful features and fun details throughout the chalet, from the glass-walled wine room, home office, yellow piano and reading nook to the hotel lobby style luggage cart and "Bertha" branded toiletries in the bathrooms. These design vignettes not only offer great visual interest, but they also create distinct zones with different vibes for different groups to hang out, just as you would expect from a well designed hotel.
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Product Inspiration
We love the electic selection of furniture in the Chalet Bertha. Try something similar with the Savina Modular Sofa from Viccarbe, the Pion Occasional Table from Sancal and the Mathilda Chair from Moroso.
You can create different vibes with discrete table and wall lights, such as the Le Deux Table Lamp from 101 Copenhagen and the Lens Oval Wall Light from LZF. For a splash of colour over the dining table try a cluster of Up Supsension Light from Utu, which come in a large range of colours.
Bring a splash of colour and fun with accessories such as the De-dimension Gadget C Small Chair from Jongha Choi, the Half Moon Wall Shelf from Formae and the Trumpet Coat Stand from Mater.
