When I hear ski lodge, the first thing that comes to mind is knotty pine. The next thing is plaid. But I love the idea of sipping hot cocoa by the fire in a rustic mountain lodge after a day of brisk snow-shoeing in the woods. Despite the persistent presence of antlers and hides — traditional staples of alpine decor — these spectacular getaways give me hope that a modern gal can feel just as at home in the mountains as she does in the city.
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• 1. This Patagonian loft-style chalet designed by Willie Sanchez and Marcela Escalada has the feel of a traditional mountain lodge with a more modern aesthetic. Fresh seafoam green walls provide the perfect backdrop for muted furnishings and beautifully complement all the natural stone and woodwork.
• 2. Situated high up in the Slovenian Alps, the eco-friendly Alpine Hut by Ofis Arhitekti combines functionality with style in a chic, minimalist design.
• 3. Le Chalet des Drus combines burned and sand blasted wood, beautiful stonework and stucco plaster with sumptuous fabrics and modern design features like this sleek concrete and glass fireplace.
• 4. Fjall Lodge by Australian designer Paul Hecker combines a crisp Nordic palette with smoked and limed oak floors and wall paneling. Heated balconies and cozy window banquettes let you enjoy the view no matter what the temperature.
• 5. Nicki & James Dobree renovated La Ferme Moudon, a 300-year-old farmhouse in the French Alps, using reclaimed wood from ancient trees.
• 6. At first glance, the Scottish ski lodge designed by Suzy Hoodless might seem a little more shabby than chic, but we love all the details that went into creating this rustic alpine vibe like the newspapered walls, wooden crate shelving, freestanding metal tub, and punches of French blue.
Images: 1. Daniela Mac Adden, 2. Ofis Arhitekti, 3. Hip Chalets, 4. Peter Bennetts, 5. Nicki Dobree, 6. Suzy Hoodless
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Comments (12)
They all look great except for the newspaper as wallpaper... ... and the cowhide on the table... hhmmmm.
Wow. Love that living room. Just beautiful.
But I am really over the whole antler thing. Hasn't that been going on for a while now? I also love the wood with the faux (hopefully) fur blanket in the bedroom.
Beuatiful-but agree that a cowhide table cloth is a little silly and kind of gross
cheers
With the exception of #2 - I want to vacation in these rooms.
Living in a mountainous area with many antlered beasts (elk, deer, moose) roaming around, I can say that the antler 'thing' will never be over as long as there are animals around to shed them.
I'm over the (fake or real) taxidermied heads, though. I think there's a simple beauty in using found antlers as decor...dead things, not so much.
i'm not normally weirded out by taxidermy/fur .. but the hides all over the place in the first pic are kind of disturbing me for some reason. i like the newspaper on the wall. my friend did something similar with sewing patterns once and i loved that too.
after checking out the website, i love the way #2 fits a contemporary structure within the traditional structural lines... well done. #5 looks a bit more like 'alpine rustic' than 'alpine glam'.
@jick, i think the hides are creeping us out because they are a) all very small hides/animals the size of pets
b) all different fur
c) scattered all around the room
I would have liked / accepted it more if it were one larger throw of fur as an accent piece over the couch.
Although I like the rustic look, has anyone ever tried sleeping under the psychic weight of that heavy beam across you, pinning you down? It's a feng shui DON'T but there are solutions...
Nice, but when I venture out for a mountain retreat, I happily settle for the less "glam", knotty variety of lodging.
To me, the time spent soaking up outdoors is more important than what the inside of my shelter looks like
Nothing like soaring two-floor ceilings to reduce heating costs in your alpine retreat. That first pic is so unappealing to me.
oh my god. i just literally laughed out loud after reading fishgirl's comment .. and then swedishchef's. so true!
i really don't mind fur, but i agree .. too many pet-sized hides strewn around the room disturbs me.
MtnChica, stags SHED their antlers? Really? Wow. I thought they had to, you know, die to be removed from their antlers. Something new every day.