The chalet style in interior design and architecture has an unusual history. Initially, this was the name of the shepherds' houses, built high in the mountains. They were characterized by simplicity of layout and building materials, but surprising reliability and comfort. In addition, low, with a sloping roof, the dwellings fit perfectly into the surrounding landscape. It is no wonder that over time they began to be considered romantic havens, and modern ski resorts offer tourists accommodation in such houses.
Chalet style in interior and architecture
What is a chalet? These are low, but spacious dwellings, built exclusively from natural materials. The roof of the squat-looking houses is very sloping, gable, strongly hanging over the walls and protruding far beyond them. It reliably protects the walls of the house from rain and snow, strong frosty wind. Usually such a roof is covered with shingles: the style of the chalet does not accept any artificial materials. The chalet is not striking: it is a continuation of the landscape, naturally fitting into it. The style of the chalet in the interior can be briefly described with the following words: rustic simplicity, reliability, comfort. In more detail, the interior design in the style of a chaletcharacterized by the following details:
• Rough, solid, but extremely cozy and comfortable furniture, always made of natural, forest-scented wood.
• Complete lack of modern materials. The chalet is only stone and wood.
• Unpretentious, deliberately rustic, necessarily handmade decor. Its main motifs are mountains, coniferous thickets, mountain flowers, animals.
• Colorful patchwork bedspreads, as well as colorful, often hand-knitted tablecloths and wool capes.
• Chalet style in the interior includes animal skins on the floor, watercolors with mountain landscapes on the walls, unpainted, specially aged floors made of natural boards.
• The chalet's kitchen has rough wooden shelves, an abundance of pottery, a huge tiled stove. Tiles are sometimes specially aged, split: the older the house seems, the more interesting it is for others.
• The chalet-style interior (photo) is a basic gray color combined with bleached wood and delicate pastel shades of the walls, textured plaster, massive wooden lamps.
• Rough and massive ceiling beams add zest to the house. Their absence can be compensated by sheathing the ceiling with natural wood or laying it out with stone. It is important that stairs, if there are any in the house, doors and other details are in harmony with the ceiling.
• Horns on the walls, hunting accessories, stuffed animals, tapestries, and other household items that transport the inhabitants back several centuries are appropriate in the chalet.
The main attraction of the chalet-style interior is the fireplace. Huge, real, with live fire, it is the center of the composition, around which other interior details are grouped. Of course, gas fireplaces are most often installed in modern homes: they are more convenient and safer. However, they do not give such an aroma of burning firewood, the warmth of a living fire, as wood-burning structures. That is why in country houses with all conveniences, connoisseurs of comfort and romance continue to install old wood-fired fireplaces.
