Western Living Magazine
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A chic chalet takes mountain living to new peaks.
Photos by Eymeric Widling.
With a location that’s this beautiful, it’s hard not to feel inspired. So when interior designer Karen Attwell, principal of Form Interiors, was tasked with creating a retreat for a couple planning on retiring, she took the mountain and lake views to heart every step of the way.
“Everything was selected to complement the view,” says Attwell. Slate-grey quartzite countertops, walnut cabinetry and grey-blue upholstery play off of the organic environment that lays outside the window of the 2,000-square-foot home. A glass mosaic backsplash from Julien Tile echoes the ripples in the lake. And in the ensuite, the designer floated mirrors over the window so the view can be soaked up even while brushing one’s teeth.
One of the homeowners professed to be drawn to dark and moody finishes, so Attwell brought in a hint of darkness where she could. “We looked at the home and prioritized which rooms matter most to whom and took our cues from there,” she explains. So the bathrooms and the office nook are draped in a sophisticated and dark palette, while the bedroom and living room get a lighter, brighter approach. “It was about navigating the differences to create a cohesive home,” says Attwell.
BRIGHT IDEA
The angular lighting over the dining table (a pendant lamp from Tech Lighting) echoes the architectural features outside. The sleek grey sofa is G. Romano. The fireplace, surrounded in cold-rolled steel, has been oxidized and sealed to bring colour and depth.
SWEET DREAMS
In the bedroom, Prime wallpaper lines the wall behind the headboard and pendant lights hang above the bedside tables.
WONDER WALL
The Fluerco tub in the ensuite sits in front of a dramatic Porcelainosa slab.
SMALL BUT MIGHTY
“The powder room was tiny but complicated,” laughs Attwell. A custom granite sink was fabricated as part of the countertop, with a deep apron to conceal all the functional bits behind it.
Originally published October 2020
Stacey is a senior editor at Western Living magazine, as well as editor-in-chief of sister publication Vancouver magazine. She loves window shopping on the job: send your home accessories and furniture recommendations over to [email protected]
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