This Mountain Chalet Remixes 1970s Design With Contemporary Elements
Quebec firm La Nony Famili transforms an aging chalet into a modern mountain family home.
When a young family approached Sutton firm La Nony Famili to convert an aging ski chalet in the Monts Sutton range into their ideal family home, interior designer Aza Lussier was up for the challenge. “The couple’s request was to transform the chalet into a modern, functional family home while retaining its original character,” Lussier says of the 1970s-era structure. “They envisioned a contemporary ski chalet atmosphere.”
The designer’s first order of business was to take stock of the structure, which was in a state of disrepair. “There were leaks in the roof and chimney, water had damaged the foundations, and the walls were infested with rodents and insects,” she recalls. Nevertheless, the design team was keen to preserve the architectural elements that embodied the chalet’s core identity. These included a central ash staircase, an imposing double-height stone fireplace, exposed-wood beams, and the inverted roofs. “These features were loved for their historical value and architectural impact,” Lussier says.
Beyond simply restoring these elements, she used them as her guiding light for shaping new additions and interventions. “We emphasized the graphic aspect of the existing architecture by introducing linear steel elements and touches of vibrant colour,” she says, referencing the new stair railing painted bottle green along with pops of red for bathroom sinks, kitchen light fixtures, and closet doors. Graphic patterned tile in many of the spaces nods to the geometric rhythm of the home’s triangular roofs.
A small addition on the ground floor and the introduction of larger windows throughout helped maximize daylight and views. The natural setting with abundant ash trees also drove design choices. “The surrounding forest and winter landscape influenced the material choices,” says Lussier, who selected local ash wood for new elements throughout the interiors.
Switching up the interior layout opened up the spaces and helped with overall flow. The garden level, previously used for storage and mechanical areas, was transformed into a family room and a large mud room, with new windows welcoming daylight through and through. On the ground floor, two wings flanking the central stair hold the living area and kitchen on one side and the primary suite on the other. Upstairs, a guest room and children’s rooms cap the chalet.
Revisions to the home were also made with an eye toward energy performance. The envelope was completely revised, along with introducing new insulation and triple-glazed windows. “Their primary goal was to make the house healthy, comfortable, and functional,” Lussier says.
Ultimately, this sensitive architectural approach honouring both history and modern living is part and parcel of the firm’s design philosophy. “We always approach renovation projects by striving to make the most of what already exists,” Lussier says. “It’s about adapting buildings to the needs of the people who live there while still preserving the soul of the space.”
Photographs by Ulysse Lemerise Bouchard/OSA Images.
