CHALET KNOTTY PINE

Kulyk Interior Design Studio was invited to renovate this two-storey chalet built in early 2000, which is a part of a large estate located in a pine forest. Originally, the chalet was a traditional Finnish log house with an outdated floor-to-ceiling wood interior that lacked natural light and a comfortable outdoor space. Our challenge was to refurbish the chalet into an exceptional family residence that would be a haven for luxurious holidays in winter and an incredible retreat come summer.

During the design and planning process, we didn’t create a distinction between the outdoor and indoor spaces. Through the extension of pure lines, intricate details, high-quality materials and craftsmanship to the outside, we aimed to create a stylish open-air environment for extraordinary living. The courtyard around the chalet was transformed into an alpine garden with different varieties of evergreen plants suited to the region’s frosty winters. The existing balconies, floor and ceiling finishing, partitions, doors and windows were demolished to create a relaxed yet sophisticated open interior that is flooded with natural light.

A newly built, two-story terrace was added to the south façade, which overlooks the pond. The first floor of the terrace is dedicated exclusively to the master bedroom’s outdoor lounge, while the ground-floor terrace is an outdoor dining quarter and lounge area with a log firepit and access to the alpine garden. New floor-to-ceiling sliding windows in the south terrace naturally illuminate the inside and seamlessly connect the chalet’s indoor and outdoor dining quarters. The open plan dining area on the ground floor flows into the orangery and living room and is separated from the kitchen by large, glazed doors. The layout of the living room was significantly altered with the introduction of a new fireplace and large windows that form an exit to the north terrace. As the living room boasts a double-height ceiling, same-sized large windows were installed at the second light to bring even more natural light indoors. A bespoke library is used to separate the hallway from the spacious living room. Just off the ground-floor hallway, there is a home office with two working desks, a guest bathroom, a utility room, a dressing room and the main entrance. An elegant new wooden staircase connects the ground floor and first floor.

Since the original external walls of the chalet were made of logs, we opted to keep them natural, only refining the finishing and colour of the wood. For the floor finishes on the ground floor, both indoors and outdoors, we selected natural limestone. And although it is almost invisible, we also managed to equip the chalet with a modern HVAC system. Upon ascending the stairs, the first-floor hallway leads to a kids’ lounge with an interesting feature: a craft station. Behind the wooden wardrobe façade, we hid a large table and significant storage space capable of facilitating even the wildest creative impulse! The remainder of the first floor consists of a kid’s room, a bathroom and the master bedroom suite with its own private terrace. The central idea of the master bedroom layout was to extend the indoors to the outside. Thus, the bedroom’s lounge area is located on the terrace, where evergreen plants complement the alpine garden below. To create the feeling of a tranquil retreat in the bedroom, we placed a luxurious bathtub directly in the room and completed the experience with several panoramic windows, allowing the occupiers to enjoy the breathtaking scenery from that very spot. Two large wardrobes fulfil the requirement for substantial storage, yet it was quite a challenge to fit them in without sacrificing the openness and airiness of the space. Eventually, we placed one of the wardrobes just in front of the panoramic window and used mirror panels for its back. The result was that instead of cluttering the room, the mirrored wardrobe multiplies the natural light, reflects the panoramic view and acts as a partition between the room’s entrance and the dressing and sleeping zones.

To make the en-suite bathroom functional and modern, yet closely aligned to the holistic style of the chalet, we mixed traditional and contemporary materials, such as rustic stone cladding and high-end bathroom products. Large built-in storage allowed us to avoid standard bathroom cabinets and instead place floor-standing washbasins overlooking the garden. Movable panels with mirrors or shutters in front of the panoramic window allow the chalet’s occupiers to have privacy while still allowing natural light to fill the bathroom.

With the renovation complete, this chalet’s style seamlessly blends tradition and modernity. The layout provides a very comfortable living space with an abundance of light and picture windows opening out to enchanting panoramic views. All day long, one never tires of watching the ever-changing scenery.