There’s nothing better than cosying up in front of the fire after a long day on the slopes. But if the classic alpine ski chalet aesthetic leaves you cold, we’ve got the remedy. This cache of mountain homes offers proximity to the best slopes – with design credentials to match. Think innovative A-frames, minimalist retreats and moody Scandinavian interiors. Get a closer look.
Snoqualmie Pass A-Frame in Washington, USA
$746,000 via Windermere Real Estate
This prefab A-frame cabin by Mark Rylant of Buildhouse puts a contemporary spin on rustic, with raw plywood walls, exposed iron beams, and modern Scandinavian-inspired furnishings. Architect Ryan Stephenson designed the chalet, whose interiors are deliberately simple, with lots of natural wood finishes and a neutral colour palette. The two-bedroom cabin took just two days to build and has a fully glazed front facade that peeks onto its setting two miles from the summit at Snoqualmie – in the Washington community of Snoqualmie Pass – 28 miles from Seattle.
Moody Scandinavian chalet in Vamdalen, Sweden
6.35m KR via Maklarhuset
The alpine aesthetic is stripped back to basics inside this Vemdalsskalet cabin on the slopes of Vamdalen, which reboots the classic ski chalet as a minimalist retreat. Knotted pine is swapped for waxed birch plywood walls, clean lines and moody colour pops. Developer 212 Property built the four-bedroom Swedish home – conceived as a house within a house – and the double-height kitchen and living room follow the contour of the roof, while rectangular picture windows look out onto the valley below. Vemdalen has some 50km of snow-shoe and backcountry skiing trails. See more.
Contemporary chalet in Verbier, Switzerland
POA via Barnes International Real Estate
While its pitched roof and terraced exterior is classic alpine architecture, this Verbier chalet takes a sophisticated twist inside via skylit ceilings, soaring woodburning fireplaces and a mix of metal and stone finishes. The five-bedroom Swiss property is in the skiing community of Verbier, serviced via an elevator, and has ski-in, ski-out facilities. The loft-style chalet was built in 2018 and has a minimalist vibe thanks to shuttered windows, brick fireplaces and contemporary furniture.
Alta mountain home in Utah, USA
$3.9m via Windermere Real Estate
AIA architects Tracy Stocking and David Hunter designed this fieldstone-clad mountain home in the town of Alta to maximise its views – a two-storey wall of windows peeks out towards Sugarloaf and the Greely Bowl canyon. The heart of the house is the double-height family room, while the master bedroom – one of four inside the ski-in, ski-out Utah property – has a private terrace. The mountain home is accessible by a gravel road in summer and snowmobile or snowshoe in winter. Luckily, a PistenBully 100 snowcat is included in the sale for ferrying around guests, groceries, and gear.
Chalet Maurice in Zermatt, Switzerland
POA via Cardis Immobilier / Sotheby’s International Realty
This mountainside Swiss chalet is accessed via a private funicular railway and is set across four floors. The six-bedroom cabin has four balconies – all of which have views of the nearby Matterhorn – and a ground floor sauna, jacuzzi and massage room to ease tired muscles after a long day on the slopes.
