It’s not uncommon to see a rustic pair of skies adorned to the wall of a living room here in Sun Peaks. They’re a timeless focal piece that differentiates a tranquil ski chalet on the mountain from a typical homey atmosphere you’d find in a Kamloops home. But these small flairs of decor are one of many such details that contribute to the larger identity of a ski chalet.
For Kamloops-based interior design firm, Nëvo Design House (NDH), a large part of this identity is informed by the encompassing mountain environment.
“It’s bringing in the context of the surroundings into the interior of the home,” Cristalee Murdoc said. “So focusing on the palettes that are in the environment. The woods, and the stones, and the greenery.”
“Whether it’s modern or traditional, [homes] have to have that mountain rustic vibe,” designer Tanya Wasson expanded. “When we approach a design, we really take into account what you’re seeing from the outside. Are you under a chairlift? Are you nestled in the forest? What are those influences that make the interior design? We incorporate that with material selections and colour palettes depending on what the client’s tastes are.”
Murdoc and Wasson are the principal designers of NDH. With their team, they’ve completed several custom home, multi-family and renovation projects in the Sun Peaks village. The two share an extensive home design background and created Nëvo after years of their respective design companies.
One of NDH’s most recent projects, a renovation in the heart of Sun Peaks’ forests, speaks to the natural inspirations of their design principles.
“We opted for dark yet warm wood details, dark wood cabinetry, black hardware, and simplistic tile finishes – creating a cozy retreat with artistic flare,” Reads the description of Nordic Haven. “The colour palette is inspired by the dark pine forests that the home is surrounded by – bringing in the blacks and greens of the outside to the inside.”
Creating a space that’s social and functional
Beyond the overall aesthetics of a home, ski chalets demand a greater attention to the functionality and use of gathering spaces. Hosting a large number of guests influences every design choice, from the size of a room down to the durability of materials.
“The boot room becomes a very important room,” Wasson laughed. “How many people can be in there? Where is everyone’s gear going? How are you drying the gear? It’s always a highly-designed space. Not necessarily with super high-end finishes or anything, just functional design”
This decision to use practical materials, such as wood, stone and live metals, is common in ski chalet projects. Not only do these materials stand up to years of wear and patina, but they also create a more subdued and modern approach to interior design.
Comfort and relaxation are two other pillars of ski chalet design, providing homeowners and guests with a sense of escape that comes with mountain living.
“[Clients] want that sort of spa-like feel with saunas and sleekness. Or more of that traditional après-vibe with a stone fireplace and hearth,” Wasson said. “It becomes a gathering place for people.”
“It’s focusing more on a comfortable vibe instead of a more formal vibe,” Murdoc added.
Building on a legacy of ski resort design
While Sun Peaks itself might be a younger resort in development and operational history, its design influences draw from much older regions of the world like Southern Austria and Northern Italy.
“When we did the original design for the village, our ownership decided they liked the look of what they call südtirol… A lot of pastel stucco colours, large trims around windows, flatter roofs,” chief of development and infrastructure Peter Nixon explained.
Sun Peaks Resort LLP employs three sets of design guidelines, one for the village, single family homes and multiplexes. These guidelines influence the types of materials used and overall look of the area’s built landscape.
“Everything ties together,” Nixon stated. “You can see elements that are similar between the single family and the multifamily, and even the village hotels that are tied together. Whereas some other resorts you go to, you say ‘that was built in the 70s, that was built in the 90s… there’s no continuity between them.”
From renders to reality
While much influence is taken from the natural environment and the historic influences of the built landscape, at the end of the day, it’s the homeowners who have the clearest vision of how the interior of their homes are designed.
“People buy homes up there to relax and to get away from their everyday life. We really get the context from the client of what they want and what their ski chalet to be,” Wasson said.
“Then we’ll take that and develop that so that it fits seamlessly within the architecture and the environment,” Murdoc added.
From start to finish, the NDH team employs an extensive and detailed client onboarding process. From early preliminary conceptual design presentations, to models and on-site reviews during the construction process, client satisfaction is the forefront of every project.
“We’ll also do full furniture and styling packages,” Wasson explained. “We curate furniture to coordinate with the design… shop and style and really dial in the project so that the client is going into a completely finished space.”
All that’s left to do is decide where to hang the skis on the wall.
This story was featured in SPIN’s Home Issue. To read more from this print edition, visit our archives.
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