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Aurélie and Nicolas' mountain retreat 70 m² Chamonix, France Contemporary classic Cosy minimalism Two-storey Aurélie Baratin

This Home Tour is from Sloft Edition 04

Even the most adventurous skiers have their comfort zone. Some prefer more conventional resorts like Val d’Isère, while those who are fond of architecture won’t take their Moon Boots anywhere else than to the Arcs. And according to the sentimental ones, nothing beats La Clusaz. That is how Aurélie Baratin, her husband Nicolas and their three children – Anouk, Charlotte and Gaspard – chose the Tarentaise Valley. Their routine was suddenly shaken up one day when some friends invited them to spend the weekend in "Cham", as the locals call it: “We fell completely in love with this resort’s authenticity and breathtaking landscapes. Moreover, it’s a place that’s alive year-round”, explains Aurélie. This was perfect for the Lyon-based couple, who just happened to be looking for a place in the mountains.

A few months’ search led Aurélie to a property in Argentière, a small village that’s a 15-minute drive from the center of Chamonix. She immediately knew it was "the one": "we came to visit it in June 2020 with the children and made an offer right away. We were stricken by the view, which was what mattered the most to us." And indeed, the 64-m² cabin offered a breathtaking view on the Mont Blanc and the Aiguille du Midi. However, some renovation work needed to be done: the 1970s split-level apartment still in its original condition. Aspiring interior designer and architect Aurélie knew what she wanted: to turn her second home into a modern cabin where she would showcase the existing wood. Her head bursting with ideas, she designed the lay-out of the living areas with advice from the Dorga agency’s David Burles. In addition to “creating an execution plan for the project”, the architect adjusted the 16-m² mezzanine by nibbling into the empty space in the living room, enlarging it by 6 m2. After six months of work, organized remotely and carried out by Julien, a craftsman with whom the family had already worked, the project was finished.