Located in the forested foothills of Evergreen, Colorado, Chalet Nocturne began as a traditional mountain home with strong structure but little cohesion.
Rather than brighten and modernize indiscriminately, the design direction leaned into depth. Darker finishes, textured surfaces, and restrained material shifts allowed the home to feel grounded and intimate while still refined.
It is alpine, moody, and deliberately composed.
Originally built in the 1940s as a storage room for the old Homestead ranch, this one-bedroom, one-bath structure had none of the romance its name now suggests. It was cold, awkward, and entirely without flow — carpet stretched inexplicably into the bathroom and kitchen, ceilings felt low, and the layout lacked any sense of intention. The bones weren’t just tired; they were wrong. This wasn’t a cosmetic refresh — it required a full reset. Still, we’ve always believed that charm isn’t found, it’s built. Layer by layer. Beam by beam. Vision first, materials second. And while this project was daunting from the start, we knew even the most unassuming space could be rewritten with the right point of view.
Because we were rebuilding the space entirely from scratch, we weren’t interested in fighting its limitations — we chose to embrace them. With minimal natural light and a compact footprint, the instinct might have been to brighten everything and play it safe. Instead, we leaned into the mood. Bold drapery, layered patterns, and statement wallpaper became tools rather than risks, allowing the space to feel immersive instead of constrained. The key was balance: strong choices anchored by clean lines, crisp millwork, and intentional negative space. Nothing cluttered. Nothing accidental. Every pattern, every texture, every shadow placed with purpose so the darkness felt curated — not heavy.
Because the floor sits below grade, real hardwood — always our first instinct — wasn’t an option. Moisture made that decision for us. Instead, we stumbled into what became one of the project’s happiest surprises: an incredibly convincing LVP from Bedrosians. The tone, the grain, the matte finish — it gave us the warmth of wood without the risk, grounding the entire space in a way that feels both practical and quietly luxurious.
In the kitchen, we committed fully to the mood. Black leathered granite countertops pair with counter-to-ceiling Cloe tile in a deep, inky finish, creating a monolithic backdrop that feels architectural rather than decorative. The dark surfaces absorb light in the most beautiful way. Unlacquered brass hardware — including the sink faucet — brings warmth and evolution, patinating over time and softening the boldness with age. Overhead, antique French light fixtures, carefully rewired for U.S. compatibility, add a layer of romance and history that contrasts the clean millwork below.
For the walls, we chose Castle Grey by Farrow & Ball — a nuanced, stormy neutral that shifts beautifully throughout the day. In the bedroom, we went even deeper with Down Pipe, allowing the walls to cocoon the space. A floral wallpaper across the ceiling adds unexpected drama overhead — pattern as architecture — drawing the eye upward and creating intimacy without clutter.
The bathroom is the only space where we intentionally lifted the palette. Crisp, ripple-finished Cloe tile lines the shower, paired with an intricate mosaic marble floor that feels timeless and bright. Because the bathroom is visible from other areas of the chalet, we added an arched shower entry — a soft architectural moment in an otherwise compact footprint. In such a small space, every sightline matters. The arch transforms the bathroom from purely functional to quietly beautiful.
There’s a particular kind of charm that only exists in small spaces. You notice everything. The way light moves across a dark wall in the morning. The patina forming on unlacquered brass. The way a patterned ceiling makes a room feel taller, not tighter. In a footprint this compact, there’s no room for filler — every detail must earn its place. Each material, fixture, and finish was selected not just for function, but for feeling. The result is a space that doesn’t rely on square footage for impact. It relies on intention. Living here feels layered, personal, and quietly special — proof that scale has nothing to do with soul.
We renovate one property at a time — preserving what matters, refining what doesn’t, and designing for how mountain homes are actually lived.
— Deco Vaquero
Every piece was chosen with intention — layered textures, aged brass, dark paint, and alpine restraint. Explore the full edit below.
View the Collection →
