Alpine Getaway
Creates a contemporary penthouse within a historic building located in the French Alps
When Inside Outside Designs was commissioned to transform this penthouse in Chamonix Mont Blanc, France, into an all-season dream home, they had their work cut out for them. The two-storey apartment is one of six in a 120-yearold building, which used to be a hotel until it was converted into private apartments 45 years ago.
However, the building had not been renovated since the conversion. On top of that, this was the firm’s first time designing a project as far afield as the French Alps, which required navigating differences in culture, working styles and building codes. The firm proved they were more than capable of rising to the occasion, giving the space a comprehensive overhaul.
Based in California and Singapore, Inside Outside Designs comprises a dynamic team of multidisciplinary designers led by principals Jeanette Maria Zmijewski and King Perez. In addition to interior and exterior design solutions for residential and commercial projects, the firm also offers events styling, set design and staging services thanks to the team’s diverse backgrounds. The 12-person agency is also trained in real estate marketing, and are specialists in space rehabilitation.
The clients also requested the preservation of specific historical details in the interior, such as old wooden beams, and for the home to be designed for year-round use. The firm thus created an interior with a neutral palette and monochromatic bathrooms, while accentuating these spaces with pops of colour through statement-making sofas and large-scale artworks.
The brief called for a much greater breadth of materials and furnishings than what was available in the vicinity, so the firm acquired the necessary items from across the globe, making sourcing trips and placing orders as far afield as Australia, Indonesia and South Africa. They filled the home with furnishings by Roche Bobois, Poliform, Visionnaire,
Tom Dixon, Versace and Toto.
Due to the building’s narrow elevator and staircases, the supplies and furniture had to be transported by crane through the windows—sometimes even in the rain and snowstorms, since construction began in the winter.
The kitchen was one of the most challenging spaces to design in this home. The firm opened up what was originally a cramped, dark and low-ceilinged space by removing the walls and installing steel beams. Then came the stateof-the-art appliances, such as an oven with a built-in air fryer and a tap that converts regular water into sparkling water. Inside Outside Designs even managed to locate a specific type of kitchen tile the client coveted but couldn’t recall the brand of. These were used to create a unique backsplash and accent wall, for the perfect finishing touch.
After a year of hard work, the project was completed in 2019, with a tearfully joyous response from the clients. The team behind Inside Outside Designs were as cheered by the result; they’re now ready to tackle any project, even if it’s outside of their comfort zone.
Inside Outside Designs
106 Bukit Teresa
Tel: 6260 0446 | 9767 2240 inside-outside.com