Chalet style country house
Buying a suburban area, everyone draws in their minds a "picture" of their dream country house. For one it is a small European house, another dreams of a Russian estate with a log cabin, an exotic lover sees an analogue of Chinese fanza in his summer cottage. It should be noted that when choosing an architectural style, preference is increasingly given to chalets as a model of simplicity and comfort.
Chalet history
Translated from French, the word "chalet" means "shepherd's hut." The birthplace of the chalet is the province of Savoy, which is located on the border of Italy and Switzerland. In these picturesque places on the slopes of the snow-capped Alps, shepherds settled. They built, or rather simply "assembled" from scrap materials - stone and wood, small but sturdy houses. These were the first chalets. Knowing well the harsh conditions of the area, people strove to create the most durable housing that reliably protects from wind, snow, rain and wild animals.
The second birth of the style is associated with the era of the Enlightenment. Supporters of the movement called for naturalness, simplicity and harmony with nature. Shepherds' houses fully met these requirements - discreet, modest, made of natural materials. What could be better than such a dwelling? And soon chalet-style buildings began to be used not only for housing. Gradually, pavilions for recreation in the form of rural houses appeared in the parks of the 18th century, and the term "made its way" into the field of architecture.
The appearance of a chalet, familiar to the eye of a modern person, began to take shape in the middle of the 20th century. And with the development of ski tourism, it has become a visiting card of the mountains - after all, most of the chalets can be found in the resorts, and they are designed for tourists. But the simplicity, practicality and comfort of the chalet did not go unnoticed. Soon, private houses built in this style began to appear in France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria. There, the chalet acts as a country house and serves as a place for privacy, relaxation, skiing.
In Russia, interest in chalets has increased significantly thanks to the aforementioned alpine skiing. Those wishing to ride along the snow-covered slopes in an endless string reached the European resorts. And there it was impossible not to fall in love with the houses-huts, saturated with the aroma of wood and hot mulled wine, filled with the comfort and warmth of a fireplace. Inspired by the peaceful atmosphere of the chalet, our compatriots returned home and, naturally, wanted to build such a dwelling for themselves, on their own plot. Fortunately, the climate is similar and requires a solid house that will reliably protect against autumn dampness and winter frosts.
So the chalet appeared in Russia and confidently took its niche in the country house construction. Now you can find entire villages made in this style.
One has only to wish and a huge number of construction companies will be happy to develop a design project for such a house. However, in order not to become the owner of a pseudo-chalet, let's pay attention to some general signs of style, features of the exterior and interior decoration.
The main distinguishing features of the chalet style
The chalet house is a prime example of ecological buildings. From a number of other houses of this type, it is distinguished by the following architectural features:- unusual roof
- abundance of windows
They should be large (preferably panoramic) to create a feeling of unity with nature. What could be better than opening them in the morning, sitting opposite with a cup of hot herbal tea and a slice of apple pie, listening to birds singing and inhaling the scent of pine needles? Perhaps only morning tea on the terrace or balcony.
- the presence of terraces and spacious balconies
The balconies are located under the roof, which protects them from precipitation. Terraces can be overhanging or supported by columns.
- multilevel architecture
- Construction Materials
Particularly good is the unique aroma of pine needles that comes from the new log walls. Of course, over time, even the treated wood will crack, darken and lose its original appearance. But this will only add the charm of antiquity to the overall flavor of the house.
- commonality of exterior and interior
- number of storeys
So, you have decided to get a modern chalet on your country plot. What must be considered when drawing up a project?
Let's start with the exterior elements: roof, balcony and terrace.
Roof
One of the most important parts of the future home. And since the roof for a chalet is also a style-forming element, its design should be given no less attention than the foundation or decoration. As already mentioned, a special type of roof was created to protect against the elements, formed a long time ago and became the hallmark of the style. Modern construction takes a traditional look as a basis, but it does not do without innovations. So, the roof of the chalet ...The slope of the alpine roof must be large enough. Here, and a drain is not needed - she herself “throws off” both snow and water. The roof should protrude more than a meter beyond the walls. It is very convenient - this way it protects not only walls with a foundation from precipitation, but also a piece of territory near the house.
When drawing up a project, try to choose the angle of inclination of the roof as accurately as possible: take into account the approximate amount of snow and rain falling and the strength of the roofing material you like. Experienced builders advise to proceed from the following: if the slope angle is less than 45 °, then the roof is not very strong. It will not withstand a heavy load, since it is difficult for snow (especially wet) to roll off it. A reinforced rafter system will come to the rescue. If there is no desire to do it, then just make the angle of the slope more than 45 ° - then the snow itself will "slide" down.
For residents of places where there is no heavy snowfall, the choice is simplified - any roof can withstand the rain load.
Having dealt with the geometry of the roof, you can safely choose a coating. For all its impressiveness, the coating itself does not give any weight to the structure. Nowadays, corrugated board is very popular - the material is light and flexible.
Those wishing to comply with all the canons of the style can be advised to use shingles. These are high quality wooden roof tiles made from oak, spruce or larch. Such a roofing material keeps heat well, does not become covered with a crust of ice even in the most severe frosts. An equivalent replacement for the shingle has not yet been invented.
In the middle lane, you can use different types of tiles - ceramic, bituminous, composite; ondulin (sheets of cellulose impregnated with bitumen). All of these materials will provide heat retention and are suitable for any roof angle.
It is strongly not recommended to use metal tiles - its appearance does not match the appearance of the chalet. If it is installed incorrectly, then during the rain (with such a large roof area) the unfortunate owner will sit like in a big drum.
For greater reliability, you can lay insulation and treat the fasteners with a primer. Then, for sure, neither a snowflake will fly by, nor a breeze will make its way, and additional sound insulation will be provided.
For thermal insulation, either a slab insulation or dry reed is used. Yes, exactly the reed. It turns out that it is well ventilated and does not allow evaporation to pass through. In general, it gives a very high utility value when used for chalet roofs. It is durable and, which is the most relevant in our century, is environmentally friendly. Many are familiar with slab insulation. It can be made of glass wool, foam, mineral wool. Keeps heat well, insulates sound, small thickness, has low flammability.
It turns out that the roof of a chalet has many advantages:
- focused on environmental friendliness;
- not very difficult to develop (many, without an engineering education, build decent copies themselves);
- suitable for houses with 1-2 floors (optimal number of storeys for summer cottages)
Balconies and terraces
Balconies and terraces are always located on the sunny side - east or south. Initially, they served as a place for drying crops and mushrooms and berries harvested for the winter. Later, their function became decorative. For decoration, figured boards with carvings, openwork balustrades are used.
An ideal modern option is a mini observation deck. It is enough to sheathe the perimeter of the balcony or terrace with wood, put a small table and a couple of sun loungers. If desired, you can plant greenery with grapes or ivy. After that, boldly say: "The views are good!", Because from such a site any rural landscape will sparkle with new colors. By the way, during the harvest season, it is quite possible to return to the true purpose of the balcony or terrace and place a dryer for berries, herbs, fruits and vegetables on them.
The facade is decorated quite modestly. Preference is given to natural materials: wooden lining, block house or rounded log, timber, brick, stone. You can supplement the list with a modern option - plastered walls. Yet this is not a classic chalet.
The question of price arises ...
Of course, the use of natural materials will hit the wallet noticeably. Where is the best place to save? You do not need to do this on the roofing device, but you can try on the facade cladding. Fortunately, the variety of modern building materials gives room for thought. Natural wood can be replaced with polyurethane. From a distance it does not differ in texture and color from the usual one and will last for a long time - for sure about 15 years.
All beams and decorative elements are matched to match. The stone can also be replaced with an artificial one. And the wolves are fed, and the sheep are safe - and saved, and preserved the Alpine style.
Layout and finishing of floors
A traditional chalet is a two-storey building and an attic.- first floor (aka basement)
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It is made tall, of "cold" and reliable material: masonry, ceramic or carbonated blocks. The walls are covered with plaster, then whitewash.
On the basement floor there is a kitchen, a living room, an entrance hall, a bathroom, a boiler room (if needed), and other utility rooms. You can arrange a fireplace room. The indisputable advantage of this location is fire safety - all sources of fire are collected on the lower (cold) floor.
- second floor
- attic
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Like the second floor, it is made of wood. The attic may have a balcony, built and decorated according to all the rules of the style.
The only thing that the chalet house does not allow is plastic windows. Frames are best made of wooden beams and supplemented with shutters.
This is the project of the house.
Next, let's talk about the special interior of the chalet. After all, without it, the house will not be saturated with real warmth and comfort, it will not become a favorite place for rest, but will only serve as a refuge from bad weather and a place to store the "gifts of summer".
Country chalet interior
The main task of any interior is to create coziness. Therefore, having built the chalet house itself, you should not relax. The most interesting thing ahead is the design of the interior space. It is necessary to match the style and not to offend yourself (to make the house as comfortable as possible). As a rule, those who choose the style of a chalet know what they are doing. There will be no new-fangled things in the house, flashy flowers, heaps of trinkets, bright lighting, furniture that everyone is used to in the city. The interior of the chalet is an appeal to simplicity, naturalness and comfort. Although, as practice shows, creating the atmosphere of a village house is far from simple and takes a lot of time and effort. We'll have to work hard.Choosing a color scheme
Since the chalet is focused on naturalness, the color scheme will also be natural. The colors are considered the best for the interior: natural wood or stone and all shades of brown - from light beige to dark brown. To somehow dilute the general background, you can use the color of brick, chocolate, gray or wine shade.
Gray is most commonly found in fabrics or furniture. Of course, everything in the house cannot be brown, albeit in different shades, bright accents are needed. They are arranged in green, red or blue. Moreover, only one of them. The chalet cannot be overloaded with brightness. Brown will still be dominant.
Having decided on the colors of the materials, we turn to the interior decoration.
It does not require much imagination. No wallpaper, the walls are wooden. Maximum - they can be plastered or covered with decorative stone.
The ceiling is plastered in a light tone, the beams that complement it are covered with dark paint.
The wooden floor is not painted, only varnished with a patina effect. Looks very decent. Variations on the theme - the use of tiles that imitate a wooden floor.
Walls can be bricked and plastered. Colors are suitable: terracotta, dark orange, beige, pastel shades. A roughly plastered surface looks advantageous. If wood panels are chosen for wall covering, they should be dark wood color.
The next question "for filling", which has to be decided by the owner of the chalet: will there be a fireplace. Of course, the fireplace is the heart of the chalet. It is impossible to imagine a real alpine house without a hearth. Not everyone will decide to install it, but if they do, they will not regret it.
The fireplace, of course, is designed taking into account some of the style features. Its appearance is stone cladding with a massive, slightly rough wooden beam. It is necessary to achieve the effect of an old hearth to the maximum. However, buying any natural stone (marble, granite or onyx) will hit your wallet noticeably. Modern materials will help to save money - natural stone can be replaced with ceramic tiles of heterogeneous colors.
Furniture
There are no special requirements for it. Of course, modern plastic furniture (as well as vintage furniture) are out of place. Furniture is selected for the purpose of the room and based on personal preferences (of course, within the chalet concept). It should be simple and comfortable, preferably leather or wooden, look massive and a little rough. Light or dark tone is a personal choice.
Accordingly, the upholstery should not have embroidery, sequins, or patterns. Wide sofas are suitable for the living room. If you think leather upholstery is inappropriate for a summer residence, give preference to fabric - linen or cotton. Next to the sofa is a place for a coffee table and armchairs.
Bedroom furniture should be simple too.
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Spacious wooden bed with a natural fiber bedspread, wardrobe, two wooden bedside tables. You can put a carpet or skin on the floor, hang a mirror and photographs in wooden frames (in a color contrasting with the walls) on the walls. The pictures themselves, by the way, are preferable to black and white.
Another strategically important space. Don't be reminded that all tables, chairs, cabinets, bedside tables and shelves should be wooden. No enamels or plastic.
What to do with household appliances, because they do not really fit into the "rustic" interior of the chalet. It is better to hide it in the lockers. If uncomfortable, cover up with curtains or wood fronts. This is, of course, the ideal. In a country house, everything should be at hand, so the issue of placing household appliances remains at personal discretion.
Decor elements
The choice of decor elements depends on which option suits you - male or female. The ladies' one will have more pottery, frames with photographs, embroidery in wooden frames, paintings, textiles. Male provides for the presence of animal skins, horns of wild animals on the walls, decorative weapons.
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Again, there are no strict rules for everyday little things. Used carpets, textiles, earthenware or ceramic dishes, natural or artificial skins, plain curtains made of natural fabric, candles, antique lamps, figurines, photos in wooden frames, landscapes on the walls, in vases - dried herbs or flowers.
Natural fabrics of natural shades are selected for bedspreads, covers for armchairs and chairs. Napkins, pillow covers, blankets can be contrasting in color. It is important to remember that there should not be too much decor.
So, having fallen under the charm of a chalet, you can create a cozy cottage in the style of a "shepherd's hut". To come there and for a while find yourself in another reality, in which there is no hubbub, fuss and other city "benefits". In the evenings, sit wrapped in a warm blanket and enjoy the unity with nature. Such is she - the romance of the chalet!
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