"Le 1550", a Luxury Chalet in Courchevel
Adding chalet charm in the French Alps to the Iconic House Collection
Today, we’re officially opening the third property in Iconic.House’s collection.
Having embarked on the Iconic adventure with my brother Robin Michel almost 18 months ago, it continues to be an endlessly exciting opportunity to learn.
It’s a real pleasure and a genuine challenge to create a new category in luxury hospitality. Although the holiday rental market is becoming increasingly important, very few people have taken our approach of developing a private collection of houses which are designed specifically for this new market segment.
We’re thrilled to be developing a whole new kind of luxury hospitality!
We’ve started out with a blank slate, focusing on the choice of properties 🔎, their layout and design 🧩, their décor 🛋️, renovation work 🚧, communications 🗣️, funding 🤯, pricing 🏷️, finding the right service providers 🧺, ensuring a warm welcome 🙌 and providing the ultimate overall experience for guests 👩🍳 which is the most important element of all.
Today, we’re announcing the launch of Le 1550, the third addition to the collection, after L’Étoile des Baux and Les Bords du Lac, respectively launched in June and July.
Honestly, I’m really proud of our work with Iconic House’s teams. After a year of hard work, including more than 8 months of renovation work, today we’re opening what is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful chalets in the Alps. That’s right!
Of course, we’re talking about very high-end luxury but there was no question of going over the top with extravagant bling. As ever, we’ve worked with local artisans and artists to create a beautiful and elegant setting; Atelier Giffon worked with us on the property’s interior design, while Joséphine Fossey and her team once again focused on the chalet’s decoration and artistic curation.
Located right by the slopes of Les Trois Vallées, the largest ski area in the world, in the hamlet of Les Brigues (which is undoubtedly the best kept secret in Courchevel), Le 1550 has 8 ensuite rooms and can welcome up to 20 guests.
Boasting a breathtaking view of the valley and the mountain, the chalet inevitably has everything you need for a comfortable and unforgettable stay. With a heated indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam room, a fully equipped gym, a yoga studio, a massage room and a herbal tea room, the Sport & Wellness area is worthy of the very best hotels. There’s a Kids’ Paradise, one of the signature concepts of all Iconic House properties: the ultimate playroom which is covered with climbing holds for that mountain vibe. You’ll also find an incredible ski room in which you can get ready before hitting the slopes – which are just metres away – along with a cosy home cinema, featuring a giant screen, and a professional kitchen which is perfect for any fans of cooking.
In terms of atmosphere, we chose to reinterpret the traditional mountain chalet by giving it a contemporary twist: we’ve created a real sense of warmth by combining disparate materials, from aged wood to the orange hue of Corten steel. Artwork by local artist Jean Patrice Rozand sets the tone, proudly welcoming the chalet’s guests.
Buoyed by its success in our other properties, we’ve further enhanced our signature in Le 1550, our first chalet. A majestic bookcase stands tall in the new living room with an Austrian-style vaulted ceiling, made by Atelier Felicita. In the centre of the room, which features a gigantic sofa, lies the pièce de résistance: a huge piece of stone, hewn from Mont-Blanc. Weighing more than 7 tonnes, it acts as a coffee table and forms the base of the majestic Focus fireplace. On the walls, artwork by Jean Jullien, with whom we worked in Hossegor, looks out on an incredible view of the seemingly endless Vanoise mountains.
In view of their popularity in our property in Les Baux-de-Provence, we’ve opted for murals again: Géraldine Roussel was tasked with the ceiling in the kitchen, while Redfield & Dattner showcased their creativity around the swimming pool. As soon as guests enter the chalet’s spacious hallway, they’ll be transported to the Far North as they contemplate an astonishing and custom-made oak table, made by the young Swedish designer from Ateljé Loupcha; above it, framed artwork by Studio Blaau in Amsterdam is displayed.
As the tour of the property continues, Charlotte Perriand’s modernist inspirations give the chalet a real sense of personality. They can be found throughout, from wall paintings and antique items to iconic pieces, including the green enamelled wooden table made by the Savoie-based carpenter and cabinetmaker Sylvain Perrier (Atelier Emersens) which takes pride of place in the dining room.
Guests will be given the keys to Le 1550 by Alison, whose family has lived in Courchevel for several generations. Driven by her desire to provide the high level of service for which Iconic House is renowned, she is incredibly detail-oriented and loves nothing more than sharing her favourite spots and creating unique and personalised stays for the chalet’s guests.
These wide-ranging activities and other recommended places to visit will be featured in the next issue of ICONS, the collection of travel guides published by Iconic House which was launched in December last year.
I could talk about it all for hours but I’ll let you admire a few photos instead. I genuinely believe we’ve created one of the most stunning chalets in the Alps, if not the entire world. 😃