Chalet-style buildings originated in the south-east of France and in the mountains of Switzerland. Initially, it was the shepherd's house, where he could shelter from the weather at any time. Usually such buildings were made of wood, but today the combined houses of chalets made of a combination of stone and wood are very popular. These houses are especially valued for durability, reliability, ecological cleanliness and extraordinary beauty. A modern chalet house is not a shepherd’s house, but a respectable cottage or villa, which is most often built on expensive ski resorts or as a home for permanent residence in a picturesque, mountainous area.

Style features

Chalet house designs are easily distinguished by their characteristic features:

  • The basement of the house or the entire first floor is made of natural stone (brick is used less often).
  • The gable pointed roof with large overhangs, supports and cantilevered beams gives the building a special style. In order to balance the massive overhangs of the roof, the first floor of the building is made rather squat and wide.
  • On the site of such a house is set according to the cardinal. As a result, the main facade of the structure must always look east. The design of living rooms is done taking into account the sufficient insolation of the room by sunlight.
  • The space under the massive developed roof does not remain without use. Often, there is a mansard floor settled here, often a second light is made in the living room, internal balconies. Balconies and terraces are well located under the external overhang of the roof.
  • The combined house of the chalet is built only from natural materials. Usually, in combination with natural stone, glued and profiled timber, rounded and untreated logs are used. In the interior and exterior of such a building, modern finishing materials are not used at all.
  • Another feature of this style is the abundance of glazing, namely large windows, panoramic windows, and windows to the floor.
  • In the modern combined houses, chalets are often equipped with glazed or open terraces, balconies, sheds, winter gardens, etc. All of them allow you to balance the massive roof of the house, visually expanding the first floor.

Combining stone and wood in the house became a chalet in ancient times. This technique was used to protect wooden structures from getting wet, rot, mold. The durable and solid stone reliably insulated the wooden part of the building, thanks to which the service life of the building only increased.

Chalet House Projects

In addition to the exterior of the house in the style of a chalet, its interior should also emphasize the rustic simplicity of style and functionality. Choosing the projects of the combined houses of the chalet, you should pay attention to the following nuances of such buildings:

  1. If the first floor of such a house is made of stone, then the second and attic floors are characterized by the use of large-sized wooden wall elements (logs, beams). However, sometimes the second floor of the combined house of the chalet is made of brick, because it is quite strong and durable material.
  2. Chalet house designs usually include a basement, especially if the house is located on a relief. In the basement there will not necessarily be utility and utility rooms, here you can equip a cozy living room or kitchen.
  3. In the interior decoration is dominated only by natural materials. For the walls it is whitewash and plaster, the floor is made of wood. There can be no hint of cutting-edge décor.
  4. Quite often, the attic occupies part of the space under the roof, the rest of the under-roof space serves as the second light in the living room. Usually the windows in this room are made to the floor. And the slopes of the roof with open rafter beams of a contrasting color serve as the ceiling in such a living room.
  5. A constant attribute of any home chalet can be considered a fireplace. Moreover, the massive fireplace tube is part of the exterior of the building and is also decorated with natural stone. Naturally, the fireplace is located in the spacious living room so that you can enjoy the surrounding landscape through the panoramic windows and warm yourself by the fire in a cozy chair.

Of course, a modern house chalet can be made entirely of wood, stone or brick, choosing the appropriate cladding for the facade. But in this case it will cease to be the home of the chalet, its originality will be lost, which is especially noticeable with the combination of materials. Thanks to the skillful combination of textures and colors of stone and wood, such a house can be given any ethnic shade and emphasize its characteristic historical features.

In modern houses, chalets often use advanced materials with a long service life, better performance and a more affordable price. For example, instead of natural stone, the first and ground floors are made of aerated concrete, which can then be revetted and an equally attractive surface resembling a natural stone can be obtained. However, at the price and speed of installation in the case of aerated concrete, you will only win.

Instead of rounded or untreated logs for the installation of the second and attic floor is advantageous to use glued and profiled timber. They do not give such a big shrinkage, they are faster and easier to assemble, and they also have better thermal insulation properties. Moreover, in the case of using these materials you do not need to do interior decoration, because the smooth beautiful surface of these elements allows you to get perfect walls.

House Benefits

  1. The combination of two materials in the construction of a house chalet allows you to get significant benefits, because they are free from the disadvantages that are when using the same material. For example, stone walls need careful warming and badly let in air. However, since only the ground floor is made of stone, which usually has a kitchen, bathrooms, a living room, a hall, a laundry room, a garage, a boiler room and a sauna - in a word, all those rooms in which people do not stay permanently, such properties of the stone are only good.
  2. But the second and attic floor should be warmer, more comfortable, with a favorable microclimate. These are the qualities that natural wood gives to bedrooms, children's rooms and an office located on this floor. At the same time, at such a height from the surface of the earth, wood is not afraid of increased humidity and mold from the proximity of groundwater, seasonal soil movements and freezing of the ground, because of all this, the timber is reliably protected by the stone walls of the ground floor.
  3. Wood is responsible for the natural air exchange, regulates the humidity in the room and saturates the air with beneficial phytoncides and pleasant aroma. Moreover, on the second floor under the protection of large overhangs of the roof, this unique and beautiful material will retain its attractiveness and properties for a long time.
  4. The construction of a completely wooden house is less expensive than the construction of buildings made of natural or artificial stone material. But in comparison with wood, a brick or stone house is more durable. Therefore, choosing the combined houses of the chalet, we find a middle ground - immediately obtaining durability, strength and cost savings.
  5. If for the construction of such a house to choose aerated concrete and timber, the box can be built in a few weeks. At the same time, the shrinkage periods of such a structure are insignificant, so you will not have to make a long pause before settling and finishing the house.
  6. Since the second floor of the house has a small weight due to the wall material used, having performed the correct calculation of the foundation, you can use its lightweight version and not make an expensive powerful foundation.

Interior

Since the chalet is the style of alpine shepherds, it is characterized by practicality and simplicity in everything. The main attributes of this style in the interior are open ceiling beams and supports rich dark color. They should contrast stand out against the background of lighter walls. As we have said, a fireplace with open fire and large windows allow to achieve unity with nature and harmony. In the decoration of the interior of the house should be used only natural materials of natural colors.

This style is peculiar to the use of the following techniques in the interior:

  • For the processing of all wooden elements used special compositions that give them a rich color, but do not hide the texture of wood.
  • Often aged worn look attached to the details of the interior and furniture deliberately to emphasize the style.
  • Wood trim can be used not only on the floor, but also on the ceiling. Often in the decoration of the walls used inserts of stone. So whole fragments of walls can be made out.
  • If plastered and whitewashed walls seem uncomfortable to you, you can sheathe them with wood.
  • To emphasize the naturalness of the material, flooring boards are not painted, but are treated with oil.
  • The colors of furniture and textiles should be as close as possible to natural tones.

Nowadays, a chalet-style house is not a tribute to fashion, but a way to get as close as possible to nature.

For such combined country cottages, the main principle of construction is the use of only natural materials: rounded timber, logs, glued wood, etc.

This style of the house originated in faraway France and initially only wooden components and stone were used to build the house.

Today such beautiful and cozy houses can be found not only on the slopes of the Alps, but also in our country.

In order to fully experience all the grandeur of a country house in the style of a chalet, just look at the photos or consider in detail the projects of country cottages made in this alpine design from rounded bar, glued wood and other materials.

In order to build such a house with your own hands, you must have not only building skills, but also have imagination.


Chalet style features

This is due to the fact that the project of the house involves the construction of a basement with a garage of stone, and all the rest - from different types of wood.

For these purposes, logs can be used, the use of glued wood, as well as timber (including rounded) is allowed.

Modern chalet style projects involve a harmonious combination of several different materials at once, while the design should remain unchanged.

A small house in this style will be a real decoration of the dacha. In the photo below you can see how the exterior of the house is made.


As a rule, the chalet project involves making the ground floor of a house with a stone garage, inside which it is customary to place all kinds of working and utility rooms.

It is also equipped with a garage in which you can conveniently place the car. The decoration of the country house is done in the appropriate chalet style.

The construction of the first floor is carried out with the use of logs or rounded timber, and the interior is made in European style.

The layout involves placing a cozy living room and dining room here. The skeleton top floor of the house is placed directly under the sweeping roof, which should hang heavily from the walls.

At this level, they furnish bedrooms, an office, and a bathroom, and the design in the interior and the entire surrounding space is made in a style that is closer to the owners.

The modern style of the chalet, of course, is very different from the one that was used originally.

Today, there is every opportunity to replace expensive natural materials with their artificial counterparts, while the salary will not lose anything.

For example, a stone can be replaced with regular foam concrete, and instead of a bar or a rounded log, you can use inexpensive wooden analogs of the type of glued veneer.

Very often you can find a project of a country house-chalet (including a one-story), which provides for the use of combined components (for example, timber, stone and glued wood), which only complement the overall interior of the house.

The interior design and facade of the house, as a rule, the owners perform based on their preferences.

The main idea of \u200b\u200bthe chalet style is a harmonious combination of natural materials, when the lower facade is made of stone, and the upper facade implies a wooden frame design.

In this case, the roof must be double-slope and far protrude beyond the perimeter of the walls. The interior and decoration of the house is done in alpine-rustic style.

Previously, only natural stone was used as materials, as well as logs, the project assumed the use of rounded timber.

Today, all this can be replaced with cheaper artificial materials that are not inferior in quality to natural ones.

If you build this house yourself, then first you need to examine ready-made solutions and projects, as well as see photos of the already built chalet cottages.


Principles of construction

Before you start building a house with your own hands, you need to weigh everything and decide, first, what project to implement, secondly, think over the facade and frame floor, and thirdly, choose the interior, which will house the chalet.

You can build a facade of the house of brick, frame block to perform a combined, which will significantly reduce costs, but at the same time preserve the true Alpine design of the facades.

An example of such a structure can be seen in the photo, which shows all the smallest details of the chalet.

The erected facade and frame block of the house must not only be durable, but also withstand temperature changes and the aggressive effects of various external factors.

For a home-chalet is best to choose a stone foundation.

It can be built with your own hands, for which you should dig a trench, one meter wide and with a depth that will be below the level of freezing of the ground.

The classic version of the house in this style involves the construction of two floors, excluding the basement with a garage.

In this case, the facade of these floors can be made of different materials.

It is better to build the first floor and the basement of the house out of foam concrete or brick, which will make the facade as durable as possible. All work can be done by hand.

It should be remembered that the lower walls play the role of bearing, and therefore must be strengthened, in addition, they should be insulated.

It is allowed to use different types of clutches, the main thing is to comply with the technology.

The wooden or frame upper floor of the house is erected after it dries completely and settles the foundation and plinth.

According to modern requirements, the frame floor should be not only light and durable, but also warm.

In addition, its carrying capacity must take into account the weight of the attic and roof.

In order to build a frame floor with your own hands, you can use logs or various materials of glued wood, the more expensive option is to use a rounded beam.

All exterior and interior decoration should be made using insulation that fits without voids, which will provide a high waterproofing structure.

With this use of materials, it will be possible to preserve the alpine interior and make the house-chalet durable.

In order to make such a house-chalet warm, you should use modern sheet and roll insulation. You can also apply the technology of polyurethane foam spraying.

The advantage of this material is that it easily fills all the joints and surfaces of any shape. Particular attention should be paid to the roof, which will cover the house-chalet.

It should be characteristic of the dual-slope chalet style and stand beyond the perimeter of the walls.

The base of the roof can be erected from a log or laminated veneer lumber, but as a coating, it is allowed to use a wide variety of materials, ranging from ordinary tiles to modern metal tiles.

Variants of various options for roofs can be viewed on the photo.

Projects of single-storey houses in the style of chalets in recent years have aroused great interest in Russia. They are unusual, original versions of suburban construction. The cottages, made in this style, look great not only against the background of the mountain landscape, but also among the landscapes of the plains.

From the history of style

The chalet style was formed in ancient times in a small village, which is located in the south-east of France among the picturesque Alpine mountains. In the original it was a robust, made from a massive bar shepherd's hut. Natural stone was used in its construction. It was designed to protect people and livestock from the weather. Over time, one-story houses in the style of a chalet have lost their main function. They less began to resemble the first squalid buildings, gaining functionality and a more well-groomed appearance. The alpine style perfected by many centuries has reached our time and today has become very popular.

Style features

Chalet style single-storey log houses cannot be confused with other buildings. They have their own characteristics:

  1. A canopy two-level roof with a visor, which protrudes from the perimeter of the house for a considerable distance.
  2. The upper floor of the building is made of timber, treated with plaster and whitewash, decorated with pilasters, beams and other elements of natural wood. Sometimes some surfaces are painted.
  3. The single-storey chalet-style houses have a high made of stone (or brick).
  4. Outside the structure of the structure stands a veranda, which is often installed on columns.

Single-storey chalet-style houses with an attic most often have typical planning: an entrance hall, a kitchen, a living room and utility rooms are located in the basement of a building, and in the attic they usually equip a guest room or an office. In these windows shuttered shutters that protected from snow, rain and wind. Today they are used as a decorative element.

In the homeland of style, in France, the one-story house of a chalet was always built taking into account the cardinal directions. The most beautiful part of it is the facade. He was always directed east. The main requirement of this style is the use of only natural materials. Ceiling and floor coverings are made of wood, the surfaces of the walls are plastered and whitened. Use of decorative wooden elements is allowed.

Color spectrum

When often use textured plaster yellow, cream, beige, light orange tones. Upholstery and textiles should be close to shades of stone and wood. Gray stone goes well with fabrics that are similar in tone to the bleached wood. Motley and bright plaids and pillows in red, blue or green colors will enliven the interior.

House base

Brick or blocks are used for the basement. Often they are made of porous ceramics, aerated concrete. Brick base needs additional insulation from the outside. It is performed by the ventilated facade method. For decorative processing suitable, in addition to natural stone, brick. It is put in half thickness, and sometimes even a quarter.

Interior

The one-story house in the style of a chalet from a bar should look like a hut lost in the mountains. For the floor, artificially aged materials are usually used, which look both stylish and natural. The board is applied unpainted. It is coated with oil with the effect of platinum or varnish. The ceiling must be placed beams, painted in a dark color. The walls are most often lined with bricks, which are then plastered (a roughly treated surface is allowed).

Fireplace

This is an integral element of the interior of the house chalet. It is not only a source of heat, but also creates an atmosphere of coziness and comfort in the living room. The fireplace was always decorated using natural wood, but in different regions had some differences. Often they were built very impressive size (3x6 m). Modern single-storey chalet-style houses can have fireplaces of different styles and types. But still wood remains very popular in the decoration. In the fireplace part, you can create an original panel of stones that will support the overall atmosphere of a certain hunting lodge.

Furniture

Single-storey houses in the style of a chalet should be furnished with simple, but at the same time very comfortable furniture. As a rule, it combines elements of baroque and country. Cozy large sofas with fabric or leather upholstery that, at first glance, may look a little rough, look organic in such a room. Well fit into the interior of the chair with high comfortable backs, coffee tables from deliberately roughly treated wood. Wicker furniture and accessories are appropriate.

In the kitchen, along the walls are usually set numerous tables, cabinets, hinged open shelves. Furniture with a rough finish and artificial abrasions harmoniously complement the interior. It is advisable to make the countertop and the working surface of the stone. Household appliances, without which modern man can not do, it is better to clean in closed cabinets. The dining table should be massive, made of natural wood, preferably of oak.

Bedroom decoration

Many chalet-style homeowners have difficulty in decorating this particular room. Let's try to help you. In should be used only warm pastel colors that complement the atmosphere of comfort and perfectly combined with wooden elements of decor.

The furniture in this room should be comfortable, but at the same time rather strict, without unnecessary frills. There should certainly be a spacious bed with a wooden headboard, covered with a veil of natural fabric. In addition, it is necessary to install. There should be no mirrors and any decorative ornaments on its surface. On the walls will be appropriate pictures in a simple framework. The floor can be covered with a carpet of coarse weaving or skin.

Style benefits

Chalet houses are attractive not only architectural features. They have undeniable advantages, from a technical point of view. First of all, it is the application in the construction of high-quality building materials that have proven themselves well - natural stone and wooden beam. Wood structures always create an ideal microclimate, not to mention the environmental friendliness of the material.

Chalet-style houses are an excellent option for people who want to at least periodically relax from the city with its noise and bustle. Most of us are so accustomed to living in apartments that they don’t even know what horizons a country house opens in the style of a chalet. The interiors of buildings made of profiled or glued timber can be as varied as human imagination is rich.

As mentioned above, the word “chalets” were lonely huts in the mountains, they usually served as a haven for shepherds or lumberjacks. In such houses they hid from snow and rain, cooked food right there - in a stone hearth, a prototype of a modern fireplace. There was no specific owner of the house, therefore the situation was extremely simple and uncomplicated. Formed style - simple, using natural materials. The ground floor was made of stones, sometimes they were whitewashed for beauty. The second floor was collected from logs, which were prepared right there from a number of growing trees. They made a simple two-slope, low-set roof to protect against cold mountain winds and avalanches. The chalet style gained wide popularity as the alpine ski resorts developed. Usually wealthy people skied on skis, and many people liked this style. For a long, centuries-old history, a lot has changed, but simplicity and natural materials remain unchanged - everything that made the projects of chalet houses so popular.

Advantages of chalet style homes

The advantage is that due to the combination of stone and wood, this distinctive and recognizable appearance is created. The first floor in the chalet’s house projects is constructed of stone, mainly building blocks or bricks are used. The second floor is made of wood, used timber, profiled timber, double timber, rounded log. The main advantage is the combination of an enlarged base and a low, spreading roof. Projects are becoming more comfortable and larger than the first single chalet in the French Alps. However, you can be sure that by ordering the design of a chalet house in our company, you will get all the advantages of this technology!

Features in the design

When designing a chalet houses it is necessary to consider their features:

  • high stone base (if the project is a one-story chalet)
  • stone ground floor (if with mansard)
  • roof squat, gable, with large overhangs
  • feature is the mandatory use of the fireplace
  • using only natural materials in construction
  • natural colors in the finish
  • rough plaster outside, usually white
  • provide open terraces under the long overhangs of the roof
  • balconies and loggias in the chalet are larger than usual

Chalet layouts

In our company, the layout of the chalet houses depends on the wishes of the customer and the advice of an experienced architect. There are standard options for planning of premises, the basic principles are as follows:

  1. The following rooms are usually placed on the stone first floor - kitchen, bathroom, boiler room, workshop, living room with fireplace.
  2. The layout of the second, wooden floor should contain sleeping rooms, perhaps an office for work.

All planning is carried out individually, often bought single-storey chalet projects, sometimes they ask to include a garage, or a bath with a sauna on the first floor.

Chalet decoration and interior

During the construction and exterior decoration of the chalet is usually used natural stone and wood in the form of a bar or log. The walls of the first floor both inside and outside are most often plastered in light shades, for example, simply in white. Wood surfaces are usually painted dark brown for the effect of an old darkened tree. In the interior decoration flooring is artificially aged flooring, or painted with the effect of patinated, or lacquered. For the design of ceilings in the interior, ceiling beams are left, painted in dark color in contrast to the light ceiling, you can stretch. By the way, it will look very stylish, but quite natural.

Chalet in Russia

Chalet house projects are well suited to the Russian climate due to their sturdy construction, autumn dampness and winter frosts are not terrible for them! These are no longer traditional alpine houses, but the main recognizable features have remained unchanged due to their characteristic features. The style of the chalet has been tested by time and the harsh mountain climate, so it is excellent for designing houses in Russia. A sample of comfort and simplicity, a combination of reliability and comfort, it is ideal for a home hearth. Our project organization successfully designs houses in the style of a chalet, and offers to get acquainted with ready-made projects, or to make an individual.