Chalet Arve

Chalet Arve is Chamonix done in a modern key. The ground floor is wrapped in stone and glass, the upper floor in warm timber, and at night the whole base glows against the snow with the mountain wall rising behind.

The main room is the showpiece. A latticed timber ceiling spreads out from a sculpted wooden column, a fireplace hangs in the middle of the space, and tall windows put the snowy garden and the peaks right beside the dining table, which seats a dozen. A tan leather sofa and cowhide rugs keep it relaxed, and a reading corner with tall wingback chairs is perfect for a quiet hour. As a luxury chalet rental in Chamonix, it feels fresh and full of light.

Chalet Arve sleeps ten guests in five bedrooms, each with a king bed, and five bathrooms. Bedrooms are simple and calm, with timber headboards and views into the trees. Up top, a covered terrace under the roof frame has a hanging egg chair and fur throws for watching the weather come in.

There's a sauna and a massage room with two tables, and a cinema lounge with deep blue sofas. The kitchen is sleek and white, with a wine fridge built into the island. Chamonix sits at the foot of Mont Blanc in the French Alps, with skiing, hiking and a lively town centre. It suits families and groups of friends who like contemporary design.