Wicklow-based Collette Ward Interiors completes 48-hour chalet fitout in France

Collette Ward Interiors, operating from Wicklow, delivered a high-end ski chalet fitout in France’s Les 3 Vallées within a 48-hour window.

The six-bedroom, ski-in ski-out Chalet Diana combines two properties into one and accommodates up to 13 guests.

“The village is a proper Alpine village where people live. It’s got quirky, old-fashioned shops. It’s got a charm to it. There is less of the tourist influence,” said Collette Ward, describing the project’s location in St Martin de Belleville.

The firm managed every stage of the project from Ireland, flying in for site meetings while coordinating suppliers, including a curtain maker who skied from Méribel for fittings. “People think our job is glamorous. I was directing traffic in a sleepy village in France on a Sunday. It was intense and a lot of fun,” Ward added.

The fitout included custom-made furniture with duck down back cushions and feather wraps, native timber floors, and a suspended fireplace by French company JC Bordelet. Morris & Co wallpapers and Harlequin fabrics were shipped in to achieve a modern, hygge-inspired design, avoiding typical Alpine clichés.

Studio Terry in Portadown supplied a bespoke dining table, while Ed Rhatigan of Rhatigan & Hick created a cocktail cabinet. The design balanced functional spaces with high-performance, textured fabrics and linens, combining aesthetics with practicality for a ski-in ski-out environment.

Ward emphasised the team’s hands-on approach: “Everyone rolled up their sleeves and got the big truck as close to the house. We lowered the sofas on ropes from the street over the house and into the property.”

Once completed, all packing materials were returned to Ireland, leaving the property immaculate. Ward reflected on the challenge: “It was full-on.”

Read the full details of the project and its unique fitout approach in the complete story.

Photo credits to Chalet Diana’s official website