It’s funny how the smallest of details can leave the biggest impression. During my brief morning tour of Chalet N, in the exclusive resort town of Oberlech in Austria, it’s not the 184 sq m master suite, the 23 live-in staff, the Hermès bathroom products, or the bulletproof windows that bespeak the chalet’s supreme luxury, but the rug I’m standing on. Or, rather, not standing on. I daren’t, because its fabric is imbued with Swarovski crystals. Who in their right mind tramples Swarovski? Anyone who can afford to pay EUR 278,000 for a week’s stay in Chalet N, I suppose.
But, as Sebastian Zenker, the chalet’s interior designer explains, Chalet N’s opulence is conveyed in more subtle turns than one might expect from a six-star property. From the occasional sprinkling of Swarovski crystals (they can also be found jazzing up the shower curtains in the spa) to travertine and granite walls with chrome and hints of black steel, the huge but otherwise traditional oaken interior is given a unique 21st-century edge by its opulent finishing. It is, as Sebastian puts it, the painstaking attention to detail that warrants Chalet N’s weekly rate, and attracts guests such as Tina Turner and Rihanna.
The price tag (which makes Chalet N one of the most expensive chalets in the world) might also have something to do with the property’s 11 suites, wine cellar, cinema, exceptional spa facilities, all-inclusive gourmet food and drink, and complimentary ski passes.
ROOM WITH A VIEW
The focal point of the master suite’s living area is a solid stone fireplace, serviced by an industrial copper chimney. The fireplace, in turn, is surrounded by an expansive three-sided sofa adorned with large shaggy cushions and furs. I sink into the sofa and gaze beyond the geometric grace of the cuboid fireplace toward the rugged majesty of the Arlberg massif — the chalet has been perfectly positioned to drink in the best of Oberlech’s views.
With the open fire, abundance of furs and panoramic vistas, the room looks as if it’s been taken straight out of the latest Bond movie. I later find out that my observations weren’t too far off the mark — Signa Luxury Collection, the property group that manages the chalet on behalf of Austrian magnate René Benko, are frequently turning down requests from film and television companies to shoot at Chalet N. The most recent refusal, apparently, was to a prominent rapper and his reality TV fiancée.
I’m sat in just one of the master suite’s many rooms. Around the corner, there’s the kids’ suite, with four (double) bunk beds, more toys than Santa’s workshop and the requisite giant flatscreen TV through which young (and young-at-heart) guests can live out Xbox adventures.
In keeping with the attention to detail that permeates the chalet’s design motifs, the master suite’s bedroom — adjacent to the living area — features a clean, metallic bed frame that echoes the cuboid angles of the living area’s fireplace. And, as with the living area’s huge sofa, the similarly enormous bed looks out across the stunning resort. Again, it’s the little touches that make Chalet N so special — the pillows embossed with guest’s initials and the complimentary bottle of bubbly on ice being two of my favourites.
As all good tours should, ours ends in the bar. Much is made of Chalet N’s price, but, to paraphrase a famous advertising slogan, it is reassuringly expensive. As Sebastian notes: “When you see silver, it’s real silver. When you see gold, you can be sure it’s gold.” And let’s not forget the rugs: when they sparkle, they sparkle Swarovski.
THE IMPORTANT BIT
What: Master Suite, Chalet N
Where: Oberlech, Austria
Price: from EUR 278,000 (US $392,000) per week
Tel: +43 5583 37 9 00
www.chalet-n.com
