Clockwise from main: Beams in the workshop ceiling had to be replaced; Chris and his crew did most of the work themselves; the chalet is used by family and friends in winter; the stairs to the first floor; the stairs under construction; work in progress; floors were made of epoxy resin; the kitchen was salvaged; original beams are a feature of the chalet; the modern feel continues into the bathroom


Chris also used concrete


to reinforce the floors and replaced the old wooden ones with new epoxy resin flooring. “Concrete floors make the house solid, as well as quiet. Fifteen people in a building with wooden floors would send you mad.” The building’s idiosyncratic


character has been retained where possible and Chris has endeavoured to recycle a lot of the original materials – especially the beams, stone walls and original Tarentaise wooden doors. “I stuck to a small palette of


materials, so every room is part of the same aesthetic. This has had the benefit of saving me a


huge amount of money, but it is also the look that I was after. I knew I wanted to make wood the star of the building. There are beautiful old beams.”


LANGUAGE MATTERS Being able to speak French was also a huge advantage. For two years, before moving out to France for half of each year, he attended French classes and also had a French tutor. His young son, who lives with his ex-partner in Brighton but visits regularly, also helped. “I bought the Harry Potter


series and read it in French to him,” he says. “So although my French vocabulary for building materials is limited,


I am very good at talking about magic spells!” Chris will keep the ground-


floor apartment for his own personal use and just have family and friends use the chalet in the winter season. During the summer months, he plans to let it out to cycling enthusiasts. “The area is often part of the Tour de France, which attracts a lot of visitors,” he explains. “There are also loads of empty small roads, which is perfect for cyclists.” The old barn is now a modern


chalet with a contemporary kitchen, five bedrooms, five bathrooms, high ceilings, balconies and great views, as well as a sauna, ground-floor


apartment and workshop, “with planning permission attached to it, so I can change it later if I wish,” says Chris. Similar-sized Alpine


homes in the Bozel valley cost between €500,000 and €700,000, while in the neighbouring luxury resort of Courchevel, they command several million euros. Chris regards the chalet


not only as a perfect base for skiing and cycling, but also as his dream home. “It’s such a pleasure to spend time there,” he says. ■


Follow Chris’s adventures on Instagram: @ChrisMoran_HBT


FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: March/April 2023 33


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