Chalet Redefined
STORY CLAUDIA FERRARO | PHOTOGRAPHY SANDY MACKAY
Featured in the Southern Georgian Bay - 2026 Ski Issue
Dovetail Interiors Design Inc. reimagines a Devil’s Glen chalet with a thoughtful four-season update that preserves its character.
Just past the winding drive at Devil’s Glen Country Club, a timbered chalet sits tucked into the hillside, its roofline emerging through birch trees like something discovered rather than built. In winter, the steep drive can turn into a comedy of sliding cars, but the views make it magic. “It’s nestled in the topography,” says designer Tricia Jeffery, owner of Dovetail Interiors Design Inc. “The lower level walks out – and so does the upper level because of the grade. You’re up in the trees in the living spaces.” For Tricia and her team, the design direction began right there – in the quiet thrill of being suspended in nature.
The chalet has been in the same family for generations of ski seasons. The homeowners needed more space but didn’t want to lose what they loved. “My mandate was ‘heads in beds’ and bums in seats,” Tricia says.
The couple reached out to Tricia after seeing her work on a nearby home. She knows Devil’s Glen well. More than 20 years ago, she redesigned the clubhouse and has shaped many chalets tucked into the escarpment. “I’ve been blessed. I’ve built long relationships here,” she says. Those relationships extend to her trades. Dovetail’s team handles design and contracting in-house, working directly with partners they trust. On this chalet, the exterior envelope came first: a new roof system, upgraded windows and solid doors supplied by AM Group Exteriors to withstand mountain winters without compromising the view.
Inside, the kitchen layout posed the biggest challenge. Originally cramped and oddly shaped – almost two small rooms rather than one – its geometry worked against daily life. “The bones of the chalet were outstanding, but the kitchen was a design puzzle,” Tricia says. A slight adjustment to an adjacent bedroom allowed her team to shift walls enough to create both a generous island and a peninsula with bar seating. The peninsula was nonnegotiable. “The homeowners love hosting friends there,” she says. The final design supports that spirit of gathering – a social kitchen that anchors the home. “In the end, it’s a kitchen that would rival any big house. Fit, form and function, not a cabin kitchen.”
The palette feels quiet and natural, with soft mushroom-toned cabinetry that echoes the forest outside and countertops that read like dark soapstone. The engineered surface, fabricated through The Granite Company, was chosen for its durability. “At the end of a long ski day you don’t want to worry about maintenance,” Tricia says. The kitchen floor presented another technical puzzle. The original hardwood held deep sentimental value, so tearing it out was not an option. Instead, large-format tile was inlaid within the hardwood footprint, preserving the patina while creating a mud-and-snow-proof zone. Deans Carpet One Floor & Home provided the technical expertise to bring this solution to life.
Above the island, a simple Kuzco light fixture sourced through Georgian Design Centre adds a playful tone. The hood wall, wrapped in herringbone tile from Deans Carpet One Floor & Home, brings texture without shouting. Tailored cabinetry with black hardware creates a crisp counterpoint to the timber beams overhead. Together, these details strike a balance of timeless materials, subtle texture and just enough whimsy to make the kitchen feel both welcoming and refined. The homeowners agree. “Our new kitchen is a joy to work in,” they say. “Tricia is a very talented designer with a great eye for what will work well.”
Tricia’s philosophy of leaning into the chalet’s character, rather than erasing it, extends throughout the home. In the living room, the original red brick fireplace remained, now framed by custom millwork for wood storage. “We were able to keep some of the features that we loved and work them into the new design,” the homeowners say.
Dovetail’s role stretched well beyond furnishings. The team oversaw performance upgrades needed to make the chalet work year-round, as Devil’s Glen is now as much a summer community as it is a ski destination. They improved insulation to resolve ice buildup on the roof and added ductless HVAC systems for summer comfort. A new folding patio door creates true indoor-outdoor flow in warmer months. These enhancements aren’t flashy, but they are deeply appreciated by the homeowners. “Her team was accommodating to any changes during the renovation and afterwards followed up on the small issues that came up,” they say. “We love our new space and use it year-round. We plan on using it for all our family gatherings in the years to come.”
Gathering is truly what the space was designed for. A substantial plank-top dining table stretches the length of the room, supported by a sculptural iron trestle base built to hold a crowd. Above, the homeowners’ own iron chandeliers keep with the chalet’s modern yet rustic aesthetic.
Today, the finished chalet feels fresh but still rooted. Timber beams span textured neutrals, wool rugs and cosy throws. Every room invites easy connection. Children can spill in from the hill. Skis can lean by the door. There’s space for family. For Tricia, the kitchen remains the jewel. “Kitchens and bathrooms are my thing. I love a challenge – and this one was challenging,” she says. “To take something old and open it up for a big, lovely family feels fantastic.”
Outside, chairs wait on the deck for winter sun. Down the slope, the runs of Devil’s Glen gleam white against the dark pines. Inside, the fire is stacked and ready. A chalet like this isn’t about drama or trend. It’s about memory: family, history and returning year after year to a place that feels like home. OH