Bring Mountain Magic Home with These Alpine Style Picks
In her latest book, writer Kathryn O’Shea highlights enchanting interiors tailor-made for après-ski fun
Writer Kathryn O’Shea-Evans is no stranger to living life at altitude: based near Colorado’s Front Range—home to some of the highest peaks in the Rockies—the food, design, and travel writer has contributed to an assortment of interior design books highlighting everything from the “Grandmillenial” aesthetic to rustic National Park lodges. In her latest work, Alpine Style: Bringing Mountain Magic Home (Gibbs Smith, 2024), O’Shea-Evans opines on enchanting interiors tailor-made for après-ski fun. Full of images of grandiose chalets and vintage photos of celebrities on the mountains, the charming book contains tips for living your best life at altitude throughout the seasons, along with a handful of warming recipes from renowned alpine kitchens.
“To me, ‘Alpine style’ is not modern and cold—it’s more of a Ralph Lauren fever dream sprung to life,” O’Shea-Evans explains. The dining room pictured here is highlighted in Alpine Style for its Scottish hunting lodge aesthetic: antique beams from a Louisiana mill pair with damask-covered walls and rustic wood flooring, while character shines through in the vintage fox oil painting, antler candle holders, and antique kettle above the fireplace. O’Shea-Evans praises the flexibility of the dining room, which features multiple tables and seating that can be easily rearranged. Between the upholstery, window coverings, and wallpaper, there’s plenty of sumptuous patterns to elevate the cozy space despite its simple design. After all, says the writer, “when you’re surrounded by alpine grandeur, you don’t need to invest in much artwork—everyone will be looking out the window anyway.” Create your own mountain-inspired interior with these nine finds.