American interior designer Kelly Wearstler has introduced her first European hospitality project: a bold makeover of L’Apogée Courchevel’s main dining spaces.
The redesign unfolds across five distinct spaces united by an overarching design concept. Embracing themes of raw elegance, monumental forms of Brutalist architecture meet the warmth and tactility of mountain living.
For L’Apogée, Wearstler sought to work in harmony with the dramatic forms and rugged topography of the French Alps, taking design cues from these natural elements to create an interior space that feels part of the landscape itself. Inspired by the monolithic and angular forms of the Brutalist movement, and softened by the alpine terrain, Wearstler unites the five areas through a cohesive palette: earthy deep greens, imposing tones of charcoal, warm ochres, and garnet reds, layered with locally quarried near-black stone, brushed alpine woods, and richly textured natural fabrics. Drawing upon the expertise of international dealers and creatives, Wearstler enriches the interiors through vintage furniture designs and objets d’art sourced from across Europe, infusing the spaces with character and provenance.
The Piano Lounge greets guests with a striking custom staircase and brutalist-inspired balustrades; its angled double-height walls clad in a muted pine with a textured charred surface, provide the ideal acoustics for the room’s centerpiece bespoke Edelweiss piano. The neighbouring Central Bar offers an atmosphere of laid-back luxury, with vintage pine chairs and a custom chandelier anchoring the space. Created by Paris-born designer Nathalie Ziegler, the chandelier is composed of pieces of blown glass, resulting in a monumental silhouette inspired by nature.
The Salon is designed to evoke late-night glamour, with low banquettes, a mirrored ceiling, and a play of dim, ambient lighting that casts a soft, inviting glow. The atmosphere is enhanced by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Alps. Finally, the East and West Dining Rooms debut the Beefbar concept; both spaces designed purposefully to have distinct yet complementary palettes, lined with a warm wood cladding and window banquettes framing the surrounding mountainscape.
“The French Alps provided a remarkable canvas for my first European hospitality project — I’ve long dreamed of creating a space in Europe, and it is truly special to pair this debut with my first alpine project, too,” said Kelly Wearstler
“I’m so excited to bring my vision to L’Apogée Courchevel, crafting dining spaces that honor the strength and natural beauty of the Alps while offering warmth, intimacy, and a soulful sense of place.”
