Designing a home in the mountains involves addressing needs that are very different from those of a traditional home. Space must be optimized, materials must blend with the surrounding landscape, and every element must contribute to creating a
welcoming, functional, and durable environment.
The project designed by the Saglietti Group for a duplex in Sestriere stems precisely from this vision. The approximately 60-square-meter apartment, spread over two levels and overlooking the Olympic mountains, has been completely reimagined through
custom-designed furnishings that make the most of every available inch.
From the very early stages of the project, it was clear that the goal was not simply to furnish a home but to create an integrated system in which
architecture, interior design, mechanical and electrical systems, and woodwork would interact harmoniously. The project was developed in collaboration with the
GOODFOR Studio in Turin, led by architect Marco Luciano, who coordinated the architectural and interior design choices, transforming the apartment’s spatial limitations into design opportunities. A key contribution also came from the mechanical and electrical systems, designed and installed directly by the owner, Paolo, through
Canavese Impianti. The integration of underfloor heating, controlled mechanical ventilation, and a humidification system ensured maximum living comfort in an alpine setting characterized by low temperatures and particularly dry air.
The Value of Custom Furniture in Small Spaces
When space is limited,
furniture shouldn’t just take up room—it should help organize it.
For this reason, every element in the apartment was designed specifically for the space in which it would be placed. The entryway cabinets not only serve a storage function but also become an integral part of the home’s architecture, concealing the technical systems and helping to maintain a neat and clean visual appearance.
The same approach was adopted in the living area, where the staircase unit connects the kitchen and living room while also serving as storage, a space-defining element, and a support for the TV area. In a custom furniture design,
every element is designed to fulfill multiple functions simultaneously, eliminating the superfluous and highlighting what is truly needed.
Wood as a design element
Among the materials chosen for the project,
ash plays a central role.
This isn’t simply a matter of aesthetics. Wood represents the most direct connection to the mountain environment and helps create the warm, authentic atmosphere that characterizes homes at high altitudes.
In the living room, ash wood takes center stage through one of the most iconic elements of the entire project: the
silhouette of the mountains surrounding Sestriere. Created from a real photograph of the landscape and subsequently transformed into a
three-dimensional backlit element, this detail perfectly captures the Saglietti Group’s interpretation of custom furniture.
Not just a decorative item, but a solution born from the fusion of technical design, woodworking, and the ability to transform a memory or an emotion into a tangible object.
Carpentry and design: two disciplines that work together
One of the most interesting aspects of this project is the
relationship between design and production.
Each piece of furniture was designed with the material’s characteristics, the necessary craftsmanship, and the owners’ daily needs in mind. This approach yields results that would be difficult to achieve with standard solutions.
The creation of the ash wood profile is a concrete example of this. During the development phase, the material’s natural flexibility could have compromised the precision of the design. For this reason, our engineering department completely redesigned the construction system, dividing the element into several parts and developing a solution capable of ensuring
stability, visual continuity, and proper lighting.
It is precisely in these details that the
value of custom woodworking becomes apparent: in its ability to find specific solutions to specific needs.
Customization and functionality in the bedroom
The same design philosophy carries over into the bedroom area, where every decision was guided by the need to make the most of the limited space available.
The master bedroom combines storage and comfort within a single coordinated system, while the children’s room has been designed to accommodate up to five beds without compromising on everyday livability.
Solutions typically found in the nautical world and in RVs have been reimagined for the home, creating a flexible, organized space that adapts to the family’s changing needs.
Once again, the value of custom furniture lies in its ability to create spaces that revolve around people, rather than the other way around.
Custom Furniture for Mountain Homes
The Sestriere project perfectly embodies our approach to interior design.
Every decision—from the choice of wood to the finishes, from the layout of the spaces to the technical solutions—stems from a desire to create environments that reflect the personality of those who live there and the setting in which they are situated.
For Saglietti Group, custom furniture isn’t just about creating personalized pieces. It means designing spaces that enhance the quality of daily life, highlighting materials, functionality, and details through a continuous dialogue between design, craftsmanship, and construction techniques.
It is precisely this approach that allows us to transform every project into a unique space, designed to stand the test of time and tell an authentic story.
Photo credits:
Studio GOODFOR
