A Scandinavian Retreat in the Austrian Alps
The Danish design company, Vipp – known for its beautiful designer kitchens, furniture and lighting has just added a new guesthouse to its portfolio of fourteen unique properties and it is a blend of Scandinavian comfort and Alpine charm. Located in the small Alpine village of Vandans, at the foot of the dramatic Rätikon mountain range in western Austria – the village is known for traditional timber houses with signature Austrian sloping roofs. On the outside, the new ‘Montafon Haus’ guesthouse, has all the characteristics of the traditional houses in the area – shaped by life in the Montafon valley. This beautiful 190-year-old structure was carefully restored by local architects in 2020 and while respect was paid to the original structure by restoring frames and exterior details – new timber and steel elements were also introduced.
A Stainless Steel Kitchen Beneath Timber Beams
I’m drawn straight away to the incredible stainless steel kitchen which would look at home in a professional catering setting. It is sleek and design led with smooth curved edges and slender horizontal handles, which characterise Vipp kitchen design. This ultra contemporary kitchen sits side by side with the wonderful rustic elements that give the kitchen space its character, antique crockery, copper pots and pans, and woven baskets. The rustic wooden ceiling beams further add to the marriage of traditional and contemporary in this gorgeous kitchen.
Rustic Comfort Meets Contemporary Form
This blending of traditional and modern carries over into the living area. The sombre wood panelling of the old house is balanced by the sleek and light Scandinavian sofa and a stainless steel coffee table, all from Vipp’s own collections which would be at home in a modern Copenhagen design hotel. The room is given further depth by the rustic dresser that looks salvaged and full of character. The whole vibe is one of rustic comfort with the gorgeous high pile rug and the shaggy pillows acting as a counterpoint to the modern furniture. And the oversized pouf is just so divine and offers up another space to lounge.
Dining in an Alpine Folktale
Vipps own design furniture is used throughout the guesthouse and a special edition of its swivel chair was inspired by the house and named after it. The swivel chair carries a quiet Bauhaus influence — pared-back, functional, and unapologetically industrial — softened through Scandinavian craftsmanship. The Montafon Haus edition chair, seen above with the Vipp studio desk, features upholstery by the French heritage maker Nobilis, a luxurious blend of wool, cotton, linen and alpaca giving it an inviting textured finish. A black powder coated version of the chair is striking and unique choice of seating for the dining room shown below. The black dining table and banquet seating strike the right chord in the wood paneled dining room and the single pendant light together with the candles and lanterns throughout would offer soft evening light.
The dining room feels as though it belongs in an old Alpine folktale — timbered, hushed, and gently lit against the mountains outside, a space that invites long, lingering evenings around the table.
The guesthouse spans three floors, with the kitchen, dining and living areas on the ground floor, an open seating area and three bedrooms on the first floor, and a fourth bedroom secreted away on the top floor of the house. I love the airy feel of this seating area on the second floor, where a pair of Vipp Lodge lounge chairs offer a spot to read or even nap. There is a beautiful balance here between the subtle, sleek cabinetry and the use of deeply tactile materials, such as the sheepskin chairs, woven wall hanging and organic rug. On one side of the room, a large window seat lined with sheepskins offers expansive mountain views.
Bedrooms with ‘Soul Windows’
There has been an effort throughout to retain all of the tradition, character and craftsmanship of this special house and its folkloric setting in the Austrian mountains. The contemporary Scandinavian furniture has been layered with regionally sourced pieces steeped in tradition – such as the handcrafted Montafoner table and the beautiful rustic bench in the entryway. The details of the house that reflect its Alpine roots have been retained with care, such as the ‘soul windows’ or ‘Seelenfenster’ in the bedrooms. In folklore these small, windows set high in the ceiling were seen as a spiritual connection to nature and the landscape outside. The original, beautifully weathered and hand-carved front door is the perfect first impression of a house that has been lovingly restored — not polished into something unrecognisable, but allowed to carry its history with confidence.
Montafon Haus feels less like a guesthouse and more like a retreat shaped by time. Nearly two centuries of Alpine life remain in its beams, its walls, its soul windows — yet the Scandinavian restraint layered within ensures it never feels heavy or nostalgic.
Would you stay here?
To wake to mountain light filtering through deep-set windows, to cook in a stainless steel kitchen beneath aged timber beams, to eat by candlelight as the Rätikon mountains darken outside — it feels like stepping briefly into another rhythm of living.
For me, it’s that balance of heritage and modernity that lingers long after you close the door.
The guesthouse sleeps 8 people and can be booked directly on the Vipp website.
*All images are courtesy of Vipp.
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