In the years I’ve written about celebrity homes, few have felt quite as significant as Anne Hathaway‘s Ojai chalet. Designed by the revered Pamela Shamshiri, the historic home has a distinct warmth that feels removed from the minimalism of a conventional Hollywood home, in the best way possible.
The property is a Swiss-style chalet originally built in 1906 by architect Myron Hunt. Inside, herringbone floors and paneled walls give the interiors an old-world foundation, while seafoam and pink bring in a distinctly Californian coolness. It’s a way to decorate with wood that’s changed how I think about layering since I first saw it over two years ago.
While I’m yet to see a glimpse of the home’s four bathrooms, the rest of the property offers a beautiful lesson in how to approach a rustic bathroom without making it feel overly novel. According to Marcus Pearson, Head of Design at Old London, this means understanding what makes the architecture appealing in the first place.
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‘The beauty of a chalet-inspired interior is in the warmth of the architecture, rather than in recreating a ski lodge look,’ Marcus says. ‘Rich timber, classic forms and rustic metal finishes create the Alpine character, while more contemporary pieces give it the Hathaway stamp, without going off-piste.’
As one might expect, bringing this look into the bathroom starts with timber. A chalet naturally lends itself to plenty of wood, but covering every available surface in it can quickly make a bathroom feel heavy. Anne’s home demonstrates why contrast matters.
‘Chalet interiors, and Anne Hathaway’s in particular, understand the value of a good contrast,’ Marcus explains. ‘Timber brings warmth and grain, while stone and tile bring weight.’
In the bathroom, that could mean setting rich wood against traditional white porcelain. A pedestal basin or roll-top bath introduces a clean, pale surface, while curved fixtures can soften the harder lines of exposed joinery. ‘That contrast keeps a timber-heavy bathroom from becoming visually dense,’ Marcus says. ‘The wood can be deep and enveloping; the porcelain gives it somewhere to breathe.’
The same balance can be applied to the smaller details, too. ‘If The Devil Wears Prada taught us anything, it’s that details are everything,’ Marcus says. ‘The big decisions may be the timber, tiles and furnishings, but it’s the little things that really give a chalet-style bathroom its personality.’
Rather than choosing ultra-minimal bathroom hardware, Marcus recommends traditional pieces with more weight, starting with robe hooks and towel rings to soap dishes and cabinet knobs. ‘They have the right Alpine quality because they’re practical, slightly old-fashioned and perfectly happy to be seen.’
Anne’s modern rustic kitchen (seen below) also provides a useful clue for the bathroom, particularly regarding metal finishes. She uses brushed brass on her cabinetry, and exposed metalwork around the oven, making her space feel ever so slightly industrial. In the bathroom, that could translate into crosshead controls, exposed shower fittings or a deck-mounted bath filler.
‘Brushed brass or pewter finishes sit beautifully against raw wood,’ Marcus says. The slightly aged quality of these finishes brings a sense of craftsmanship without making the room feel like a period reconstruction. ‘There’s also something satisfying about visible brassware in a chalet setting. Your fittings don’t need to disappear into the wall; they can be part of the design story.’
Furniture should follow the same principle. Rather than dropping a sleek vanity into the room as an afterthought, look for cabinetry that feels connected to the architecture. Paneled fronts can echo the detailing elsewhere in the space, while matching timber can make the vanity feel almost built into the room.
Marcus also suggests using a lightly angled vanity to break up the straight lines of the joinery and introduce a softer shape.
‘The furniture should have enough presence to hold its own, without ever competing with the architecture,’ he says.
Perhaps the most important part of recreating this feeling, however, is the right bathroom lighting. A chalet is meant to feel sheltered and cozy, and a bathroom inspired by one should share that sense of warmth. ‘The real appeal of this style comes from the feeling of shelter and coziness, the original idea of coming in from the landscape and finding somewhere super snug to be,’ Marcus says.
(Image credit: Future / Spike Powell)
Low-level sconces and diffused fittings can bring out the warmth of the timber and create a softer atmosphere. ‘Lighting plays a big part in creating that feeling, so I’d avoid any harsh overhead light,’ Marcus advises. ‘Low-level wall sconces or diffused fittings will flatter the space and give the room that gentle, fireside glow associated with a chalet.’
The lesson from Anne’s home is that chalet style does not need to be overly rustic. Keep the warmth of the timber, the classic shapes and the sense of craftsmanship, then introduce lighter colors, cleaner surfaces and a few contemporary details. It’s this mix that makes the style feel like a home.
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To capture the balance of timber architecture, this marble vanity is an ideal match. Crafted with vintage European lines, a solid oak frame, and soft rounded corners, it fulfills the rule of using curved furniture to soften heavy wood joinery.
Atelier Alhambra Wooden Bowl
If you want to layer timber textures without renovating your walls, introduce sculpted wooden accents onto your vanity. Carved in smoked ash, this artisan bowl brings the same old-world craftsmanship needed to anchor cool white porcelain.
2 Pack Gold Glass Wall Sconces
These scalloped, shell-shaped glass shades cast a soft, textured glow across timber paneling, blending vintage chalet glamour with West Coast warmth. It’s our reminder that beautiful lighting also belongs in the bathroom.
Rustic Vintage Mini Stool
Chalet bathrooms thrive on tactile, organic materials. This weathered-wood stool offers the perfect spot for resting a book or bath salts while bringing the rich grain of Swiss-lodge architecture to small-space bathrooms.
Wohoda Wall Mounted Towel Ring
The character of an Alpine bath lives in its tactile touches. Elevate your walls by replacing minimal, whisper-thin hardware with vintage-inspired pieces like this ring. Its rounded silhouette provides the weight needed to pop against rich timber paneling.
When choosing a mirror to pair with chalet-style architecture, look for pieces that balance structural wood with curves. Crafted from solid mango wood, this one features gently scalloped edges and beaded detailing that would look beautiful in a bathroom.
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