12 Nov 2025
In the Swiss Alps, on a winding lane lined with pastures and stone walls, Chalet Cocagne stands as a serene meditation on colour, craft, and connection to place. For interior designer Marianne Tiegen, the project was not simply about renovating a 1970s chalet; it was an opportunity to explore her ongoing fascination with natural dyes and how colour can root a home in its environment.
Tiegen's approach begins long before the first brushstroke or upholstery choice is made. Each hue is the result of a slow, deliberate process of research, foraging, and transformation. Working with her team, she gathers local plants, flowers, and mineral pigments, extracting subtle tones that mirror the alpine landscape: misty greys drawn from stone, soft yellows reminiscent of late-summer blooms, and dusky mauves inspired by thistle and wild aster.
"The palette is born from the place itself," Tiegen explains. "Every colour tells a story about where it came from – whether it's the soil, the light, or the season. When you live with those colours, you feel that connection."
The resulting fabrics, linens, and limewash paints, developed in her Paris atelier before being entrusted to master artisans with an ancestral heritage of natural dyeing, imbue Chalet Cocagne with an atmosphere that feels both grounded and luminous. The living room's linen sofa, hand-dyed in her bespoke "Orage" grey, evokes the sight of mountain clouds at dusk. In the master bedroom, a headboard crafted from wool and linen captures the soft, silvery tones of dried thistle, while the dining chairs bloom in shades of "Lupin" and "Bleuet", echoing the wildflowers that edge the meadows below.
Infused with both art and nature, Tiegen's colour philosophy resists trends in favour of timelessness. Each shade is a reflection of the landscape itself – crafted to endure, both stylistically and physically. Beyond the colours, her process remains as sustainable as it is poetic: using plant-based pigments drastically reduces water consumption and eliminates chemical runoff, while repurposing vintage textiles and locally sourced wools minimises waste. Every element – whether a hand-stitched linen curtain, an antique mirror, or a dining table carved from reclaimed oak – was chosen with intention.
"Natural dyeing teaches patience," says Tiegen. "It's unpredictable in the best way. You learn to embrace imperfection and let nature have the final say."
At Chalet Cocagne, that philosophy finds its purest form. The home's earthy textures and harmonious tones blur the boundaries between interior and landscape, creating an environment that feels deeply alive. Even small details, such as a light fixture made from reclaimed zinc and carved wooden birds, or a bench upholstered in custom-dyed linen, carry this same sensibility: a respect for craft, a reverence for nature, and a belief that true luxury lies in the time it takes to make something well.
In an era when sustainability is too often reduced to marketing language, Marianne Tiegen's practice offers a more intimate model, one rooted in material honesty and emotional resonance. Through her "from plant to palette" process, colour becomes more than decoration; it becomes a living expression of place, memory, and care.
Technical sheet
Project name: Chalet Cocagne
Location: Valais, Switzerland
Client: Private, American family relocating to Switzerland
Project type: Residential
Design lead: Marianne Tiegen
Photography: J. Wilson
Design approach: Circular design, reuse of reclaimed and antique materials
Notable furnishings and materials: Living room: Bespoke Belgium linen and wool sofa (in custom “Orage” dye). Bespoke modern-looking coffee table made with reclaimed wood. Vintage Pinguin chair by Theo Ruth (reupholstered in our custom "chardon" dye). Bespoke ceramics by JanePaasch Ceramics. Ceramic standing lamp by artist Jos Devriendt. Vintage Charlotte Perriand stool. Limestone paint in our bespoke “orage” warm grey.
Kitchen/Dining room: Bespoke bar stools with local wool seats. “Dada” Kitchen with reclaimed local barn wood. Bespoke dining table with old oak. Bespoke dining chairs with loose covers in our custom colour fabrics (“lupin 1”, “lupin 2”, and “bleuet” dyes). Pendant light made from old zinc and wood bird figures.
Master Bedroom: Bespoke bed in reclaimed oak beams, primitive alpine chairs. Mushroom side lamps carved in pine wood. Headboard in wool and linen, custom “Chardon” dye. Limestone paint in our bespoke “Marguerite” yellow.
Bedroom 2: Bespoke Bed upholstered in wool and linen in our custom “September Aster” dye. Bespoke linen lounge chair. Hemp and linen rug. Limestone paint in our bespoke “ardoise” brown.
TV Room: Bespoke Bed upholstered in wool and linen in our custom “September Aster” dye. Bespoke linen lounge chair. Hemp and linen rug. Limestone paint in our bespoke “ardoise” brown.
• Sunroom: Bespoke daybed in Bute wool. Vintage wall lights from Raak. Side table, 19th-century beehive. Linen bench in custom “Chardon” dye.
