Gadenstättli

Entrance to Gadenstatli

When I came to Chur those many years ago, Gadenstättli was one of the first places we went – maybe the very first. It was August (all memories subject to my very imperfect remembrances), and between cleaning and sweeping the “new” cottage the family had recently bought, we had lovely meals outside on the side of an Alp and went for walks in the mountains.

How I remember the house

The cottage was an eighteenth century peasant’s house where two sisters had been living since their father’s death. At that point, walking into Davos to work (a few miles down and then back up the mountain) became too difficult, and they sold the house. It still has the attached cow barn (now home to garden storage) and pig pen,

the old cow barn under the new bedroom

and several pieces of furniture are ones the family left behind and the Plattners had restored.

I remembered it very fondly, but seeing it through Biffy and Judy’s eyes made it absolutely magical. Everything about it is perfect: the seamless mix of old and new

the living room is just the same

the simple color scheme of red, cream and light wood

fireplace and stairs to second floor

the Carigiet paintings and prints on the walls

Carigiet in the living room

and, of course, the stunning views from every window.

View from the living room window

view from the kitchen window

Looking over the currant bushes

I tried to take some panoramas to show the whole space, and here are two views of the living room.

Living room again, showing the modern lamps and chairs with the traditional pieces

Living room with local art

We had aperitifs in front of the fireplace in the kitchen

champagne and tapenade before the fire

and ate our meals in the dining nook just opposite.

table set for fondue

Upstairs, the bedroom Silla and I shared has since been transformed into a bathroom with a soaking tub, and a new bedroom was artfully added near the entrance (you can see the modern windows next to the door in the first picture). The kitchen was updated, too, and a bathroom installed just beyond the pantry. The whole house has the simple elegance that I associate with Switzerland, and certainly with Silla and her family.