19/12/2025
Lifestyle
Combine the crown jewel of winter sports with Italy’s high-fashion capital and its most fashionable, exclusive ski resort and you get … Milano Cortina 2026, otherwise known as the XXV Winter Olympics (Feb. 6-22).
Picture this: World-class athletes, international competition in 16 sports (some of them, like Skimo, or ski mountaineering, completely new)—and, of course, chic skiwear posed against the snowcapped peaks of the Dolomites.
These games, the most widespread in Olympic history, will cover a great deal of real estate. Milan, with its ice hockey, speed and figure skating competitions, is about 400 kilometers (250 miles) by road from Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of four venues for the alpine skiing events.
Thus, our New Year edition of Luxury Defined goes off-piste to an international portfolio of ski chalets, log homes, and mountain estates (and their cozy, après-ski interiors) in some of the world’s greatest ski destinations.
Just beyond these doors await the black diamonds, bumps, steeps, drops, bowls, moguls, and chutes, where the legendary slopes are corduroy-groomed and the deep powder beckons.
Yes, indeed, it’s all downhill from here.
The Olympic runs of Italy’s Dolomiti Superski lie just outside this magnificent mountain retreat, which, at 1,946 meters above sea level, or 6,385 feet, is one of the highest chalets in all the Alps. The beautiful timber-framed residence was configured as a high-end hospitality venture with eight one- and two-bedroom suites with beamed ceilings, luxurious finishes, and spa-inspired bathrooms. Separately, a rustic mountain cabin houses the complex’s restaurant serving gourmet Italian cuisine in a romantic atmosphere. An outdoor wellness spa provides a sauna, hot tub, sun terrace, and an outdoor fireplace for pure relaxation. The property directly adjoins a toboggan run and has direct access to hiking trails and groomed ski runs.
Spectacular, old-growth cedar log framing, African walnut floors, granite surfaces, bronze chandeliers, cobalt glass sinks, and custom, wrought-ironwork created The Lodge at Feathertop, a ski-in, ski-out luxury chalet in the Big White Ski Resort of British Columbia. Built by Pioneer Log Homes of B.C. (made famous by HGTV’s Timber Kings series), this home offers soaring ceilings and custom woodwork across an interior space of 10,710 square feet (or 995 square meters). There are stylish accommodations for up to 20 guests between the main house and a separate suite, linked by a breezeway. A covered entry opens to soaring interiors anchored by a unique, triple-sided wood-burning fireplace. The expansive kitchen is kitted with top-of-the-line appliances. The amenities include a media room, cocktail bar, a commodious sauna, hot tub, fitness studio, and a ski room with ample racks and storage. One of Canada’s top resorts, Big White is famous for its “snow ghosts”—spooky-looking trees totally shrouded in snow—and some of the best night skiing in North America with 38 hectares (94 acres) of illuminated slopes.
This newly constructed home is the ultimate turnkey retreat in Vermont’s Spruce Peak community at Stowe Mountain Resort. Zehren & Associates designed the home to capture the infinite views of the mountainscape from nearly every room. Floor-to-ceiling glass throughout the four levels creates a dialogue with nature and a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. The amenities pamper residents and guests with a custom Japanese soaking tub, an infrared sauna, an endless pool, an outdoor Jacuzzi, media/games room, and three fireplaces for cozy après-ski relaxation. The fully connected smart home features efficiencies such as radiant heat, motorized window shades, an elevator, security system, ski room, executive office, heated garage, and a backup generator. Each bedroom suite is thoughtfully designed for comfort, privacy, and views—including the primary suite (featuring two walk-in closets). Ski-out access to Stowe Mountain Resort isn’t the only perk; there’s also excellent golf, fine dining, and year-round activities at Spruce Peak village.
Elevated high above the top-ranked Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, Moonshadow B commands uninterrupted vistas of Silver Lake, Bald Mountain, and the pristine 2.2-million-acre wilderness of Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. This 6,759-square-foot slopeside aerie is one of the last remaining homes in Moonshadow, a high-elevation enclave of just eight homes with access to the high-octane ski runs of Empire Pass and the private Talisker Club. The centerpiece of this five-bedroom, four full and two half bath home is a panoramic great room with an integrated dining room and chef’s kitchen with plenty of space for casual and formal gatherings. A dual-sided gas fireplace warms the space and the adjacent lounge, another relaxing spot to contemplate the mountain views. Offered in immaculate turnkey condition, the fully furnished property includes membership to the amenities at the Tower Club and championship golf at Tuhaye, as well as full-service dining, wellness, fitness, and year-round outdoor adventures.
Serenity emanates from this stylish, turnkey home on Upper Higashiyama in Niseko, Japan, yet Koa Super Villa 3 is just a short walk from the deep, champagne-powder slopes and the adrenaline-inducing Banzai Chair ski lift. Back to the calm: Japanese-Scandinavian design themes—”Japandi”—flow through interior space of 342 square meters, or 3,681 square feet. Tall glass illuminates the common spaces and the five bedrooms, all subtly executed in monochrome palettes. Bespoke interiors by Tokyo design firm Bond Studio offer curated Italian and Japanese furnishings, German kitchen appliances, decorative lighting, and hand-tufted rugs. Lifestyle amenities include a Japanese onsen-style natural stone bath with a five-person capacity; a custom hinoki wood sauna from Finland; and a designer mahjong table by André Fu Living. The exterior, envisioned by Craig Takahata of Zoo Design, echoes the wooded environment. And that breathtaking Banzai Chair lift? It’s a breezy, old-school, two-person, fixed-grip 437-meter (1,433-foot) ride to some of the planet’s finest powder runs.
Home to the Cresta Run, the Snow Polo World Cup, and two Winter Olympics, the legendary winter resort of St. Moritz, in Switzerland’s Engadin Valley, is synonymous with international glamour. In the historic heart of the village close to Via Serlas, one of Europe’s most exclusive shopping streets, is the ultra-luxurious Chesa Nova, a traditional chalet with lavish living and entertaining spaces, and a grand terrasse overlooking evergreen-cloaked Alpine peaks. The chalet was built in 1941 and elegantly expanded and updated to luxurious contemporary standards. The classic timber-frame structure offers 570 square meters (6,135 square feet) with 12 rooms—including a fireside lounge, formal dining room, sauna, games room, wine cellar, and eight en suite bedrooms. The beautifully maintained Alpine garden provides cherished privacy while also creating a natural retreat for relaxation. Two garage spaces and four outdoor parking spaces complete this exceptional offering. Moments away is the St. Moritz Dorf–Chantarella funicular up to the Corviglia summit (elevation 2,489 meters, or 8,166 feet).
Seek the ultimate ski chalet? Start here.
© Copyright 2026 Unique Estates. All rights reserved.
