Christmas Chalets

A Christmas village depends less on the number of houses than on how you tier them. Our chalets range from small eight-centimeter facades to large eighteen-centimeter ones, with gold roofs, ribbed roofs and rounded roofs scattered with stars.

Tier the heights

The arrangement gains depth as soon as three heights sit side by side. Place the large facades at the back, the medium ones in the center, the smallest in front. Leave a little space between neighboring houses: an empty street does more for the illusion of a village than one more house.

Choosing the roof finish

The gold roof reflects candlelight and warms the whole display. Ribbed roofs and star-scattered roofs play on texture rather than shine, and suit a table that is already full. The Ginger line, for its part, is a family in its own right, not just a roof variation.

Storing the village after the holidays

A village is taken down more often than it is moved, and it's during storage that the paint gets damaged. Wrap each house in tissue paper, separate the large ones from the small, and store the box flat rather than upright. Dust and knocks remain the two enemies of gilding, well before wear.

Frequently asked questions

Which height should you start with?

Start with a chalet of ten to twelve centimeters, the easiest size to place in a room. You can then judge whether you need a large facade or two low houses.

Do these chalets go with a nativity scene?

Yes, as long as you compare heights before mixing them. A house of eight or nine centimeters closes off the back of the scene without upstaging the figurines, whereas an eighteen-centimeter facade is best set apart.

How do you dust a gold roof?

A soft, dry brush is enough for the roof's relief and the corners of the facade. Avoid water and household cleaners, which damage the gilding.