It is easy to make a chalet look nice from a distance. But here, the quality is more than skin deep. There is a level of finish and consideration that would be impressive in a property many times the size, from the beautifully chosen furniture to the comfort of the fabrics. Even the tableware has been made especially for the chalet by local artist Grace Frost of Loko Ceramics. Nothing feels like an afterthought. There is a magic ingredient here that money alone cannot buy: passion. This place is full of it.

Architecturally, La Rive is full of surprises. It would have been simplest to divide the space into a series of boxes, but instead, the trio have played with levels, ceiling heights and views, creating a flow that feels far more expansive than its footprint suggests. From the entrance, the eye is drawn up through a triple-height space towards the roof beams, while elsewhere, intimate corners give way to light and unexpected views. It is clever design, but what matters most is how it makes you feel: intrigued, comfortable and immediately at home.

Moving down from the entrance hall, you pass through a curved arch into the main living space. There is an almost finca-like feel to it, balanced by the warmth of the timber and the invitation to hunker down. The arch is echoed elsewhere, in the bathroom niches and the large living-room mirror. These quiet repetitions are part of what makes the whole place flow so naturally, without anything feeling forced.

Then there is the view. Huge windows frame the wooded banks of the river as it tumbles down into Morzine. The trees are right there, close enough to feel almost within reach. It is wonderfully immersive and unexpectedly comforting. Rather than looking out at a distant landscape, you feel part of it. We also love the kitchen, a space that can so often be overlooked in a smaller property. Here, it has been given the attention it deserves. Beautifully equipped and wonderfully social, it is somewhere to prepare dinner together, open a bottle or gather for an apéro before heading out. Behind the main worktop, a sliding wall panel reveals a cupboard for spices and supplies, backlit, of course, for a little dramatic effect. Art and function come together again, as they do throughout the chalet.

Our favourite seat in the house might just be the kitchen window seat, where you can almost touch nature while remaining right in the heart of the home. It is easy to imagine a morning coffee becoming a second cup, with no particular hurry to be anywhere else. The main living space has a large, sumptuous sofa and a 55-inch screen. But if downstairs is for movies, upstairs is for books, wine and conversation. The second living space feels a little more private and rather grown-up, with its double-height ceiling and suspended fireplace. It is somewhere to gather while everyone gets ready for the evening, sharing plans and conversation between the bedrooms. Later, it becomes somewhere to retreat, with the fire lit, a book in hand and a glass on the table.

The three main bedrooms reflect the same attention to comfort, with beautifully finished interiors and deeply inviting beds; two have their own en suite shower rooms. At the very top of the chalet, two mezzanine sleeping pods bring a more playful note. Reached by fixed ladders, they are snug, certainly, but surprisingly indulgent once you are in, with king-size beds and fitted storage so you can unpack and make yourself at home. Claim one for yourself and you have a lovely little cocoon, tucked away from the rest of the house.

There is also a clever office snug on the first floor. One of the lightest spaces in the chalet, it has a window looking over the rooftops towards the centre of Morzine. It is a relaxing spot to catch up on a few emails, settle into something that needs your attention or simply enjoy a quiet moment of your own. Thoughtful details continue throughout, from GHD hair straighteners to connected Alexa speakers and sophisticated ambient lighting. The practical comforts have been considered just as carefully as the things you first notice, making it easy to settle in and enjoy the space in your own way.

Outside, a private courtyard garden and hot tub complete the picture. Set on a deck beside the river, the hot tub is a magical place to unwind after a day in the mountains, with the soundtrack of rushing water bringing something quite distinctive to the experience. It is another moment when the setting becomes as much a part of your stay as the chalet itself.

And for all that sense of retreat, an evening out is only a few hundred metres down the road. Morzine’s restaurants and bars are far enough away to leave behind, yet close enough to enjoy whenever the mood takes you. Two of the main ski-bus routes are within easy reach, while two private parking spaces make life straightforward for those arriving by car.

The owners set out to create a place for “the inquisitive and the playful”, and that spirit runs through La Rive. It is a wonderful choice for a group of say six or eight guests, but also has the flexibility to accommodate ten — an intimate chalet with far more to discover than you might first expect. La Rive captures the energy of a new generation shaping Morzine: creative, sociable and serious about good design without taking itself too seriously. With Hideout, Trafole and Dixies just down the road, it is in good company. There is an effortless sense of style, too, and a little of it is bound to rub off on you. This is a chalet for people who choose where they stay as carefully as selecting the destination itself — and for whom a great day on the mountain is only part of a great holiday.