Houzz Tour: An Updated Take on Russian Decorative Tradition
This elegant guesthouse outside Moscow draws on classic Russian art and folk motifs
The story of this renovation started a few years ago, after designer Dina Kostochka had finished one of her first major projects in the Kaluga region, just outside Moscow. Some visitors to the house she had designed liked her work so much that they asked for her contact information.
These new clients wanted Kostochka’s help designing a guesthouse on their property. The small log structure already had been built, but the owners didn’t know how to approach the decor. Kostochka suggested working from the outside in, starting by painting the porch a bright blue that looks good in summer and winter.
These new clients wanted Kostochka’s help designing a guesthouse on their property. The small log structure already had been built, but the owners didn’t know how to approach the decor. Kostochka suggested working from the outside in, starting by painting the porch a bright blue that looks good in summer and winter.
Pleased with the look of the porch, Kostochka moved on to the shutters. “Looking at old photos, we saw a house in the background of a photo that had similar shutters, and we decided to copy the look. They look very modern, though they don’t hide their historical inspiration,” she says.
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The porch is not enclosed, so the owners relax here only in the summer. They usually bring the folding wrought-iron chairs inside as soon as winter weather arrives. Birch stumps from the neighbor’s property serve as tables. “These stumps were lying around on the neighbors’ property behind the fence, and when we asked if we could have them, they were happy to give them to us,” Kostochka says.
“Lots of the neighbors were actively interested in the process and even helped however they could. One person brought apples for the decor, and someone else brought rowan berries,” she says. Rowan berries figure widely in Russian art and folklore, so they’re a good fit with the home’s period atmosphere.
“Lots of the neighbors were actively interested in the process and even helped however they could. One person brought apples for the decor, and someone else brought rowan berries,” she says. Rowan berries figure widely in Russian art and folklore, so they’re a good fit with the home’s period atmosphere.
The house did not need a new layout or a large-scale renovation. All they did in the living room was make the wall paneling lighter and paint the floor.
The starting point for the project was a work of art, Ryabinushki (meaning “rowan berries") by Marusya Solovyova, which is painted on recycled wood boards. It adorns the wall above the sofa. “Both the Russian motifs and the color palette with its berry accents were inspired by this painting,” Kostochka says. “We wanted to create a spiritual and traditional interior but not in a completely historical interpretation. To put it simply, we avoided traditional gzhel [traditional Russian blue-painted porcelain] and Khokhloma paintings [a traditional style of wood painting].”
The starting point for the project was a work of art, Ryabinushki (meaning “rowan berries") by Marusya Solovyova, which is painted on recycled wood boards. It adorns the wall above the sofa. “Both the Russian motifs and the color palette with its berry accents were inspired by this painting,” Kostochka says. “We wanted to create a spiritual and traditional interior but not in a completely historical interpretation. To put it simply, we avoided traditional gzhel [traditional Russian blue-painted porcelain] and Khokhloma paintings [a traditional style of wood painting].”
They had planned to have local craftspeople build the furniture and work on the decor. Kostochka especially hoped to have birch bark decor custom-made; the material holds a special place in the Russian craft tradition. However, that turned out to be difficult in practice since the skills and techniques are disappearing, and it wasn’t possible to find craftspeople in time.
Most of her ideas nevertheless came to life. Glass blowers from the Kirini workshop in Klin made the tall bases for the lamps, while master artisans from Rostov crafted the end tables in the living room.
The owners already had the antique carved cupboard that now stands under the stairs. They just cleaned it and replaced the hardware.
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The owners already had the antique carved cupboard that now stands under the stairs. They just cleaned it and replaced the hardware.
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More Russian motifs embellish the dining room. The flower pattern painted on the metal chandelier by artist Lyusia Goncharova echoes that of the tablecloth.
The bench was custom-made by a local carpenter, who also carved the frame around the stove, which makes it look like a work of art.
The staircase to the second floor is painted berry red.
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The staircase to the second floor is painted berry red.
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Traditional Russian clothing inspired the upstairs bedroom — hence the lacy canopy and the light fixture resembling red beads. The canopy can be removed for washing so that it won’t collect too much dust.
The mirrored screen adds a geometric touch and protects the bedroom from intense sunlight.
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The mirrored screen adds a geometric touch and protects the bedroom from intense sunlight.
Find mirrored screens in the Houzz Shop
The design on the wall is a reference to the decoration of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. It was hand-painted by Alisa Azarova, Kostochka’s In-deco co-worker.
The bedside table is an antique chest that belonged to the clients. Its keys and locks were replaced, and it was spruced up with pulls with decorative tassels.
The bedside table is an antique chest that belonged to the clients. Its keys and locks were replaced, and it was spruced up with pulls with decorative tassels.
For the bathroom vanity, they went for a combination of rich green and dark reclaimed wood. The boards are easy to remove to allow access to the plumbing. The stone sink goes well with the large sheet of porcelain on the wall.
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More on Houzz
Read about other guesthouses
Find a bathroom designer
Shop for stone vessel sinks
Guesthouse at a Glance
Who lives here: A middle-aged couple who often host their adult children or guests
Location: Kaluga Oblast, Russia
Size: 1,184 square feet (110 square meters)
Designer: Dina Kostochka of In-deco