Interior design in the Russian style

1 december 2016

1. Different trends of the Russian style.

Styles in architecture and interior design very often and quite naturally are distinguished by geographic location and climatic conditions in which people live. Therefore, these styles are called in accordance with the parts of the world, and even countries. Everyone is familiar with such styles as Scandinavian, Japanese, South Asian or Oriental, English or Victorian, and others.

Among them there is a Russian style, which has recently become popular again all around the world. This is due to the growth of our country's influence on the world politics and economy. In the history of Russian style not just once were becoming fashionable. So it happened after the defeat of Napoleon in 1812, and at the beginning of the XX century, when many emigrants of the Russian nobility settled in Europe and America .

The concept of the Russian style in architecture and interior design is not straightforward. It varies depending on epoch and social segment of the population which owns the buildings and their interiors.

There are the following trends:

Tsar chambers — terem.

It is basically a large stone, brick or log buildings with vaulted ceilings and carved stone or wooden columns, elongated lancet windows with metal bindings and carved shutters, mosaic or stone floors. Wooden furniture, massive, carved.

The decor and tableware made with precious and semi-precious stones and metals. Here it is appropriated the usage of forged metal products, carved wooden boxes and figurines, decorative painted eggs, forged massive chests, etc.

Noble estate or manor.

This direction is characterized by brick and stone buildings. The walls may have the most diverse finishes: painted, covered with wallpaper or fabric upholstery. The house usually has a fireplace in classic style. Floor is made of precious wood or parquet. Furniture is wooden as well, with classical forms, often carved, upholstered in expensive brocade or velor. The interior must have canvas in expensive massive frames: portrait or landscape genre. Often there are decorative elements: porcelain or stone vases, clocks and desktop devices from semi-precious stones, mirrors in carved or bronze frames, carved wooden or bronze figurines. Elegant porcelain and silverware — is an indispensable attribute of a noble nest.

Rustic hut.

As the name implies it is a log, mostly one-story houses with painted or unpainted walls without any additional finish. The house is bound to have a large furnace that is used both for heating and for cooking. Furniture made of oak or pine: a massive tables, benches, beds, shelves, etc. Objects of rural life always are present: spinning wheels, chests, amulets, cast iron, wood and pottery, embroidered towels, pillows and blankets, homespun rugs. Often in the corner there are icons and forged candlesticks or standing chandeliers.

Russian dacha.

This type is characterized by wooden buildings of logs or bars, with wood-paneled walls and ceiling. The house usually has a stove or fireplace, lined with tiles. The floor is of solid wood. Furniture is wooden as well: lacquered or painted with soft colors. The interior is often present such items as: wooden or wrought-iron bed with a massive headboard, rocking chairs, lamps in country style, fabric curtains with flower pattern, paintings and photographs in simple wooden frames, decorative glassware in the style of Hohloma or Gzhel, samovars, copper utensils, brass holders, Vologda lace and others.

A la Russe.

The architecture in this direction does not matter. This style may be present in the apartments and individual homes, in public buildings and institutions. It is rather a normal contemporary interior, where emphasis is made by folk crafts items: wood dishes painted in Hohloma style, Zhostovo trays, samovars, Gzhel ceramics, caskets with Palekh miniatures, Dymkovo toys, etc.

In addition, more modern trends in the Russian style could be outlined, such as Stalin's empire or the Soviet postmodernism. But these trends are derived from similar overseas trends and do not have significant national characteristics.

It is important to remember that today the Russian style does not look pretentious and gaudy, catchy and bright. He became more calm, concise and elegant. Modern life is inconceivable without a modern equipment, thus this equipment is either masked by painting in the folk style, or embedded in the furniture.

It should be noted that in modern premises the mixing of different styles is allowed, so-called "eclectic." In any case, when you make your house it is better to use the advice of an experienced designer and acquire items of a particular style from reliable suppliers.

2. Interior features in the Russian style.

Color spectrum.

Typical Russian colors are primarily a deep and rich colors: burgundy, red, magenta, malachite, black, etc., as well as gold and all shades of wood..

The golden color symbolizes wealth and the sun in Russia, red — fire, beauty and power, blue — the color of heaven, Mother of Jesus, green — the color of fertility, and God the Father.

Composing the interior color scheme, one should not forget the following principles:

The smaller the space, the lighter and neutral should be its colors. Bright colors, such as Hohloma painting are permissible only as emphasis.
If the kitchen is lit bad, then for walls, floors and furniture bright and warm shades should be choosen. If the kitchen is looking to the south, you can select the range of cold, for example, white and blue colors in Gzhel style.
Colours will depend on which areas listed above were chosen. If the living room is made in the style of Russian log hut, then golden ocher shades are often used , with small white and red spots. If the image of tsar terem is reconstructed, then bright, multi-colored paints appropriate that resonate in everything: in the walls and ceiling decoration, in houseware and handmade embroidery textiles.

Functionality, continence and natural materials — the secrets of Russian interior comfort.

Until Peter I times there were no items of interior decoration in Russian buildings, each house item was made of the most easy-handling and most durable material. The basic material in connection with the naturу of Russia, of course, is a wood. Basically those species that grow in Russia: oak, cherry, ash and pine. From the wood they built houses, and produced furniture, dishes, vehicles, weapons, tillage tools and such things as: spinning wheel, millstones, pottery wheels and others.

Basically, all the subjects were massive, robust and strong, comfortable and durable to use. Of course iron, as a material harder than wood, was used for the production of weapons and utensils of various objects. But metal extraction methods in pre-Petr times have not yet been developed, iron and its products were expensive and in ordinary interior is almost absent. Clothing, bedding, towels, rugs, curtains were made mostly of flax and hemp, and later of calico.

Of course, if the interior is created in the direction of the tsar's house or terem it is appropriate to use subjects and accessories of precious or semi-precious stones and metals. In other cases, their presence should be very limited or eliminated at allr.

Ornament and painting.

Recognizable feature of Russian style in the interior is the usage of the typical slavic ornaments and various types of painting. It can be as old herbal and symbolic ornaments and paintings of more recent origin — Hohloma, Gorodets, Palekh and Kholuy patterns, floral composition of Zhostovo and Gzhel. It is important to keep in mind the advantages of Russian style functionality. Otherwise, the interior will look unnatural and will lose its native Russian properties of comfort and discreet beauty.

Decorative items and accessories made by hand.

As it mentioned above, depending on the direction of the interior a variety of Russian crafts decorative elements and accessories are used.

Textiles made of natural materials have very nice look : calico or linen curtains on the windows, without complicated draperies, embroidered towels and napkins, quilts and blankets on the couches and beds, wicker mats.

And, of course, the interior is in Russian style is difficult to imagine without Kuznetsov porcelain and clay pots. National character is emphasizeв by the painted wooden tableware, products made of birch bark and hand embroidery.

This attention to detail makes the interior complete and perfect, brings comfort and peace into the house .

Lighting.

Interior lighting in the Russian style should also correspond to the selected direction. If it is tsar chamber then massive lighting torches, menorahs and horos are used. It is appropriate to use forged, gilded and silvered products.

For the interior in the style of log hut the lamps in the form of candles fit. Shades and lamps made of stone, ceramics or textiles are more suitable for home interior is style of country estate or manor. Also the bronze or brass candelabra and candlesticks, lamps in the form of candles are relevant here.