House in the style of a noble estate - nuances and features

In our catalog, house designs in the Russian estate style take pride of place. This is explained by the growing interest in log house construction, and logically leads to the revival of half-forgotten elements of ancient Russian architecture. Our ancestors knew how to create fabulous masterpieces from wood.

Despite the absolute external dissimilarity of each house in the catalog, they can still be divided into two large groups. One includes projects of classic Russian manor houses, the second includes ethnic stylizations such as “fairy-tale mansions”.

Features of a Russian estate

The Russian estate has become a separate phenomenon in architecture and interior design. And now many owners of country houses are trying to reproduce this trend. Let's try to figure out how a Russian estate differs from ordinary mansions, take a little dip into the past and consider the features of such an interior.

The artist Stanislav Zhukovsky is known for his paintings in which he lovingly depicted ancient Russian estates. From his paintings you can study the interiors of houses from the mid-19th to the beginning of the 20th century.

Let’s immediately decide that we will talk specifically about estates, and not huts, towers and princely palaces. A lot has been said about huts and towers; this is also history, and more ancient. And nowadays only a few can afford to replicate the luxury and royal style of the palaces of Russian princes.

And who would decide to reproduce such a style - in modern realities it is difficult to imagine.

The Russian tower, as a place of residence for fairly wealthy families, can now be found mainly in ancient cities and villages. Carved platbands, wood as the main material, four small rooms around a solid stove, a veranda - these are the main differences of this structure.

The interior of a Russian hut can now be found in bathhouses; sometimes people who are fond of antiquity build dachas this way. Everything here is simple, rustic, without frills or unnecessary details.

So, having dealt a little with the towers and huts, we move directly to the estate. The name comes from “to plant” or “to plant.” An estate is traditionally understood as a country building, an entire complex, which, in addition to the residential building itself, includes outbuildings and an extensive garden. It is customary to distinguish the following types of estates:

• Boyar or merchant estates that began to appear in the 17th century.
• Landowner estates, which remained the main place of residence for wealthy Russians until the beginning of the 20th century, gained particular popularity in the 19th century.

Baron Nikolai Wrangel (brother of Pyotr Wrangel, leader of the White movement) went to the provinces in 1902 to study in detail the features of the estates of the then landowners. This is how he described a traditional estate in his book: “White houses with columns, in the shady thicket of trees; sleepy, mud-smelling ponds with white silhouettes of swans plowing through the summer water...”

A white or sometimes blue house in a classical style, columns with Corinthian orders, a maximum of two floors, a wide porch or terrace - this appearance of a Russian estate is not outdated even now.

This photo shows the Galsky estate, located in Cherepovets. Now it is a house-museum telling about the life of landowners of the early 19th century.

As for the interior of Russian estates, one should distinguish the merchant style from the later one, created under the influence of European, mainly French trends and closer to modern realities.

These photographs show the house of the merchant Klepikov, located in Surgut. You can clearly see the abundance of textiles, very simple decoration, plank floors, and high-quality wooden furniture. We are sure that many of you have found such a metal bed with springs at your grandmother’s in the village. Let us turn again to Baron Wrangel, who described the interior of the estate as follows:

“Inside, in the rooms, there are decorous comfortable chairs and armchairs, friendly round tables, endless sprawling sofas, wheezing clocks with a rusty bass chime, and chandeliers, and candlesticks, and sonnets, and screens, and screens, and pipes, pipes ad infinitum.” .

The furniture in such an estate was often mismatched - an old chest inherited from the grandfather could sit next to a newfangled French chair or an English armchair, which the owner of the house, at the whim of his wife, purchased during a trip to the city. Traditionally, a Russian estate had a hall for receiving guests and, if the size of the house allowed, balls, as well as an office, which became the owner’s men’s refuge.

This photo shows the interior of an estate built in the village of Copper Lake (near St. Petersburg) by architects Elena Barykina and Slava Valoven for collectors of antique furniture. Almost all the furnishings are authentic, but there are also modern replicas in this house, created in an antique style.

If you want to recreate the interior of a Russian estate in your home, you should adhere to the following principles:

• A mandatory element will be a wooden floor, possibly parquet or planks.
• The furniture is laconic, preferably made of dark wood, with thin legs.
• The interior doors and baseboards are white.
• The walls can also be wooden, painted in neutral shades (but preferably snow-white). You can also use antique wallpaper that imitates textiles.
• Tables are round or oval, with beautiful tablecloths, lamps with cozy lampshades and light curtains.

As for the kitchen and bathroom, it is advisable to use tiles here. The doors of kitchen cabinets can be left wooden or painted like Gzhel, as in the example we presented.

Separately, it should be mentioned the influence that the Empire style or late classicism, which came from Europe, had on the interior of a Russian estate. Within the framework of the landowner's estate, this direction was called “rural empire”, becoming less pompous and luxurious.

Now some homeowners imagine the style of a Russian estate as a kind of mixture of hut, country, chalet, rustic and modern motifs.

Well, the style of the Russian estate has always been a kind of mixture of different directions, taking a lot from the classics and history of our country.

However, if you adhere to the main canons, in the end you should end up with a light interior, not overloaded with furniture, cozy, fresh, quite simple and at the same time truly homely, a real Chekhov’s dacha, described more than once by the classics of Russian literature.

Formation of territory. We divide the site into zones

Historically, the formation of the territory of the estate began with the house - the central element. Alleys, paths and paths diverged from it in different directions. A path leading to the front porch was laid across the entire front of the park. Along it there were fountains, sculptures and flower beds. For those who have decided to create a Russian estate on their site, modern landscape designers offer to divide the site into zones. Front garden The front garden is the visiting card of the site. Therefore, its style decision should be related to the general concept of landscape design. For a Russian estate, both a classic closed front garden and an open one are suitable. There is no need to overload it with an abundance of different plants; two or three species are enough. They should be bright and bloom all summer.

The front garden is the business card of the site. One of the options for designing a front garden is planting plants with different flowering periods. Then the picture outside the window will constantly change. For example, crocuses will bloom in early spring, peonies will bloom in early summer, phlox and lilies will bloom in mid-summer, and asters and chrysanthemums will bloom by the end of summer. For relaxation and receiving guests, it is worth highlighting a separate place where you can place a barbecue, a gazebo, benches for relaxation, a playground, or hang a hammock between the trees.

It is worth setting aside a separate place for relaxing and receiving guests. Such an area is decorated with small arches with climbing plants. It does not carry any special stylistic load, so it is designed quite modestly. The ideal option for the Russian style is a solid two-story house made of treated logs on a high base.

An ideal option for the Russian style is a solid two-story house made of treated logs on a high base. It is somewhat reminiscent of a boyar's tower. The indescribable aroma of wood will create a special climate inside it. The garden should be small. What to grow on it? It depends on personal skills and preferences. Since ancient times, the garden has always been closed from prying eyes. This trend has carried over into modern design. You can hide your beds in the Russian garden behind a discreet fence. It is worth experimenting with the theme of an apothecary garden, which was sure to be in every Russian estate. You can plant medicinal plants along with your favorite vegetables, or you can arrange separate beds. You shouldn’t take more than 10-15 species: they don’t last long, so why grow too many? A wonderful and useful ensemble will consist of:

It contains a well, a cellar, a barn - purely household buildings, and a bathhouse. Considering that a bathhouse, or rather a trip to one, is relaxation for the soul and body, special attention should be paid to the design of the area adjacent to it.

Utility area As a rule, near the bathhouse there are two small benches and a table. Plants with a spicy, invigorating aroma are planted. Most often these are dwarf conifers - juniper, balsam fir, yew; or well-known fragrant plants - wormwood, mint, oregano and others. Outbuildings and a bathhouse must be made of the same material as the house. You can’t tell about it in a few words, so let’s take a detailed look at all aspects of its creation.

Varieties of style

Russian style in the interior is reflected in three different directions:

• Russian hut.
• Russian tower.
• A separate branch “a la rus”.

In the first case, the decoration of the premises is carried out, repeating the historical similarity with the housing of a simple peasant. The Old Russian hut was not distinguished by its rich decoration. But every detail of the interior is imbued with deep meaning. After all, there are no unnecessary items there. Each of them is exactly in its place and fulfills the role that nature assigned to it.

• The “Russian Izba” direction is a tribute to the traditions of the common people. Anyone who decides on such a design simply must go back to the roots and work out every detail of the design. Particularly zealous fans of the style even create entire museums from their country homes.
• Russian style in the interior of a hut is characterized by an abundance of wood. The entire house was built from logs. And the furniture inside is only wooden. The cabinets were replaced with chests. Often, like tables, they were covered with patterned tablecloths. Household items, toys for children, even kitchen utensils are also made of wood. True, everything is replete with colorful patterns and bright paintings.

• You rarely see popular print decor in Russian mansions It can only be seen on the mantelpiece. Because this direction took into account all the canons of design of princely estates or mansions. The houses are already built of stone. In those distant times, only very rich people - nobles or landowners - could afford this.

As in a simple hut, the stove is located in the main place. But in the mansion it is already made according to Western standards and covered with tiles. All the furniture in the estate is also made of wood, but it has elegance and is most often covered with ornamental carvings. In the rooms you can find rich decoration. It is so colorful and colorful that it creates the feeling of being in a fairy tale.

But the direction “a la rus” is already purely European. We can say that the style embraces everything colorful and motley. This is how foreigners see Russian home decoration and therefore the design is far from tradition and historical roots. A resident of Russia rarely allows himself such a set of items. But Europeans happily fill their apartments with nesting dolls, Khokhloma and Zhostovo trays.

This mixed-sized decor is placed between modern furniture and household appliances. Their only purpose is to decorate the room.

House of Eduard von Behrens

House of Eduard von Behrens. Photo: mmsk.ru

In 1871, an unusual wooden estate appeared not far from Chistye Prudy. Instead of the main building and wings, architect Mikhail Fidler erected two separate symmetrical buildings in the neo-Greek style. In the 1890s, the estate was acquired by the nobleman Eduard von Behrens, and in 1905 he rented it out as a school and it was rebuilt.

After the revolution, Behrens's house was given over to communal apartments. Vsevolod Meyerhold’s student, film director Grigory Roshal, lived in one of them. In the 1960s, one of the buildings was demolished, and the second one soon housed the construction and installation department. By the beginning of 2017, the building was restored.

How to decorate the rooms?

When decorating rooms in a country house or apartment using the Russian style, it is not necessary to strictly follow the example of decorating peasant homes. You can stylishly decorate any area using modern materials.

The main thing is not to allow elements of completely opposite styles to penetrate into the design, such as baroque or oriental, high-tech or loft. Chalets, country, and Provence may be consonant with the Russian style to some extent.

When developing a design, each owner must think through the design of each room and, perhaps, draw up a rough diagram of each room.

For the arrangement of a log house, for example, the design in the form of a Russian hut suggests itself. You can install a stove inside and make a dining area and kitchen in this area. Of course, you don't have to cook everything in the oven. These may be some isolated moments on cold winter evenings.

But the stove will be a bright accent. The dining area should also be appropriate. A wooden table with benches is best. If you want special comfort, you can place pillows or blankets on the benches.

Basic modern household items can also be present in the kitchen, but you should not stick them out, but, on the contrary, hide them in a niche or closet. But the first place should be shelves with clay or wooden utensils. It will look very harmonious.

When decorating a wooden house in the style of a Russian estate, you can equip a fireplace in the living room, in addition to a cozy sofa and armchairs, the whole family and guests will gather here.

When arranging a bedroom, you can use a large wooden bed with a comfortable mattress; a canopy and beautiful bedspreads are also appropriate. You can place a soft carpet on the floor.

You just need to make sure that all the colors are combined with each other. A bed in a niche will also look good.

The children's room should be equipped taking into account the child's opinion. All its accessories and necessary attributes must be present in their places. But so that the room does not stand out from the general Russian style, you can simply decorate the walls with wood or a material that imitates wood. For lighting, you can choose a floor lamp or a lamp with a lampshade. Linen curtains will be a harmonious addition.

The bathroom is always a haven of moisture. Therefore, when decorating it, you can choose tiles that imitate wood. But if desired, you can also use wood. Only it will have to be carefully processed, and the manipulation will have to be repeated at least once a year.

In the bathroom you can place open shelves with different jars of creams, a mirror in a wooden frame, and Russian-style towels.

You can, of course, provide wooden tubs. Plumbing in this case does not stick out to the fore and is the simplest. The easiest way is to decorate a sauna or bathhouse in the Russian style, if one is provided in the house.

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Decoration and furnishings

Various types of wood, such as cherry, birch, ash and pine, vary greatly in both texture and budget, and real solid wood (especially oak) can seem hefty in price.

Lightening completely wooden surfaces is not only aesthetically attractive, but can also be practical.

Companion materials for surface finishing:

• Tiles. Finishing part of the wall in the fireplace area, culinary area of ​​​​the kitchen.
• Bleached plaster will add light and space.
• Natural stone (granite, marble) - emphasizes the structure of wood.

Creative owners will love the idea of ​​aging or resuscitating suitable designs themselves. Modern improvised means (there are even ready-made kits, for example, for decoupage), varnishes and paints with all sorts of effects (craquelure, patina) take the process to a new level.

They allow you to create on your own that very valuable antique object that gives the room a special flavor: a china rack, a chest of drawers, a wardrobe, a chest.

Advice. Think about not just niches, but screens and doors that hide the necessary equipment for complete compliance and harmony.

For a kitchen in this unique design, manufacturers have provided solid wood furniture (or so-called solid wood), which:

• they will hide behind their facades small and large household appliances that stand out from the concept;
• for the hood, the requirements are taken into account - the shape of the chimney or a special box that hides a modification that is no longer relevant.
• household appliances in retro style, calm colors with copper and brass fittings.

Steingel House

Steingel's house. Photo: Alexander Mikheichev / photobank “Lori”

The mansion of Colonel Vladimir Shteingel, a participant in the Patriotic War of 1812, was built in 1816. This wooden building “under the stone” in the style of Moscow classicism has been preserved practically unchanged. The relief plaster on its facade imitates rustication - stone cladding. The northern facade of the building is decorated with porticoes and bas-reliefs, griffins and stucco medallions. Some decorative elements have been preserved inside: wooden doors and cornices, paintings on the ceiling.

After Steingel, the mansion came into the possession of relatives of Ivan Turgenev and the family of Alexander Suvorov. In 1872, it was acquired by the family of the philosopher Lev Lopatin. Today the house belongs to the Russian Academy of Arts.

Author: Lidia Utyomova

Lighting is important and necessary

This can become a serious problem if the interior involves permanent residence. The abundance of wood does not have the best effect on the level of illumination - surfaces, especially those not alternating with white plaster, absorb rays of light, making the interior a little gloomy, especially in an apartment with low ceilings.

What you should pay attention to in this case:

1. The presence of large windows that will not allow the interior of living rooms to turn into a bathhouse.
2. Lightening areas with paint, whitewashing, because white reflects light better than others.
3. Active LED lighting, which saves interiors from dim lighting, is excluded.

The following will help you avoid disturbing the authentic atmosphere:

• perforated lampshades simulating lace;
• lampshades with painting and embroidery;
• birch bark lampshades;
• imitation of candles, lamps.

For modern reading, designers have come up with enough solutions. For example, the latest trend is lamps resembling a matryoshka doll made of metal and glass. Even special retro wires can become an interesting accent, allowing historical achievements to be justified.

Advice. In the windows, all plastic elements must be replaced with wooden frames and supplemented with decorative shutters, if desired.

The curtains compensate for the simplicity of their forms with an ornament of flower garlands; lace ruffles are possible. Cornices, certainly wooden, with skillful carvings, will become an additional decoration.

Planning techniques

When developing a project, various methods are used. The most common are:

Geometric. Used on smooth surfaces. Distinctive features are the geometric arrangement of buildings and plantings, as well as clear, even boundaries of all landscape elements. For example, trees, bushes, and flower beds are arranged in the shape of rectangles or squares with even borders. It is also possible to plant plants in the form of other geometric shapes that correspond to the general style of the plan.

Landscape. Used when the ground surface is uneven. The arrangement of buildings and plants does not follow clear lines. On the contrary, asymmetry is used in the design of the entire exterior. For example, ravines and hills are preserved or created, paths are laid in curved lines, trees and plants are planted according to the owner’s imagination, rather than geometric shapes.

With this site planning scheme, all artificial elements are organically integrated into the natural landscape, which allows you to create a more natural design.

Mixed. Combines landscape and geometric features in different proportions. It does not have clear rules of construction. Most popular among dacha owners.

Choice of colors

The palette for interior decoration also differed from the wealth of the owner. Natural colors predominated in the huts, which added warmth and comfort to the rooms. These are calm yellow shades. Brown was also a popular color. Mostly due to the fact that wooden surfaces were rarely painted at all and were left in their natural beauty.

Muted red tones were added to natural palettes. And also blue and green. These colors are also as close to natural as possible and they were used with pleasure in interior decoration.

Towers were always decorated much brighter than simple huts. The Russian style in the interior of the mansion was distinguished by richer and richer tones, which emphasized the luxury of the furnishings. This was also facilitated by large windows, which were absent in the huts.

Bright colors predominate in both drapery and curtains. And there’s no need to talk about the tablecloths.

The festive table covering has always been distinguished by a riot of colors and colorful designs. And since in the old days there was no stainless steel or chrome plating, all iron utensils were covered with bright and rich colors.

Special offers

Fabric is an indicator of style

Upholstery of furniture groups, pillows, curtains - you don’t have to make a long choice, because manufacturers offer ready-made collections. Sometimes even with names that help you make a decision: Firebird, Sadko. Paradoxically, Russian linen is actively offered by foreign companies, which once again confirms the relevance of this design.

All kinds of tablecloths, napkins for the dining area, lace decor, embroidery, tapestries, homespun rugs - those attributes that some time ago they dreamed of getting rid of as a relic of the past are actively represented in many design projects. Now they are considered entourage things, without which this style will look unfinished.

They encourage you to try to realize your creative potential in order to be especially proud of the final result in the future.

Yasnaya Polyana

In Yasnaya Polyana, to this day there is a two-story house of Leo Tolstoy from 1800–1810 with an extension from 1871 (the author is the Tula architect Guryev). Nature is also preserved: a birch alley starting from two entrance towers; linden park of the late 18th century; landscape “Lower Park” of mixed tree species with cascading ponds; apple orchards. Adjacent to the estate are an old oak and linden grove, spruce and birch plantings planted by Lev and Sophia Tolstoy.

Examples in the interior

Russian style in the interior is, first of all, colorful. Slavic culture has always paid special attention to symbols and drawings. And the latter became a sign of everything primordially Russian. Including design. National painting has absorbed the best elements of folk ornaments. A striking example of this is Khokhloma, Haze and Gzhel.

Kitchen

Here are some tips on how to decorate a modern kitchen in Russian style:

1. It is easiest to act when you have an example of what needs to be done before your eyes. Photos from the archives will help you feel the history and bring it into reality.
2. Family heirlooms can help provide inspiration. Perhaps the house already has antiques or interesting rarities that can become central design elements.
3. You can arrange a themed design. Dedicated to one of the types of folk craft. Hand or varnish painting of Gzhel, Khokhloma, Palekh looks great in the kitchen interior.
4. A small room can be visually expanded if you decorate it with bright and rich colors. In addition, they are able to add lighting when it is not enough.
5. There is no need to reduce the functionality of the room and abandon modern kitchen appliances in favor of historical truth. Household appliances will fit harmoniously into the interior if you choose them in a similar color scheme.
6. You can follow authenticity if you wish. Nothing bad will happen if objects from different eras are collected in one room. If only they all fit into the overall design style.
7. To achieve comfort, you need to completely abandon plastic and stainless steel (aluminum). All finishing or decorative materials must be extremely natural. And the main secret of real comfort is a lot of wood.
8. It is better not to overload the room with artistic elements. For the kitchen interior to look natural and harmonious, everything should be in moderation.

Living room

First of all, you need to decide which direction of the Russian style to use for the room. Should I decorate it as a simple hut? Should I apply the luxury of princely mansions? Or stick to the European method and put a little bit of everything in the living room.

The last option is easiest to do. Folk art is simply placed in empty spaces. On walls, bookshelves, racks and shelves. Coffee tables are covered with lace tablecloths, and a comfortable sofa is simply draped with a blanket with elements of Russian embroidery.

In the mansion you will have to replace all modern things either with antiques or their imitation. Almost the entire surface of wooden furniture is covered with artistic carvings. And the central design element is a fireplace, disguised as a Russian stove with tiles.

A crystal chandelier under the ceiling would be quite appropriate, but you need to pay attention to its mounting. There should be no chrome parts. They need to be replaced with brass, or even better, forged. The paintings on the walls should correspond to the era.

The hardest thing will be for those who want to achieve truthfulness using the “Russian hut” direction. All upholstered furniture must be replaced with massive benches. The chandelier will have to be abandoned, and the lamps on the walls and tables will have to be disguised as antique ones that were used for burning.

Since in those days the elements of log houses contained various paintings, paintings on the walls would not be appropriate. It is necessary to maintain plausibility and use only those items that were used on the farm in that time period.

Bedroom

For this room, the “Russian tower” direction is best suited. Because there is everything in moderation. There is no excessive luxury, but the items are made in an elegant form. And the simplicity is compensated by the richness of the decor.

The predominance of natural materials is emphasized here too. The room can be either entirely decorated with natural wood, or only partially. For example, the wall at the head of the bed is designed like a log house, and the remaining walls can be covered with wallpaper.

The bed, chests of drawers and shelving should only be made of wood. But there should be enough carving on the surface. Polished surfaces are welcome in this room. And to complement and emphasize the Russian style in the interior is the task of textiles.

Curtains and bedspreads are embroidered with gold threads. Pearl embroidery or beads are present on the drapery. Fantastic embroidery with reproductions from Russian fairy tales looks especially great. But simple pictures with flora also complement the room well and spread peace in it.

Children's

A room for a child is decorated according to all the rules as a bedroom. But in order for it to reflect childhood, it is necessary to adhere to some rules.

Here are some of them:

1. Harmony will be created by two primary colors, complemented by a maximum of three shades for contrast.
2. To prevent the room from looking overloaded with the diversity of the Russian style, it is necessary to dilute it with neutral colors.
3. You need to use as many children's themed drawings as possible. And on the walls, and on the bedspreads with curtains.
4. Furniture and decoration should be made only from natural materials. And it is better to place the entire emphasis in the design on textiles.
5. The greatest attention should be paid to the playing area.
6. The decor can be Russian-themed toys, which you can make yourself.
7. It is permissible to include a couple of rarities with family history in the interior of a nursery. In addition to aesthetics, they will allow the child to know and remember his roots.

Variety of designs - ascetic hut

There are several basic concepts for embodying the Russian style. The interpretation can be extremely complete and then the result is a Russian hut. There are certain features:

• maximum environmental friendliness;
• colorfulness, even a certain “popularity”, “fabulousness”;
• the texture of wood is usually emphasized and complemented by metal: tin, cast iron, brass;
• sufficient area so that each significant object stands out;
• rough furnishings.

Interesting are the objects that seem to have come from time immemorial, such as wooden chests, kitchen grips, pots, jugs, and other hand-made folk crafts. It is only important to stop in time in pursuit of decorativeness and think about practical use.

Russian hut is a rustic trend, extremely natural, unprocessed. But not everyone feels comfortable in such interiors, especially for a long time. Therefore, there is a more refined version - a Russian tower with slightly adapted, modernized external characteristics.

Olgovo

Leo Tolstoy once visited here. This is a very beautiful place, especially in autumn, when the entrance to the temple is decorated with fallen leaves. The ruined main house remains, based on an early 18th-century building extended in 1786 by the architect Francesco Camporesi. The Vvedenskaya Church of 1751 with a bell tower and chapels of 1828, enlarged in 1892 by the architect Ivan Meisner, is incredibly majestic. Some linden trees planted in the second half of the 18th century have survived.