Houzz Tour: A Russian Vacation House for Entertaining
A Moscow designer transforms a riverbank dacha into a charming, colourful country house
The owners of this country house in the Tver region of Russia call it their remote dacha, or vacation house. Upon seeing it, they immediately knew that the 60-mile (96.6-kilometre) drive from their home would be worth it to enjoy the beauty of nature here. “The house stands on a peninsula on the bank of the Volga River,” says Moscow-based interior designer Zhenya Zhdanova. “A sandy beach with its own proper pier is right behind it. There’s also a pine wood nearby. An amazing apple orchard surrounds the house. Luxuriant raspberry and currant bushes grow along the fence. The garden is full of flowers.”
Previous owners had built the two-story house in the 1990s. But the new owners had a different idea about comfort and aesthetics, and they asked Zhdanova to make some changes.
Previous owners had built the two-story house in the 1990s. But the new owners had a different idea about comfort and aesthetics, and they asked Zhdanova to make some changes.
The owners made it clear from the beginning that they wouldn’t be coming to the house often and that when they did come, it would always be with a big group of friends. The designer’s task was to find a way to accommodate many guests.
“We didn’t plan any major work,” recalls Zhdanova, adding that the main goals were to minimise construction, use existing furniture and stay on budget.
The designer’s first suggestion was to repaint the yellow-varnished clapboard on the interior walls with cheerful blue, green, pastel yellow, lavender and azure. “Natural clapboard is good for the bath, but when it is used for the whole house, it looks pretty sad,” the designer says.
The designer’s first suggestion was to repaint the yellow-varnished clapboard on the interior walls with cheerful blue, green, pastel yellow, lavender and azure. “Natural clapboard is good for the bath, but when it is used for the whole house, it looks pretty sad,” the designer says.
When the renovation started, they tweaked the ground-floor layout. Originally, it had two rooms and a tiny kitchen, with the only bathroom on the upper level.
Zhdanova suggested turning the original kitchen into a bathroom and a second living room into a spacious kitchen.
Zhdanova suggested turning the original kitchen into a bathroom and a second living room into a spacious kitchen.
“The boiler was behind the wall of the new kitchen, so we had no problems with utility lines. The space allowed a kitchen island with all the necessary storage systems,” Zhdanova says.
Kitchen system: Ikea
Kitchen system: Ikea
Zhdanova used a soft shade of green for the kitchen. The floor and ceiling are painted white to visually widen the space. The raspberry accents came later. Pendant lights above the kitchen island were spray-painted on the spot.
Zhdanova decorated an old refrigerator to resemble a vintage drinks dispenser because the owners didn’t want to buy a new fridge.
Zhdanova decorated an old refrigerator to resemble a vintage drinks dispenser because the owners didn’t want to buy a new fridge.
Posters designed by Alexander Rodchenko and Vladimir Mayakovsky are reminders of the Soviet past. The one to the left of the berry-red cupboard is dated June 15, 1941, and reads: “Young comrade, study your region!”
The designer covered the entryway of the former kitchen with clapboard, forming a built-in display niche.
The designer covered the entryway of the former kitchen with clapboard, forming a built-in display niche.
The guest bathroom occupies the former kitchen. The custom vanity was made in Zhdanova’s workshop.
Four bedrooms are on the second floor. Zhdanova decided to give each one character with fresh paint.
The custom headboard shown here also was made in Zhdanova’s workshop.
The custom headboard shown here also was made in Zhdanova’s workshop.
Clapboard suits country houses perfectly. It’s pleasant to touch, exudes warmth and is easy to paint. Placed vertically, it visually heightens the ceiling, Zhdanova says. Combined with white flooring and doors, it looks fresh and cosy.
Paintings above cabinet: Anna Grekova
Paintings above cabinet: Anna Grekova
The designer created a cosy corner in the lavender bedroom.
From the hall, you can see that the panels of each door are outlined in the colour that corresponds with the bedroom inside.
Originally, the rooms were furnished with the same pine furniture. The designer repainted it, then added bright berry accents to the predominant turquoise. “It’s a contrasting, dynamic and very optimistic combination. When we added new colourful lampshades, a couple of cushions and a rug, the room became more lively,” she says. New textiles and lighting updated this country house on the river’s bank.
Much attention and effort were spent on the windows, with their wooden moulding and shapely valances. “We used semitransparent flax linen as our main fabric. This helped to create an airy and tranquil atmosphere in this bedroom,” Zhdanova says.
Every piece of furniture in the yellow room was refreshed. The chest of drawers and nightstands were painted white with expressive detailing.
The scarf and jewelry hanger (on top of the chest) was custom-made from parts of vintage chairs by the Made in August workshop. Fabric with Karelian embroidery was used for the pillows and lampshades.
The scarf and jewelry hanger (on top of the chest) was custom-made from parts of vintage chairs by the Made in August workshop. Fabric with Karelian embroidery was used for the pillows and lampshades.
The original bathroom, on the second floor, also was updated with a new shower and a custom vanity.
For the floor and vanity, the designer used tile from Vives. The faucets and the mirror came from Ikea.
For the floor and vanity, the designer used tile from Vives. The faucets and the mirror came from Ikea.
The fourth bedroom is exclusively blue. The shade for the ceiling is two tones lighter than that for the walls. This creates a kind of jewel-box interior.
“I decorated the headboard area with three small hats from Cameroon. The lampshades are in the same fabric that we used on the bed,” Zhdanova says.
“I decorated the headboard area with three small hats from Cameroon. The lampshades are in the same fabric that we used on the bed,” Zhdanova says.
The designer managed to find a way to install a queen-size bed and a cot in the blue bedroom.
TELL US
What do you like most about this home? Let us know in the Comments below.
TELL US
What do you like most about this home? Let us know in the Comments below.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with two school-age children and their guests
Location: Tver area of Russia
Size: About 3,230 square feet (300 square metres)
Designer: Zhenya Zhdanova
That’s interesting: The house is on a peninsula. In summer, it can be reached by ferry; in winter, when the ice is thick and stable, by foot; in midseason, by hovercraft. The house can be accessed by land through the city of Tver, but this trip requires driving an additional 75 miles. During the renovation, the designer tested all these methods.