ELLE DECORATION continues a series of video tours of the homes and gardens of famous designers. Today we will visit the Ukrainian architect Sergei Makhno in his house near Kiev. Stay tuned!

Photo

Sergey Kadulin

How did you choose this house?

I’ve dreamed of living here for many years. By the word “a lot” I mean about seventeen. At the very beginning of my career I had a project here and I thought: One day I will live here. But then it was an unreal dream. And a few years ago, my wife accidentally found ads for the sale of an unfinished house at a very good price. We immediately went to see: a standard box, but made of solid red brick, and most importantly – the territory. Among the thickets of weeds, centuries-old oaks stood proudly here. Now it is under them that I have laid out my Ukrainian-Japanese garden.

Photo

SERGEY KADULIN

Photo

SERGEY KADULIN

What had to be redone?

All. In fact, only the “box” remained, because inside absolutely all the walls were demolished, and the new ones were built in such a way as to give the space air and uniformity. A huge window in the living room required the unification of two floors — and we implemented it. There is a lot of natural light and warmth here. There are family spaces, and there are corners for everyone in the large Makhno family.

Photo

SERGEY KADULIN

What was the main idea of interior design?

Make this house a home for its inhabitants. After all, you can make it comfortable, fashionable, but this does not make the place your home. This is how traditions appeared — our connection with our ancestors, our preferences were displayed. The very name of the house — Shkrub House – came from the family lexicon, so we call each other. In my own home, I conduct experiments for which most clients are not ready yet — before this house, they did not believe that Ukrainian craft traditions, modern art, high-tech and comfort could be combined in one house.

Photo

SERGEY KADULIN

Photo

SERGEY KADULIN

I say thanks to my intuition, which prompted me to make the house autonomous long before the world demonstrated how many unforeseen things can happen. There is a geothermal well that provides hot water and heating, solar panels and a boiler warm and charge the whole house, and in the cellar, which we found and cleaned, food is stored, which will last for a certain period of time. That is, we are ready for a lot of things, which means we are calm.

Photo

SERGEY KADULIN

Photo

SERGEY KADULIN

What did you particularly succeed in the interior, and what would you redo?

I’m happy with the clay walls. It’s not the first time I’ve used them, but this time I experimented with textures and techniques. For example, in a part of the house, the texture was made with the help of large wooden spoons — they just beat on the still damp clay. I really managed to make the house cozy and with my own spirit.

Photo

SERGEY KADULIN

In the conditions of last year’s self-isolation, I realized that I would have given another place to a joint play area for my younger sons, safer and adapted to their sometimes insane games. And also my work area would undergo changes. The Japanese-style table and chair that I put in my bedroom are suitable for drawing and sketching, but you can’t sit at the computer there for a long time.

Photo

SERGEY KADULIN

What is your favorite place in the house?

Now it’s a garden and a rake. I’m not kidding. Spring has come, nature is coming to life and gives hope that everything will be restored in the world. Here I meditate, plan, dream. I like to work at the dining table in the dining room. And if we talk about the family mood, it’s a sofa in the living room and a lit fireplace, where in the evenings we watch cartoons or documentaries about art on a projector.

Photo

SERGEY KADULIN

What are your favorite interior items?

Details. Paintings and sculptures by contemporary Ukrainian artists, my friends and my teachers. My subject design, my zoomorphic Dido sculptures.

Photo

SERGEY KADULIN

Photo

SERGEY KADULIN

Your perfect day when you’re at home

That is, always? (laughs – ed.) It starts at 4-5 in the morning. I like to wake up early and be alone with myself while everyone is sleeping. I meditate, read or draw. Then I watch the house wake up. After that, we spend time with our wife Vlada with the children: we play, sculpt from clay, draw, read. During the month of quarantine, while at home, the children taught me to be free in my actions. I’m used to planning everything, bringing it to the end. They can draw now, read in a minute, then play something. But always – getting involved in the moment 100 percent.

Photo

SERGEY KADULIN

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ELLE Decoration Russia (@elledecorationru)

Dorozhkin Alexey

Original content from the site