Interior from the cover: apartment of decorator Irakli Zaria

Moscow energy and Parisian chic harmoniously coexist in the apartment of decorator Irakli Zaria

The living room occupies the corner part of the apartment building. The wall panels are made of mansonia wood. The sofa and coffee table are made according to the sketches of the owner. On the right is an armchair, Shell, 1955, and a banquette, Costela, 1950’s, all designed by Carlo Gauner. On the wall is the work of Andrey Krasulin, 1990’s. Artifacts of ancient China are displayed on the windowsills.

Photo: Mikhail Loskutov

Table, Charles Dudouyt, 1928. Marble Roman portrait of Julia Domna, II century BC Table lamp, Jacques Adne, 1930s. Ceramic pendant, Pablo Picasso, 1949. Collection of caskets by Jean-Michel Frank, 1920-30s.

Photo: Mikhail Loskutov

A small courtyard behind a wrought—iron gate, trimmed plants in tubs, steps made of gray stone – it seems that you are in Paris, because this city flashes in the social networks of decorator Irakli Zaria as often as Moscow, London or Tbilisi. But Tverskaya Street is noisy nearby, and the apartment building is an example of Soviet constructivism of the late 1920s.

“When I saw him,” says Irakli, “I was bribed by one atypical detail. The corner, the highest part of the house ends with an elegant dome, under which, in fact, the apartment is located.”

The apartment itself has remained almost untouched since its construction and required a complete renovation. But there was only one supporting column on the plan, and this gave complete freedom of action.

“The angular arrangement of the rooms is one of my favorites,” the owner continues. — New angles are revealed from every point of the room, even a small one. In addition, I immediately planned a circular movement around the apartment, so that with a relatively small area of about 90 sq. meters here you can miss the guests.”

Decorator Irakli Zaria in the living room of his Moscow apartment. Table lamp, designed by Ignazio Gardella, 1950s. Painting by Bosco Sodi, 2014. In the foreground is a chair designed by Pierre Jeanneret, 1959.

Photo: Mikhail Loskutov

The walls of the hall are decorated with parchment. The white ceramic table is made according to the sketches of Irakli Zaria. On the table is a collection of Chinese ceramics from the Neolithic period, 3000 BC. A banquette, Pierre Guariche, 1950. Plaster chandelier, Stephen Antenson.

Photo: Mikhail Loskutov

A walk-through library leads to the living room. At the desk is a bronze armchair, designed by Paul Evans, 1970s. In the perspective of the living room, a floor lamp is visible, Paavo Tunnel, 1945.

Photo: Mikhail Loskutov

But if you don’t know the background, crossing the threshold, it’s as if you find yourself in Paris. The walls of the hall are decorated with ivory parchment. On the left is the entrance to the dressing room adjacent to the bedroom. And after passing through the library, you find yourself in a large living room, decorated from floor to ceiling with wooden panels made of mansonia wood. A couple of them hide the entrance to the bedroom.

The travertine dining table is custom-made. Chairs, Nanna Dietzel, 1960s. Chandelier, Mauro Fabbro. On the shelf is a silver plate, Pablo Picasso. The picture above is Raquel Levy, 1970. Under it is the work of Enrico Castellani, 1970.

Photo: Mikhail Loskutov

“The corner part of the house ends with an elegant dome, under which the apartment is located”

Swing doors lead to the bedroom. Armchair, Pierre Jeanneret, 1950s. In the foreground is a metal table made according to the designer’s sketches. On it is the casket of Jean—Michel Frank and the marble torso of Apollo, Ancient Rome, I century AD.

Photo: Mikhail Loskutov

It is worth opening the doors, and the living room is flooded with light reflected from silk wallpaper, from afar resembling polished travertine. “Silk, linen, wood — warm materials create such an important feeling of peace for me. Unless the steel walls in the bathroom act as a contrast shower. Of course, in the interior you will easily recognize the influence of Jean-Michel Frank, a decorator who was ahead of his time. I am very close to his work, and a couple of his boxes, trimmed with golden straw, are always on my desk. Lightweight forms of classic boiseries, ivory color, inlay — but without verbatim quotes. The decoration is even more simplified and, with all the complexity of the execution, it is only a background for paintings, sculptures and art objects,” says the owner.

The oak bed is made to order according to the sketch of the author of the project. Stools, Gucci, 1970s. The painting above the bed, Laura Sebastianes. Sconces made of rock crystal and bronze, Hisham Gandur.

Photo: Mikhail Loskutov

“I am close to the work of Jean-Michel Frank, and a couple of his boxes are on my desk”

The bedroom walls are covered with textile wallpaper, Pierre Frey. Vintage armchair, Pierre Guariche. The cabinet is made according to the sketch of Irakli Zaria. The doors are finished with selenite.

Photo: Mikhail Loskutov

“Several objects from the period of antiquity and ancient China, classical modernism and Art Deco, painting of the 1950s-70s and my recent hobby – Picasso ceramics — are complemented by modern furnishings, including according to my sketches. This interior is not for show — on the contrary, in a sense it is very intimate: everything that is so close to me is collected here. An ivory tower? Maybe, but it’s only a fifteen-minute walk from here to my studio, where work is raging, and you can drive to the airport in 30 minutes. But I always come back—to myself. In every sense.” iraklizariainteriors.com