A very personal interpretation of the style of the Russian manor from the famous decorator Kirill Istomin

Russian Russian style in the interior of the apartment and what was the daily life of the Russian estate? Small rooms, not ballrooms and formal living rooms that opened only on occasion, mismatched furniture, paintings that have more family than artistic value, everyday porcelain.

A fragment of the dining room. The fabric for curtains is made to order, Colefax & Fowler, plaid edging, Manuel Canovas. Painted screen, the beginning of the twentieth century, France. The chairs are upholstered in fabric, Brunschwig & Fils. Vintage decorative pillows with hand-painted silk.

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Tim Beddow

Even members of the imperial family tried to surround themselves with ordinary comfort in their personal lives — just look at the photos of Alexander III’s private apartments in the Gatchina Palace or Nicholas II in the Alexander Palace of Tsarskoye Selo…

Canteen. The fireplace portal of green marble is made according to the sketches of Kirill Istomin. Wool carpet, Russia, the end of the XIX century. Antique chandelier, France, XIX century. Chinese-style carved dining table and leather upholstered chairs, England, twentieth century. Fabric covers, Cowtan & Tout. On the table is a tablecloth of antique lace from the collection of the owners of the house. Porcelain service, France, the beginning of the XX century. On the wall is a collection of antique French, German and Russian porcelain.

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Tim Beddow

It was about such interiors that decorator Kirill Istomin thought when customers asked him to create a manor house interior in the Russian style without claims to historical authenticity.

Kirill Istomin

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Tim Beddow

“We started inventing a legend on the go,” says Kirill. “From the first days of working on the project, we, together with the owners, began to look for completely different pieces of furniture — as they say, in reserve.

A fragment of the cabinet. The sofa is made to order according to the sketches of Kirill Istomin; upholstery, Clarence House. There are icons of the owners of the house on the wall.

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Tim Beddow

There are no valuables here, they are all just witnesses of the era, the same age as the departed old world, but this is what makes the interior alive and very personal. Unless the French tapestry of the XVIII century in the living room is really rare.”

Main living room. Tapestry, France, XVIII century. Vintage English armchair, upholstery, Cowtan & Tout. The table lamps are made of antique Chinese vases. Red lacquer coffee table with gold painting in Chinoiserie style, vintage. The stallage and sofa are made to order according to the sketches of the decorator, fabric, Cowtan & Tout. A desk with a leather top and drawers, England, XX century, next to a vintage rattan armchair. Round table with marble top, Russia, XIX century.

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Tim Beddow

With this tapestry, the reconstruction of the house began — there was simply not enough space for it in the old living room. The new extension, adjacent to the living room, is equal in area to the first floor of the house.

Hallway. Wallpaper, Stark. Carved wooden gilded chandelier, Italy, XX century. Mirror, England, XIX century. Chest of drawers and sconces, vintage. Chair covers made of fabric, Lee Jofa.

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Tim Beddow

Square in plan, it is divided in half into two rooms: a dining room and a new living room, on one of the walls of which there is a tapestry.

Kitchen. Fabric bandeau, Lee Jofa. Chair covers, Schumacher fabric. Chandelier, dining table and chairs, Russia, 1900s.

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Tim Beddow

“I understand what the architects thought when we ordered them the layout of the rooms, taking into account the placement of existing furnishings,” Kirill smiles. “But I always treat the confrontation between decorators and architects with humor.”

A fragment of the kitchen. The countertop and apron are made of granite.

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Tim Beddow

Intentionally simple finishing — wooden floors and painted walls — is compensated in the rooms by the height of the ceilings. In the old house they are about one and a half meters lower.

Guest bathroom. Wallpaper with a floral pattern, Cowtan & Tout. The skirt of the base is made of linen, Clarence House. Mirror above the base in a painted carved wooden frame, Italy, the beginning of the XX century.

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Tim Beddow

However, even this does not make the premises look like state halls — the same living rooms, as if descended from pre-revolutionary photographs. It’s just hard to say in which country these photos could have been taken: in the dining room, a combination of porcelain plates hung on celadon walls and floral ornaments of curtains remind of English estates of the Victorian era, while the decor of the small living room with historical wallpaper depicting flower garlands and the boiling white lace ruffles of crimson curtains echoing them they resemble the Russian style in the interior, a merchant’s mansion somewhere on the Volga.

A fragment of the master bedroom. English vintage lacquered secretary with gilded painting in Chinese style.

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Tim Beddow

Almost kitsch, but hot tea with jam has already done its job, and you don’t want to think about anything, covered with a down shawl and listening to the cat’s lulling purr. “Of course, this is a completely invented interior, and it is unlikely that you will find historical parallels here.

Small living room. Vintage French bronze sconces bought in St. Petersburg. The backs of antique gilded chairs are covered with antique lace from the owners’ collection. Vintage sofa with fringe in the original crimson upholstery. Hand-printed wallpapers based on archival originals are made to order. Curtains, silk, Lee Jofa. Wooden racks are made according to the sketches of the decorator.

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Tim Beddow

Rather, it brings back memories of how you imagined a bygone era when you read the classics,” says the decorator. — There are a lot of incongruous things in the house, but such “imperfection” makes my work invisible.

Daughter’s bedroom. The curly headboard is made to order, fabric, Brunschwig & Fils. Antique banquette with tapestry upholstery was bought in St. Petersburg. Bedside tables are made to order. Modern woven cotton carpet. Bases for table lamps made of colored glass and a chandelier with decorative pendants made of colored glass in the form of fruits, vintage.

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Tim Beddow

It sounds corny, but when the decorator’s work is not visible, it’s a good job! And despite this, the house turned out to be very personal for me. It was as if nothing had changed here, it froze in happy ignorance at the turn of the XIX–XX centuries…”

Daughter’s bathroom. Curtains with floral ornaments, finishing — checkered fabric, Schumacher. Sconce, vintage. Pouf on a metal base, England, XX century. The basement is made according to the sketches of Kirill Istomin. Carpet from the owners’ collection.

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Tim Beddow

The master bedroom. Curtains and headboard made of floral print fabric, Cowtan & Tout, Roman curtain, Lee Jofa. Silk quilted bedspread, Duralee. Modern bedside tables.Oval mirrors in carved wooden painted frames, vintage. Vintage table lamps made of rock crystal were bought in Paris. The antique armchair was bought in St. Petersburg.

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Tim Beddow

Dorozhkin Alexey

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