A Bold, Handcrafted Look for a Summer Pavilion Near Moscow

The extended Krivoshapko family has a plot of land near Moscow with a cottage and a bathhouse. The only thing missing on the property was a spacious porch where the family’s three generations could gather around a table. So they decided to construct a pavilion on a small, flat field next to the bathhouse. Designers Marina Grigoryan and Olga Tishchenko took only a few weeks to erect the pavilion, from the basement to the roof tile. In their playful, brightly colored design, they combined nods to traditional folk styles, contemporary style and 1970s retro decor.

Traditional handcrafted needlework was an inspiration for the designers. Grandmother Tamara Ivanova was born in Ukraine and has helped pass on an appreciation for the craft to younger generations. She showed the designers her cross-stitched towels and ornaments. The designers picked up on the stitching patterns and bold reds found in the traditional needlework and woven rugs, and incorporated them in the porch entrance and back wall.

Photos by Vladimir Burtsey

Porch at a Glance
Who lives here: This porch is an addition to a bathhouse near the Krivoshapko family’s summer cottage. All members of the family are fond of needlework (embroidery and rug weaving). These skills are passed on from generation to generation.
Location: Moscow region
Size: 270 square feet (25 square meters)
Designers: Olga Tishchenko and Marina Grigoryan
That’s interesting: The project was carried out on a popular TV show. The designers had 10 days to prepare the project and three weeks to implement it.

The open porch is adjacent to the bathhouse. Several tricks were made to smooth the flow from the wood building to the lighter contemporary addition. The back wall of the bathhouse that became the interior wall of the porch is painted blue-gray, like the other inner walls of the porch. The front door of the bathhouse and its windows are painted red.


High pots filled with apples match the style of the porch. Family members participated in making the pots without knowing what they would be used for. “Depending on the season, the pots can be filled with different plants and fruit,” Grigoryan says. Light openwork Acapulco chairs, first designed in Mexico in the middle of the 20th century, are in line with the folk style.

Pots: Nobilis Marco; chairs: NardDecor


The counter with installed grill is the centerpiece of the space. “We opted out of a traditional dining table and preferred a counter instead to bring in some contemporary atmosphere,” Grigoryan says.

The back wall is made of glass blocks to let daylight in and ensure privacy. The dining counter, constructed of foam concrete blocks, separates the space into different zones.


“One of the criteria of Fazenda [the TV show] is that the project must contain some DIY objects. So we decided to make a porch where all members of the family could have some rest after having a bath and cook barbecue, have tea and talk to each other as well,” Grigoryan says.

“Whereas the bathhouse was timber blocking, we wanted to design a similar extension, with a few touches of folklore style. We did not plan it as a museum of ethnography. We just wanted to give a slightest hint that this family respects national traditions,” she adds.

The counter is lit by a custom-made pendant light. The lampshade is crafted of bright fabric with a traditional pattern. The crossed backs of the counter chairs echo the red crosses of the beams above and support the needlework theme.

Counter chairs: Restoracia


The sofa, upholstered with a large-scale printed fabric, nods to the aesthetics of the 1970s. The designers used stencils to paint a panel depicting four solar symbols for above the sofa. The panel can be placed on the two ottomans to create a small coffee table.

Sofa: Restoracia; pots: Nobilis Marco; curtain fabric: Ampir Decor


A ceramic grill is installed in the counter. The family can cook almost all dishes with it and also smoke meat and fish. Bright plates on display perk up the mood even in the rainy weather.

Ceramic grill: Primo


The designers made a niche in the counter, where they placed the homeowners’ samovar, which boils water for tea. They also added a little fun with the cow-shaped shelving.

Counter chairs: Restoracia


The playful shelf unit is spacious, with room for decorative items and utensils on the shelves and on top.

Another interesting solution was found for the floor. What looks like shabby wooden boards are actually ceramic granite tiles. They emphasize the rustic style and are easy to clean. Ceramic granite is durable and withstands all weather conditions.

Ceramic granite tiles: Bazalt Keramika


Scarlet branches in the vases create a holiday atmosphere, while dainty hurricane lamps add a feel of homey comfort. The openwork egg chair, made of artificial rattan, also looks cozy.

“The chair was purchased for the youngest member of the family, the 5-year-old granddaughter,” says Grigoryan. Its long-lasting material can endure both heat and frost.

Decorative items, candleholders: ENS Group; egg chair: 4SiS


To fit the rustic theme, the designers exposed some electric wires. They found retro-style wires with silk braiding that look like more decorative elements.


The door of the bathhouse was cleaned, sanded and painted the same red as the porch trim. “We put a throw pillow embroidered by the grandmother, Tamara Ivanovna, in the shell of the chair. Similar pillows also decorate Acapulco chairs near the entrance,” Grigoryan says.


“To secure privacy, we closed the front part of the porch with linen Roman shades held by strips of the same fabric as the lampshade over the counter. The entrance to the porch is trimmed with canvas curtains decorated with floral embroidery,” Grigoryan says.

Roman shades: Casablanca; curtain fabric: Ampir Decor


For safety reasons, the countertop is covered with the same tiles as the floor. Although the grill is easy to use, the manufacturer says to place it far away from wooden furniture.

Ceramic grill: Primo; ceramic granite tiles: Ampir Decor


Not only do glass blocks let in the light, but they also work as small shelves. Spotlights installed behind the wall and inside the space make the glass blocks gleam in the dark.


Here we see some of the grandmother’s cross-stitched works that inspired the designers and created the homey atmosphere of the project.


Designers Marina Grigoryan, left, and Olga Tishchenko pose at the entrance of the new porch.

More:
20 Outstanding Outdoor Living Rooms
11 Ways to Get More From Your Summer Porch

URL: A Bold, Handcrafted Look for a Summer Pavilion Near Moscow http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-25942.html