Modern Interpretation of traditional items

It is interesting to follow how objects from the traditional house were transformed in terms of functionality and style. The goal was to find some modern references and look at how objects have changed, and analyze what the place for them in a contemporary house is. It was an attempt to find some distinctive pieces of furniture in modern design. So, the creative approach was one of the most important while searching. However, the balance between functionality and decorativeness in chosen objects was also required.

a Chest

A chest is a multifunctional thing: in a traditional Russian house, it was safe for essential items, at the same time a guest seat or even a bed. These days, it becomes storage for shoes or old magazines. In the case of guests, the chest, as in the past days, will quickly become something else: for example, a coffee table or a couch. In terms of style, it is interesting to follow how local (Russian) companies are trying to avoid national heritage and selling “American” or “Asian” style as something distinctive or modern.

a Bench

In the Russian hut, a bench was a multifunctional piece and served as a sitting, resting, and sleeping place. A spacious bench could replace a sofa at a crowded party. If the seat is wide enough, those guests who delayed until the morning might nap on it. In regular times, a bench can be used instead of a table, a TV stand or a shelf for books and flowers. Here, I wanted to show that these days a bench could be more of Fine art than a simple sitting piece. Combining wood ads epoxy resin, carving a seat from a solid branch (or just imitate so), even burned cloth or imitation

of some kind of a structure with metal wire is possible to apply to a simple shape.

JAMES RUSSELL AND HANNAH PLUMB

Napkins and Tablecloths

Tablecloths and napkins are festive decorations in a traditional Russian interior. They can be used as an easy way to make minimalistic interior cozier by the arrival of guests or just change the space for a particular mood. The embroidered napkin can be laid on a work or dining table, on a chest of drawers, or any other surface in the house. Textile definitely is not something only two-dimensional. There are a lot of techniques that can add a required volume to any everyday object.

One of the given examples is made in the textile collage technique. Another one is a full three-dimensional embroidered pillow with several layers of embellishment.

a Kettle

A self-brewing unit is no longer a surprise, so another option is the kettle that stands at the head of the table. Any China-tea admirer can be easily surprised by traditional Russian tea-mix of willowherb, linden blossom, berries, and honey. Another tradition is drinking tea from the saucer.

JOEY ROTH

KETTLE IL CONICO BY ALESSI

a Fireplace

The traditional Russian stove was a genuinely multifunctional piece. One object was functioned as a place for sleeping, cooking, and sometimes bathing, but most of all, it served to heat a living area. Today, all these functions are performed by different objects. Mostly decorative and sometimes unnecessary, a fireplace still is one of the center points of a place. And creative shapes make living area original and distinctive.

AGORAFOCUS 630 Focus

ZETA FIREPLACE JOHN DIMOPOULOS

a Buffet

The traditional Russian stove was a genuinely multifunctional piece. One object was functioned as a place for sleeping, cooking, and sometimes bathing, but most of all, it served to heat a living area. Today, all these functions are performed by different objects. Mostly decorative and sometimes unnecessary, a fireplace still is one of the center points of a place. And creative shapes make living area original and distinctive.

Bram Kerkhofs COIL

Front Mikado Cupboard

Buj+Colón Arquitectos

Here graphic designer gave me a visual symbol - so-called “Russian lace-windows.” By the way, the ballet dancer also gave me a reference to windows, but Soviet ugly cold windows. I can easily understand both connotations. I t was not a survey, just a question to my friends on Instagram. I was curious to check how differently we all percept such a trivial problem. I cannot say that I was surprised that most of the friends start to ask some additional information about the context. To me, it was essential to get the first impression, something subconscious. And I got it.