A coastal family home in Crimea brings the history of the region and the colours of its landscape indoors.
Guided by the ancient history, geology, and flora and fauna of the Black Sea, Russian interior designer Natasha Popov has designed a family home in Crimea that celebrates the region’s history and surrounding landscape.
Located in Balaklava, a settlement on the Crimean Peninsula that’s part of the city of Sevastopol, the 30-year-old, 6,358 square foot three-level house sits atop a hill that’s part of a canyon, overlooking spectacular views of nature and a nearby vineyard.
“With this home, there was no need to go far in search of complex nuanced colours for the design. It was enough to peer out through the windows at the landscape for inspiration,” Popov says.
“The sandy tones of layered limestone, mossy, coniferous and olive-green hues, and the dark brown shades of tree bark and soil, signalled that the interiors ought to be a logical continuation of the landscape.”
The property’s owners – a couple who wanted to raise their children in Sevastopol where they had grown up – requested a home with a modern Mediterranean aesthetic, and open roomy spaces that were bright and furnished with earthy, natural materials. They also wanted to retain the large garden, swimming pool, outdoor barbecue area and an old tree on the property’s grounds.
Because of its elevated position, the house had a façade that framed panoramic views of the canyon and nearby vineyard, and its many floor-to-ceiling windows drew the outdoor views inside. Aware of this asset, Popov developed the interiors to complement the views.
On the ground level is a spa with a sauna, a home cinema and bar, a laundry area, and a bedroom for service staff. This level has its own private entrance to the street level.
The first level, where the main entrance and all the communal areas are located, includes an entrance hall, living room, dining room, kitchen and pantry, office, gym, and guest bathroom.
On this first level, a predominantly Cycladic white colour scheme expands and brightens the public spaces.
“In the communal areas, I didn’t want to pollute the space with a multitude of shades and colours as the outside environment was already very colourful. So here, I used shapes and textures to create visual interest. In the hall, the centrepiece is the hand-crafted staircase, which is a visually ductile element that connects the first and the second floor,” Popov says.
In the hallway is a glass and travertine console by Italian mid-century modern architect Carlo Scarpa; a rattan chair designed by Dutch designer Dirk Van Sliedregt; two Michael Coffey 1970s wooden sideboards; vintage Italian sconces; and artwork by Crimean artist Anton Gudzykevych.
The living room composition includes a Hamilton Conte sofa upholstered in S. Harris fabric; two 1920s armchairs; a carpet from Didier Benichou Gallery; a 1950s vintage wall lamp by French designer Jean Royère; a 19th century Tiffany style floor lamp; African masks; and a sculpture of the Yugoslavia artist Dragoljub Milosevic set on a plinth.
The private areas, which include the master en suite bedroom, a dressing room, the children’s bedroom, the children’s playroom, and a children’s bathroom are located on the second level.
In the master bedroom, panoramic windows angled at 120 degrees, frame views of lush green slopes. Here, Popov chose a calming palette of pearl, sand, and pale green hues to create a contemplative mood. The wall behind the headboard is decorated with Phillip Jeffries wallpaper that mimics the layered structure of the nearby limestone rocks.
Above the wavy headboard are bespoke, shell-shaped ceramic sconces by Russian ceramicist Svetlana Levadna. The shell theme is repeated in the design of the M Carpet Atelier rug with a fossilised ammonite pattern, and in the decoration of the vintage French chandelier with mother-of-pearl petals. An archaeological artefact – an ancient amphora, raised from the bottom of the sea by the owners of the house with their own hands – is set on a plinth next to a window.
In the shower area of the master bedroom is a black glass mosaic that reflects different black shades – an ode to the reflection of the waters of the Black Sea in the evenings.
The children’s room, which was designed to feel safe and protected, has sisal-clad walls, carpeted floors, and a ceiling covered in Thibaut wallpaper with a black and white crayon-marking print.
The owner’s own collection of handmade home décor and artefacts, which includes ceramics, masks and many other artisanal objects, add warmth and personality to the overall design scheme, and are harmonised beautifully with Popov’s design concept.
“The owners are my close friends, and like them, I also grew up in Sevastopol, so I wanted to emphasise the beauty, which is everywhere in Crimea,” Popov says.
“This region has such a rich history, with an overlay of Scythian, Tatars, and Greek cultures. In a discreet space with strict forms and plain surfaces, the references to these ancient cultures are carefully woven into the design of this home.”
