The ‘opulent home’ is and has never been a stranger to Russian history. In fact, in Russia, the idea of too much (in some circles at least) seems a strange concept. The French Royals nearly bankrupted their nation in order to complete Versailles. What was the Russian Tsar’s response? To build Peterhof Palace, a loose replica of Versailles, as a summer home!
Following this culture of opulence and decadence, the ruling class was torn down and chased from their luxury estates and the country went from a ruling-class system, where capitalism was king, to socialism. Under the Soviet rule, architecture became grey, structured and stripped of creative expression.
After the fall of the socialist regime, a new cultural revolution has been sweeping Russia for decades. As if making up for the “drought”, Russians are now indulging to the point of extreme in all things luxury and, well, over the top.
One of these indulgent-devotees is Giya Eradze, the eccentric Director of the Royal Circus of Russia. His love for flamboyant opulence led him to interior designer Tatyana Myronova that perhaps understood this vision better than anyone else.
“Our people, especially those who grew up in the Soviet Union in the same soulless interiors, should be able to express themselves, show their individuality. And we, as professionals, have to hear, understand and make a customer such an interior in which he will be living, incredibly comfortable and cool.”
Tatyana Myronova
The design of the home is truly eclectic. It is a combination of neo-classicism, contemporary, art deco, baroque and Regency… all dipped in gold. With such a unique vision, the Moscow-based interior designer and architect turned to a company that understands this unique blend (and gold) better than anyone else, Covet House.
With brands like Boca Do Lobo, Delightfull, Brabbu, Koket, Maison Valentina, Circu, Luxxu, Essential Home, Rug’society, Foogo and Pullcast all in the Covet House ‘stable’ to choose from, finding the right items and blends within these was in itself a mammoth task. Finally, the brands Boca do Lobo and Koket were selected and the project slowly came to life.
The interior is a blend of Imperial splendour harking back to the glamorous past of Russia with ultra-contemporary pieces touching on the current and future.
The main theme of ‘animals’ is evident in almost every space from the Peacock Golden Camilia Armoire to the Butterfly Gold Mademoiselle Armoire.
It is a bold space where various textures, elements and design blend into a gilded fantasy world.
To make it a space that would easily remind who it belonged to, she included three key things in her design: gold, animals, and Versace.
One of the most fascinating pieces in this opulent home has to be the armchair, Imperfectio, by Boca do Lobo.
The brand commented on the significance of this design, “The living room’s decoration, especially the armchair, expresses imperfection and, at the same time, confluency between its pieces of furniture. is the expression of imperfect aesthetic, the appeal of that which is authentic art that is truer to life. Imperfectio armchair praises artisanal work as the ultimate form of art that is quite intentionally imperfect. Through its unique existence and shapes, Imperfectio armchair determines its own history. Some parts are roughly asymmetrical at the surface yet comfortable and smooth in a peculiar way to excite a desire for complementing this extravagant living room.”
The irregularities and flaws over the manual hammered brass expose the beauty of imperfection.
Boca do Lobo
This truly unique and opulent home is not just an indulgence in decadence but an indulgence in self. It is a world where the eccentric mind of its owner has been brought to life. A world where fantasy becomes reality and flamboyant decadence the norm.
