January 05, 2026 | DESIGN & INTERIORS
a QUIET HOUSE AMONG the PINES
words YUZU Editorial | photos Elizaveta Gurovskaya
Set within a pine forest and only a short walk from the edge of a calm lake, this country house was conceived as a lived-in retreat—one that balances daily life with a sense of withdrawal. Designed by interior designer Natalia Fedotova, the project draws on the restrained elegance of Belgian minimalism, translated into a domestic language that feels warm, practical, and quietly expressive.
REWORKING THE PLAN
Rather than working within the limits of the original developer’s plan, Fedotova chose to rethink the home from the inside out. A centrally placed winter garden was repurposed into a compact service core, housing a guest bathroom, a children’s washroom, pantry, and laundry. This move not only simplified the home’s technical infrastructure but also introduced a fluid, circular circulation—allowing daily life to unfold naturally, without interruption.
Materiality sets the tone. Natural wood surfaces meet micro-concrete floors, while subtle chrome accents introduce a precise, contemporary edge. The palette remains intentionally soft and organic, keeping attention where it belongs: on the expansive forest views framed by the windows. The architecture steps back, letting nature lead.
Moments of character appear quietly. An orange antoniolupi sink, vibrant cabinetry in the laundry room, and a curated mix of vintage lighting add rhythm without breaking the calm. Ceramics by Ekaterina Popova and artworks by contemporary artists—among them a linocut by V. Nasedkin and a painting by E. Bortnikov—are integrated with restraint, more discovered than displayed.
The result is a home that feels both minimal and alive. Calm, but never impersonal. Designed to support family life rather than dominate it, the interior acts as a quiet framework—one that ultimately defers to its most enduring feature: the forest and lake just beyond the glass.
