Articulated with natural materials, carefully curated furniture and generous openings, this ultra-chic home is both a celebration of its breathtaking location in Balaklava, Crimea and an embodiment of the spirit of the French Riviera.
Who Lives Here A family of four and staff
Home A three-storey landed home in Sevastopol, Crimea
Size 6,458 sq ft
Interior Designer Natasha Popov
Overlooks a Hilly Vineyard
Nestled in the sloping site with a breathtaking view overlooking a vineyard and cradled by a hilly landscape near the Black Sea, this family home in Sevastopol, Crimea, is a celebration of its location, occupants and an embodiment of the spirit of the French Riviera.
The homeowners, a middle-aged couple who grew up in the city, were expecting twin boys when they bought the land.
They decided to do away with the neglected 30-year-old existing house in the plot and enlisted architect Elena Pershina to design a new three-storey home and their long-time friend, interior designer and decorator Natasha Popov, to put its interiors together.
![bal0128_1-724x1024-1 The kitchen has an alcove with shelves displaying the owner’s ceramics collection.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bal0128_1-724x1024-1.jpg)
Open Spaces, Natural Light
Their design brief requested a modern home with open spaces, ample light and natural materials.
Growing up in Sevastopol herself, Natasha pays tribute to the coastal landscape’s beauty by drawing inspiration from the heritage of the Crimean Peninsula, its terrain, and its native flora and sea life.
She combined these elements with the handmade touch of the French Riviera she often featured in her projects. Placed inside Elena’s architectural shell, the result beautifully complements the landscape.
![bal0096-744x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bal0096-744x1024-1.jpg)
Modernist Home: 6,458 sq ft (or 599 sqm)
The exterior of the sprawling, 6,458 sq ft home is decidedly modernist: all straight lines, whitewashed surfaces and generous glazed openings.
The interior architecture is softer, featuring more curvy elements, including the staircase and arched niches. Large windows bring natural light and the vista in, while white walls add a certain lightness to the space.
Hugging the land’s slope, the house receives its dwellers and guests via the main entrance located on the first floor.
This level hosts the communal social spaces, including the living and dining room, kitchen and pantry, gym, powder room, dressing room for seasonal clothes, and the home office.
![bal0037-768x1024-1 Dark-stained high-back Dirk Van Sliedregt vintage rattan chair creates a contrast with the gentle curves of the staircase and the glass console.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bal0037-768x1024-1.jpg)
![bal0058_1-768x1024-1 A planter placed on the windowsill complements the vista.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bal0058_1-768x1024-1.jpg)
Ground Floor: Relax & Entertainment Spaces, Home Spa
The first half of the ground floor, which has its own discreet entrance to the street level, houses live-in staff rooms, guest rooms and amenities like laundry rooms. The other half is dedicated to relaxation and entertainment spaces, including a spa with a sauna, a home theatre and a bar.
![bal0004_1-768x1024-1 Phillip Jefries’ sisal wallcovering with cold tint gilding gives a luxe sheen to the home office.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bal0004_1-768x1024-1.jpg)
Second Floor: Bedrooms & Bathrooms
Meanwhile, the second floor houses the family’s most private spaces, including the master suite, children’s bedroom and bathroom, and another dressing room.
Most of these boast a sweeping view of the valley and the nearby vineyard, to which Natasha matched the decor’s colour palette.
![bal0297-1024x795-1 An arched niche, timber coffee table, woven cane and rug create a layered texture.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bal0297-1024x795-1.jpg)
Natural Materials: Light Browns, Olives
Throughout the house, natural materials in shades of light brown and olives that include travertine, handmade ceramics, walnut veneer and limestone, complement the natural vista framed by windows with minimalist trimmings.
Furniture A Mix of Old & New
The furnishings are a mix of old and new. “The owners had several favourite items I found a place for in the new house,” says Natasha. These include the Tiffany floor lamp in the living room, an antique bureau in the bedroom, and a collection of paintings around the house that add delightful colour pops.
![bal0254-781x1024-1 Scalloped edges, seashell vintage pendant light and carpet with spiral motif from M Carpet Atelier are subtle nods to the marine life theme.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bal0254-781x1024-1.jpg)
Hamilton & Conte Sofa, Guilherme Armchairs
Natasha helped the owners curate the new pieces and went shopping with them overseas. The living room’s Hamilton & Conte sofa and the bedroom’s 1960s Guilherme armchairs were bought in Paris, while the first-floor lobby’s Carlo Scarpa-style console was found in Brussels. The rest of the furniture and decor were custom-designed by Natasha.
![bal0226-803x1024-1 The children’s bathroom features whimsical marine and coastal elements while keeping the look timeless.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bal0226-803x1024-1.jpg)
Coastal Minimalist Interior Design
The house’s overall look might be coastal minimalist, but Natasha is not allergic to infusing some whimsy into the decor where they are suitable. The children’s spaces, for instance, have a marine life theme taken from Balaklava, the name of the area the house is located.
The Tatar word for Balaklava translates to “fish bag”, alluding to the shape of the Balaklava Bay, which resembles a bag that captures and contains the swimming schools of fish that enter it.
Meanwhile, subtler and more grown-up nautical shapes appear in the parents’ and communal spaces, like the coral-shaped wall sconces in the master bedroom and first-floor hallway, which were sculpted by ceramist Svetlana Levadna based on Natasha’s sketch.
“I like the style of French Riviera interiors, and I wanted to bring this spirit of creativity and handicraft to this house, too,” says Natasha. “It seems that everything worked out in this way.”