{"id":3286,"date":"2012-07-05T10:00:04","date_gmt":"2012-07-05T10:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=3286"},"modified":"2014-07-17T18:31:46","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T18:31:46","slug":"decorate-like-a-russian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/decorate-like-a-russian\/","title":{"rendered":"Decorate Like a Russian"},"content":{"rendered":"

From my philosophy course I remember that \u0431\u044b\u0442\u0438\u0435<\/span> \u043e\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0435\u043b\u044f<\/span>\u0435\u0442 \u0441\u043e\u0437\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435<\/strong> (being determines consciousness). Understanding Russian\/Soviet\/post-Soviet\/New Russian consciousness just from reading about the environment or even travelling to Russia for a few weeks is just like trying to understand what \u043c\u0430\u0440\u0430\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0439\u044f<\/strong> (passion fruit) tastes like from reading about it or looking at pictures.<\/p>\n

That’s what in-country language immersion programs are about. But if you can’t travel to Russia, then how about bringing Russia (or at least part of it) to you. \u00a0With this in mind, let’s get busy re-decorating your living room, Russian style.<\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong> This is a post mostly about Soviet-era decor. However, many Russians I know still live with and in that style. Sure, the furniture is no longer the horrible Soviet \u0433\u0440\u043e\u0431\u044b<\/span><\/strong> (lit: coffins), but rather expensive Italian \u0433\u0430\u0440\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0443<\/span>\u0440\u044b<\/strong> (here: furniture sets). But the polished wood, glass and mirrored surfaces, elaborate window dressings are still here. But guess what? So are the potted plants and beautiful tea sets, and family pictures and many other things that make Russian homes such a wonderful mix of coziness and kitsch.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

First thing first, you must wallpaper your walls. I am not sure why \u043a\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (paint) alone doesn\u2019t cut it. But a nice \u043e\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0438<\/strong> (wallpaper) is a must-have if you are decorating Russian-style and no, wall border won\u2019t do. Ok, let\u2019s define nice now. Go for either vertical stripes or small flowers or a combination of both. Or you can go with \u0444\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u043e \u043e\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0438<\/strong> (photo murals)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

While your wallpaper is drying, go buy the largest \u043a\u043e\u0432\u0451<\/span>\u0440<\/strong> (carpet) you can find for your money. Every single apartment I\u2019ve ever been to in Russia had at least one room with \u043a\u043e\u0432\u0451<\/span>\u0440 \u043d\u0430 \u0441\u0442\u0435\u043d\u0435<\/span><\/strong> (a carpet hung on a wall). The style of carpet is important, so listen carefully. It MUST be \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0434\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u043a\u043e\u0432\u0451<\/span>\u0440<\/strong> (Persian carpet). No money for a real deal? No worries, a fake one will do just fine.<\/p>\n

Back home, \u043f\u043e\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u044c\u0442\u0435 \u043a\u043e\u0432\u0451<\/span>\u0440 \u043d\u0430 \u0441\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0443<\/strong> (hang the carpet on the wall) and while you\u2019re at it, take down the ceiling fan. Replace it with a real \u043b\u044e<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430<\/strong> (chandelier), a pride and joy of many Russian households even if it is \u0441\u0442\u0435\u043a\u043b\u044f<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u0430\u044f<\/strong> (made of glass) and not \u0445\u0440\u0443\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0430\u044f<\/strong> (made of crystal) one. If any of your American friends question your choice, explain that it adds drama.<\/p>\n

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With all this \u043a\u043e\u0441\u043c\u0435\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0440\u0435\u043c\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u0442<\/strong> (redecorating) out of the way, it\u2019s time to bring in the furniture. Hold on, not your old stuff. Instead, first thing that will go in is \u0441\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (wall unit). Here\u2019s something to look for when selecting a proper \u0441\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u0430<\/strong>. To begin with, it must be long enough to go along one entire \u0441\u0442\u0435\u043d\u0430<\/span><\/strong> (wall) in your room. Avoid \u043e\u0442\u043a\u0440\u044b<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u0435 \u043f\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (open shelves) and instead opt for lots of doors, including large glass doors. Whether you choose \u0442\u0451<\/span>\u043c\u043d\u043e\u0435<\/strong> (dark) or \u0441\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u043b\u043e\u0435<\/strong> (light) \u0434\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0435\u0432\u043e<\/strong>\u00a0(wood) is not nearly as important as it being \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0430\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0435<\/strong> (polished, glassy surface).<\/p>\n

Now you can bring back whatever couch you have and cover it with another fake Persian rug or any kind of \u043f\u043b\u0435\u0434<\/strong> (throw blanket). Have room enough for \u043a\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u043e<\/strong> (arm chair)? Make sure it matches the couch. No eclectic or flea market style is allowed.<\/p>\n

And now it\u2019s time to decorate windows. Window dressings are not optional in a Russian-style home. And \u0436\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044e\u0437\u0438<\/strong> (blinds) alone do not count as \u043f\u043e\u043b\u043d\u043e\u0446\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439<\/strong> (adequate) window coverings. You will need at least \u0448\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u044b<\/strong> (flat window panels). But why not go with \u0433\u0430\u0440\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u044b<\/strong> (draperies) complete with \u043b\u0430\u043c\u0431\u0440\u0435\u043a\u0435<\/span>\u043d<\/strong> (window scarf) and a set of \u0442\u044e<\/span>\u043b\u0435\u0432\u044b\u0435 \u0448\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u044b<\/strong> (lace curtains) behind them.<\/p>\n

Hey, you\u2019re almost done! It\u2019s time to accessorise. Start with the wall unit. Remember, I told you to get the one with lots of \u0441\u0442\u0435\u043a\u043b\u044f<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u0434\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0446\u044b<\/strong> (glass doors)? That\u2019s where you will need to put lots and lots of \u0441\u0443\u0432\u0435\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0440\u044b<\/strong> (souvenirs) and \u0431\u0435\u0437\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0443<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (tchotchkes), no matter how cheesy. Oh, family photos will go here to. No need to frame them either. Just prop them against a porcelain ballerina or a set of \u043c\u0430\u0442\u0440\u0451<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (nesting dolls).<\/p>\n

\n

But I almost forgot one very important thing. Your \u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0441\u0435\u0440\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0437<\/strong> (tea service) and \u0445\u0440\u0443\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u0444\u0443\u0436\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u044b<\/strong> (tall crystal glasses) will take a place of honor behind the glass doors of your \u0441\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u0430<\/strong>. Don\u2019t tell me you haven\u2019t got \u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0441\u0435\u0440\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0437<\/strong>! Ok, so you might be a bit broke after all this redecorating. But at least get the fanciest \u0444\u0430\u0440\u0444\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u0432\u044b\u0439<\/strong> (made of porcelain) \u0437\u0430\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u0447\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u043d\u0438\u043a<\/strong> (teapot) you can find.<\/p>\n

\n

Finally, you\u2019ll need plenty of \u0434\u043e\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u0440\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f<\/strong> (house plants), a few \u043a\u0440\u0443\u0436\u0435\u0432\u043d\u044b<\/span>\u0435 \u0441\u0430\u043b\u0444\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (doilies), \u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0437\u0430 \u0434\u043b\u044f \u0446\u0432\u0435\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0432<\/strong> (a flower vase) or \u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0437\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0430 \u0434\u043b\u044f \u043a\u043e\u043d\u0444\u0435<\/span>\u0442<\/strong> (a small candy bowl) and you are done!<\/p>\n

Now invite your friends over \u043d\u0430 \u0447\u0430\u0435\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u0435<\/strong> (to tea), but don\u2019t forget to set out enough \u0434\u043e\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (house slippers) for them to change into.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From my philosophy course I remember that \u0431\u044b\u0442\u0438\u0435 \u043e\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0435\u043b\u044f\u0435\u0442 \u0441\u043e\u0437\u043d\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0435 (being determines consciousness). Understanding Russian\/Soviet\/post-Soviet\/New Russian consciousness just from reading about the environment or even travelling to Russia for a few weeks is just like trying to understand what \u043c\u0430\u0440\u0430\u043a\u0443\u0439\u044f (passion fruit) tastes like from reading about it or looking at pictures. That’s what in-country…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3,913],"tags":[117624,117625,117623,117622],"class_list":["post-3286","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-culture","category-traditions","tag-apartments-in-russia","tag-carpet-on-the-wall","tag-soviet-decor","tag-soviet-furniture"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3286"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3286\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6471,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3286\/revisions\/6471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}