Russia. Winter. Inspiration

Many of you were wondering, from where i am from, especially , considering my name – Liubou. I am a child of USSR, was living in Belarus and Russia. Considering myself more from St.Petersburg (related to experience and more personal factors), than from any other place, even though i grew up in Hrodno, Belarus, which is absolutely amazing city.

Russian art, decor, fairy tales, ballet, culture, fashion – all of this influenced me tremendously. However, some people might not see it directly via my work. This weekend, i have been sick and looking outside window in Amsterdam, i was dreaming about the first snow, which i already saw is falling down in Russia. That is why i decided to make some inspirational board for Russian winter:) in case somebody wants something special at their homes and in their wardrobe.

Source: Cover of the James Bond movie ” From Russia with Love”.

Source: Vogue Russia.

Source: This moodboard, i have found on pinterest without any reference. But it looks sooo good!

And something from me:

Hopefully you can answer for me this question: ” What is Russia for you?”

Sources for my mood board:

1. Prettie Sweet.

2. Link 2.

3. Tatler Russia ( the full story with pics is under the link).

4. Madeleine de la Motte and Anya Ziourova for Tatler Russia, December, 2011.

5. Cox & Cox.

6. Tatler Russia.

Yours, KleinSpace

Small space flats in Russia or “Kommunalki”

I am sure, that many of you have expected from me this article long time ago. And here you come…a little bit of history (thank you Wiki):

A communal apartment or kommunalka (Russian: коммуналка, коммунальная квартира) appeared in the Soviet Union following the Russian revolution. Communal apartments emerged as a response to the housing crisis in urban areas and were a product of the “new collective vision of the future”. A communal apartment was typically shared between two to seven families. Each family had its own room, which served as a living room, dining room, and bedroom for the entire family. The hallways, kitchen, bathroom and telephone were shared among all the residents.^[1] The communal apartment was the predominant form of housing in the USSR for generations, and still exist in “the most fashionable central districts of large Russian cities. ^[2]

Source: SSG Photo.

Space in communal apartments was divided into common spaces and private rooms. Some people from their memories, are calling those apartments dysfunctional, something that you would be ashamed to show to people. In many soviet films, there always a moment, when people were losing themselves in the long corridors of Kommunalka and finding in the bathroom in the darkness. Scary, ya? 🙂

Entire families could live in a single overcrowded room, and share the rest of their life with neighbors. Almost nothing was hidden there, however, also you can see the benefits : people could help you if there any troubles. It was also a very big starting point of life of every single young soviet family. And my parents were also among them. Once people were getting THEIR OWN SMALL, but private apartment, the big celebration was in place, and neighbors were wondering, who will be the next one person, who would live there.

Now communal apartments are in a huge demand, in some of it you can see newly build hostels, some were bought by the very rich people, to combine all the rooms together and make a big huge flat. However, i wish people , especially young, would love it or join communal apartments more in Russia.