ELLE DECORATION visiting photographer Vladimir Glynin
Famous designers, decorators and stars of the interior industry invite everyone who has to stay at home to visit. The next virtual tour will take place in the house of the photographer Vladimir Glynin near Moscow. Stay tuned!
How did you choose this house?
From the very beginning, I was looking for a forest plot in a picturesque place away from Moscow and, of course, with the opportunity to build a house according to an individual project. I decided to search myself. And found it quickly enough. Then the search for an architect began. As a professional photographer who is ordered to shoot, I understood how important it is to find “my own” architect. On the one hand, I approximately knew what I wanted, on the other hand, I understand how important it is to give freedom to an artist if you want to get a cool result. Therefore, the choice of a person whom you will trust and whose aesthetics are close to you is very important, and this is the customer's area of responsibility. I went over a large number of names and even met someone, but the feeling that I had found "my" person did not come.
I met the future architect of my house, Zurab Arabidze, by chance at an exhibition (although I don’t believe in chance!). An hour later, a friend introduced us again, giving him the best recommendations as a very talented artist (his picture hangs in my house) and an architect. This is how we started to work.
What was the main idea behind the interior design? What did you manage in the house, and what would you redo?
As usual, I seriously prepared for the first meeting. I made a moodboard and clearly prescribed all the functionality I needed in the house. Literally for the next meeting, Zurab brought the project of the house, which we implemented. To be honest, it took me a while to agree to his proposal. The layout of the rooms was impeccable, but the strictly minimalist architecture scared me back then. I was afraid the house would be too cold. And how glad I am now that Zurab did not make any compromises with me, as a customer, and convinced me not to change anything in the project. He built an impeccable house in which I feel very good to this day. I don't want to change or redo anything here.
A little about the layout. Despite the smoothly flowing spaces into each other, the house has a very clear structure. The first floor is divided into a personal half (bedroom, bathroom and dressing room), a common area (living room, kitchen, dining room) and a relaxation area (a room for sports, meditation, where my office, sauna and spa with a bathtub in the floor moved during isolation). Since I like to spend a lot of time outside, on the ground floor there is a large terrace with a fireplace, various armchairs, loungers and a dining table. It is partially located under the second floor, which makes it closed from any bad weather. The second floor is entirely guest: two bedrooms, living room / library and bathroom. There, however, there is also a huge terrace, and only for this reason I sometimes go upstairs. This layout is very convenient: when I'm alone in the house, it allows me to use only those spaces that I need, and when I have guests, they have a whole floor assigned to them, where they can relax from communicating with the owner :) ..
What is your favorite place in the house?
I feel very good here both alone and with friends. Here I really rest and reboot. Large floor-to-ceiling windows flood the house with light even in cloudy weather and allow me to enjoy nature all year round. There are many favorite places: this is my bedroom, and the bathroom in the floor overlooking the garden, and armchairs by the fireplace. But, probably, most of the time I spend behind the island in the kitchen. From there, there is an excellent view on both sides, there I cook a lot and drink a cup of my morning coffee. Yes, and with friends we most often sit outside the island.
Your ideal day at home?
Almost every day is perfect for me, largely due to the space in which I feel very good. After all, where we live strongly influences us and in many ways shapes us. I like to get up early, if not a friendly gathering the night before. I usually start my day with sports and, of course, with a walk with my Norwich Terrier Jax, most often in the woods. Then a couple of cups of freshly brewed coffee with a cigarette. I learned not to go into social networks in the morning - it interferes with my mood, I just sit, drink coffee and look at nature outside the window. Late breakfast, deliciously cooked. Then read something or work on an idea for a new project. Dig a little in the garden and…. it’s time to cook dinner. A bottle of wine opens, I begin to slowly cook, and then there may be several scenarios: some movie, or a book, or a glass of tincture by the fireplace. When guests arrive, everything is the same, but much more active.
