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“For me, the quality of life transcends mere material wealth. It’s not solely defined by the size of one’s income or the abundance of expensive possessions,” Kucherova muses. “Instead, it’s about cherishing the richness of each moment and savouring the ability to derive joy from the present moment.”

It’s an ideology that spills into her interior designs, going hand-in-hand with her deep understanding of clients’ lifestyles. Through the understanding of what is genuinely valuable to them, and what luxury and quality interiors mean for them, in order to create tangible interiors that “truly feel at home and are filled with positive energy, and not just to create rooms with beautifully arranged furniture,” she adds.

Kucherova mirrored a similar approach when it came to designing her own home.

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Besides minor renovations to alter the roof, the layout of the garden, and the entrance group, Kucherova looked to nature’s ever-changing palette right at her doorstep for the wholesome design indoors.

“I tried to design the interior in such a way that it doesn’t argue or distract from what’s happening outside during the different seasons,” details the interior designer, who was inspired by Dutch designer Marcel Wolterinck’s indoor-outdoor concept. 

This is indisputable from the outset through the entrance hall with white panelled walls, a neutral palette of off-whites, soothing greys and pearl whites that permeate the two-storey home with five bedrooms.

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To match the subdued colours, Kucherova chose the most ecological and natural materials for finishings, each embodying a commitment to beauty and tactile comfort: natural stone, walls with Argile paints containing natural dyes, Yana Svetlova’s ecological wallpapers with natural sisal, and natural wood flooring.

“Regardless of the brand’s price and popularity, what truly matters to me is the item’s aesthetic appeal, comfort, and tactile quality,” she explains. “When visiting the marble warehouse, I’d walk on the tiles barefoot, because it was crucial to select a stone that was as cosy and tactile as possible with minimal to no slip.”

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Such eco-conscious material selections include the practical and cost-effective Jura limestone for the flooring, a natural stone formed from sedimentation through millions of years of weathering and erosion.

Half the price of the more preferred marble, such sediment resulted in the stone’s defining features: a plethora of fossilised creatures, such as ammonites and belemnites–making each piece of stone unique and inimitable. 

“It's not as decorative as marble, but it gives a sense of cosiness and calm, whereas marble is more about grandeur,” Kucherova elaborates. “I was also captivated by the interesting form of shells and small fossilised twigs, many of which resemble funny characters that my son and I would constantly invent stories about.”

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Layered upon these thoughtful material choices are nuanced furniture pieces that align with the interior designer’s values.

“I’m drawn to brands with personal narratives, like Italian brand Riva 1920’s furniture–their pieces are crafted from natural wood with emphasis on manual processing, timelessness, and environmental care,” she says.

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Kucherova also integrated vintage pieces to infuse history and character into the home. These include exquisite glass items from iconic Italian brands and designers like Carlo Scarpa and Mazzega, and the refined metal panel from C.Jeré that adorns the custom Taj Mahal marble fireplace.

“I was also fortunate to connect with local ceramic artisans, such as Maria Kolosovskaya and Marina Akilova  for decor accessories, with whom I’m already brainstorming new projects together,” she adds.

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As much as the home captures Kucherova’s ideals and creativity, it is also a space for her two sons to run wild with their boundless imagination.

Inspired by the Montessori system, Kucherova collaborated with Yuri Syrkov, a passionate designer of children’s spaces, for a child-friendly environment based on play scenarios.

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The play area includes a second attic floor and a table for crafts, expanding into the garden, where a small wooden house nestled amidst the shady trees with a board for drawing.

“I decided to abandon excessive decorativeness, and create for them a world as clean as a canvas, where they can create different worlds every day–a pirate ship, a space station, a racing track and more,” she smiles.

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