Cozy Minimalism: Villa in Mediterranean Style in Crimea

"Asymptotic," "flat," "hospital-like" - sometimes minimalism's characteristics sound so unappealing that few would dare choose this style for a family home. However, minimalism can be different - we confirmed this with the example of a villa built by architect Alexey Nikolashin in Crimea. The cozy, minimalist and bright space here is ensured by warm natural materials and quality soft furniture, while the positive emotions and colors come from panoramic windows with a magnificent view of Guryevskaya Bay.

General Information

Location: Guryevskaya, Crimea
Area: 900 square meters
Designer: Alexey Nikolashin

Client and Preferences

This villa is located in the old Guryevskaya Park in Crimea, in the villa estate "Villa Rose". At the time of construction, it was purchased by a large family with small children - our old clients, for whom we had already completed several projects.

We had to slightly reconfigure the building to meet the individual requirements of its new owners, who dreamed of a large family house designed in modern Mediterranean style.

Layout

The estate is located on a hill covered with century-old trees. Therefore, it was important for us to design each building so that none of them would suffer. The P-shaped layout of this villa determined a large oak tree, which became the central element of the composition: we built the structure around the tree and placed a pool in front of it.

The construction is arranged in terraces, and looks different from each side. The levels are connected both inside and outside. On the upper level, we provided a garage. Below, on a white marble pebble path, there is a terrace for relaxation and yoga.

On the first living level, we arranged the living room, fireplace room, guest room, kitchen, and main bedroom with a terrace. Here we designed a pergola - a structure made of small wooden slats - that makes the space more intimate, not visible from all sides. It is completed with a glass roof.

On the level below, the house is divided into two wings, accessible via staircases. In one wing, we created a spa (hammam, spacious showers, rooms for rest and various procedures), children's playroom, and guest bedrooms. There is also a wine cellar with optimal temperature control. The other wing is dedicated entirely to children.

As for the lower terrace, it features a pool.

Finishing

Since the clients wanted a good modern Mediterranean-style exterior, we used white plaster, wood, stone, and lots of glass for the facade finishes - large panoramic windows now offer a breathtaking view of the sea.

The interior was executed in a rather minimalist style, and we also used exclusively natural materials for the finishing. In regular rooms (living room, kitchen, corridors), the walls and ceiling are painted. However, in bedrooms, wardrobe, and bathroom, we used oak for accent walls. The floors throughout are made of oak planks.

Storage

In the interior, we managed to avoid cluttering with wardrobes and furniture by allocating separate spaces for storage systems. Near the main bedroom, there is a dedicated wardrobe - it is lined with oak. At the entrance, we provided a spacious closet for all necessary items - seasonal, adult, and children's clothing.

The basement features a wine cellar where the proper temperature is maintained - here the homeowners store wines and pickles.

Lighting

Panoramic windows occupy a large portion of vertical surfaces - the house is flooded with natural light. Therefore, we could manage with just two lighting scenarios. In the interior, built-in technical lighting is provided in the ceiling (it illuminates corridors, soft zones, and kitchen at night), as well as side lighting: floor lamps placed near soft furniture that provide comfort.

The color palette is very light - we preferred white, gray, and wood tones. All walls, as well as the ceiling, are almost white. The palette is complemented by a warm wood tone. Terraces are made in contrast to the wooden, reddish-brown facade cladding. For their finishing, we used Crimean basalt with a cool gray tone.

Furniture

Modern minimalist furniture from good Italian brands appeared in the interior - Flexform, Maxalto Alto, B&B Italia, and Modul Nova (on the kitchen). Outdoor furniture was also ordered from B&B, Kitau, and Roda - all the most beautiful and loved brands for outdoor furniture.

Decoration and Textiles

Since the landscape outside the window became an important part of the interior and it's nearly impossible to look away from it, there is little decor here. The asceticism is balanced only by paintings from the client's collection, including works by local artists.

As for textiles, we ordered from the Moscow company "Savva Design" - light tulle and dense curtains in rooms where they are needed. Due to the many windows in the house, for comfort, we made curtains with electric drive - they can be moved using a remote control.

Style

I call this style warm or cozy minimalism. Since the style is modern, with strict lines and nothing superfluous, it fits in very well here, as appropriate, because the surrounding environment is key: sea, Bear Mountain, Guryevskaya Bay. The house is located at a height, above the sea. In the interior, we kept everything to a minimum because it is complemented by the magnificent view outside the window.

Challenges

All of this is located on a steep slope, and the soil has some mobility. All houses move slightly, so sometimes windows broke or ceilings cracked. However, by using specific technologies, we managed to avoid this. The house has been standing for a long time now, and such things no longer happen.

Timeline

The project implementation took us about one and a half years.

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