Year 2025
Work started in 2025
Work finished in 2025
Total area 1640 m²
Status Completed works
Type Single-family residence / Interior design / Interior design / Styling
Project description
When the owners of this 1,640 m² country house approached interior designer Ekaterina Yakovenko, they had a clear request: the future home should feel bright, calm and easy to live in. As an active young family, their daily life moves between work, travel, sports and time spent together at home, so the house needed to accommodate different ways of living while maintaining a sense of coherence and comfort.
The project, named The Fifth Element, takes its title from the ancient concept of the five elements — earth, water, fire, air and ether. Rather than being interpreted literally, the concept quietly informs the material palette, atmosphere and spatial experience of the house, helping to bring the different parts of the interior into a harmonious whole.
The villa unfolds across two floors. The ground level combines representative and recreational functions: alongside the entrance hall, guest suite, study and guest bathroom, there is a 190 m² open-plan living area that brings together the lounge, dining room and main kitchen. A separate professional kitchen allows visiting chefs to work independently during events and family gatherings.
Large sliding doors connect the interior with a 150 m² terrace equipped with a barbecue area and outdoor lounge overlooking the garden. The same floor also houses a wellness zone with a 13-metre swimming pool, sauna and hammam, as well as practical spaces including a laundry room and staff apartment.
The upper floor is reserved for private life and accommodates five bedrooms: two children’s rooms, two master suites and an additional guest bedroom.
From the outset, natural light became one of the project’s defining design tools. Expansive floor-to-ceiling glazing frames views of the surrounding landscape while drawing daylight deep into the interior throughout the day. In the evening, the atmosphere shifts through a carefully planned lighting scheme based on soft, diffused illumination rather than dramatic contrasts.
The material palette remains deliberately restrained. Marble flooring runs through the main living areas, while natural stone clads the fireplace. Bronze-toned surfaces define the kitchen, creating a subtle contrast with the cream-coloured furniture used throughout the shared spaces. Titanium-finished brass details add depth and refinement without overwhelming the calm, neutral palette.
Travertine appears in custom-designed pieces, including the entrance tables and the dresser in the master bedroom, while oak introduces warmth and texture to the more intimate rooms. Throughout the house, natural materials are used consistently, creating visual continuity across the expansive interior.
Furniture was selected with equal attention to aesthetics and everyday practicality. The kitchen, produced by Key Cucina, was customised specifically for the project and includes storage solutions tailored to the family’s daily routines. In the living room, seating by Henge is arranged around the fireplace, while a circular Poltrona Frau daybed creates a quiet focal point within the composition.
Several spaces feature bespoke elements designed specifically for the house. In the guest bedroom, a decorative gypsum panel was created from the designer’s sketches, while the study is distinguished by oak-veneered wall panels with softly curved forms.
Technology is integrated discreetly throughout the villa. A smart home system controls lighting, climate and technical functions, allowing the owners to manage the house efficiently while preserving the calm and uncluttered character of the interiors.
Despite its scale, the house never feels monumental. Natural light, carefully selected materials and a measured architectural rhythm create an environment that supports everyday life while maintaining a strong sense of identity and connection to its surroundings.
Interior designer Ekaterina