Furniture in the style of the 70s. Such a different Soviet interior style

I have long wanted to write a post about what furniture was like in the USSR. Until about the mid-1990s, my parents’ apartment was furnished with typical Soviet “mass” furniture produced in the 1970s-80s, and in old apartment grandmother, I saw many examples of old “artisan” furniture made in the fifties.

So, in this post there is a story about Soviet furniture and how apartments were furnished in.

02. Until about the beginning of the 1960s, what is now called “mass-produced furniture” did not exist in the USSR - when standard cabinets, tables, racks, etc. were cut from chipboard sheets, furniture production in those years was most often carried out small production, as well as artels, such furniture was most often made from solid inexpensive wood (glued pine boards), plywood (both veneered and regular), and also simply from boards.

This is what the kitchen looked like in the photo below: ordinary apartment In the 1950s, white painted wooden cabinets and sideboards were popular furniture options. The buffet was used both for storing and preparing food - in top cabinet the cupboard (glassed) was used to store dishes, in the lower one - all sorts of pots and bulk products, and working surface The buffet (countertop) was used, for example, for cutting food.

Since the late 1950s, such a buffet stood in my grandmother’s old apartment in Minsk on Berestyanskaya Street, and it survived almost until the mid-2000s, I remember it very well.

03. Here's another very good example kitchen interior a la the USSR from the period before the 1960s. While everyday concept“interiors in such and such a style” simply did not exist; apartments were furnished with whatever was necessary. Very often in the kitchen of that time one could find pre-revolutionary furniture, especially all sorts of cabinets and sideboards - they, as a rule, were made of high-quality wood and served for a very long time; they began to get rid of them en masse only during the move to small-sized Khrushchev-era apartments.

According to the famous St. Petersburg anthropologist Ilya Utekhin, in the 1960s and 70s, Leningrad garbage dumps were littered with antique furniture that simply did not fit into new small-sized apartments; they got rid of it en masse, replacing it with modern chipboard furniture.

04. The interiors of living rooms in those years also did not look very presentable. This picture perfectly conveys the details of the Soviet interior of those years - a mixture of ornate pre-revolutionary objects, cheap artel furniture (painted stools), homemade bookshelves. Furniture was placed, as a rule, strictly around the perimeter of the room; only a table could stand in the middle.

05. The interior of a rich (by Soviet standards) house could look something like this; in the photo there is very expensive, by the standards of that time, solid veneer furniture in the Art Deco style. Not an ordinary citizen of the USSR could afford such a set.

06. Typical Soviet furniture began to appear en masse in the 1960s; the need for such furniture became obvious after the resettlement of communal apartments began and families moved to Khrushchev-era buildings. The design of standard furniture at that time was carried out by the so-called. "All-Union Design and Technological Institute of Furniture" (VPKTIM), it was created in 1962 and essentially copied the developments Western countries, the same Swedish IKEA, which since the second half of the 1950s has been making assembled furniture transported in flat packages.

In general, following developed countries, in the USSR they also began to make “square” furniture; it fit well into small-sized apartments and was multifunctional, which is also especially important when there is a lack of space. For example, in different compartments of the same closet linen, dishes, books and documents could be stored at the same time - in big apartment for the same purposes it was possible to buy a separate chest of drawers, a display cabinet, a rack and a secretary.

According to the designers' sketches, the ideal Soviet apartment of the 1960s should have looked something like this:

07. In reality it turned out closer to something like this. Furniture surfaces coated with a hard, shiny varnish were considered especially chic; in the 1960s and 1970s, such sideboards (after brush-painted chests of drawers) looked very formal and expensive - they were reserved for the best place in the room, and inside they kept silverware and crystal, which were either never used or used only on exceptional occasions.

By the way, polished sideboards filled old dishes, can still be found in.

08. Around the same time (late 1960s - early 1970s), polished “walls” began to appear in houses, and they were in almost every Soviet apartment. “Walls” produced in the socialist camp were considered especially high quality, but not on the territory of the USSR - in the GDR, Romania or Poland. The “wall” was usually placed in the very big room in the house and had many functions - valuable services, books, clothes, etc. were stored in it, and photographs or simply beautiful pictures were often displayed on glass shelves.

By the way, it was partly because of the “walls” that he was born - in the USSR, people massively bought books (twenty-five-volume editions of all sorts of Tolstoys, Nekrasovs and Prishvins) simply “for the interior” and to fill the empty space of the shelves.

09. The standardized “upholstered” furniture of those years looked quite scary. It was noticeable that the designers tried to copy samples from Western catalogs, but at the same time these samples were most often never seen in person, plus local “production specifics” were imposed.

While studying at the Faculty of Industrial Design, I heard a lot interesting stories about how they designed household things in the USSR - the designer drew a beautiful vacuum cleaner, went to the designer, who told him “here you have “hidden connection” written, we can’t do that, we only have KV-14 screws.” Then the designer went to the paint shop, and there he said: “here you have it written” blue paint with a metallic tint", this is not in stock, there is yellow oil enamel KT-116".

In short, what ended up happening was:

10. Back in Soviet times small apartments you could often find carpets - they were hung on walls most often for sound insulation, but that’s a completely different story)

Do you remember Soviet furniture? How were your apartments furnished in those years?

Tell me, it’s interesting)

In today's article we will introduce you to the incomparable and creative options modern design interior with interesting elements and furniture designed in the style of the 70s of the last century.

We know the thought of this era makes you shudder. This period was different bright colors in decor, unexpected combination of textures and objects furniture set, bold patterns on textiles and other unusual elements. Many call this time the “era of bad taste.”

However, now designers boldly use this style in decorating apartments, as it can give them incredible color, grace and authenticity. In our new article we will present to your attention the main features of this bizarre style.

Ring phones. These interior items look extremely stylish and impressive. They can decorate the space of any apartment.

Dynamic curves. This style is characterized by rugs, sofas, tables and window openings with round outlines.

Large abstract paintings. They are creative elements that instantly attract people's gaze.

Fabric with a checkered pattern. It can be used for upholstering sofas, decorating curtains and curtains, as well as chair covers.

A Western look from Los Angeles craftsmen. Upholstery with a lattice pattern, voluminous coffee tables with original legs and bright yellow pillows perfectly demonstrate the character of the era.

Malibu surfer chic. This style is calm and relaxed. A Moroccan carpet, a wooden set, and an exquisite painting bring freshness and charm to the decor.

Brown and orange shades. This direction is characterized by a rich palette. You can choose two to decorate your dream home rich colors, and also dilute them with neutral textiles on the windows and light furniture.

Natural wallpaper. This wall covering is currently available to customers in a wide range of colors. Designers love the rich texture of this finishing material.

Shine of chrome. Metal furniture and the decorations clearly reflect the futuristic spirit of the 70s.

Brass. This finish was previously considered tasteless, but today it is very often used in traditional design.

Foil wallpaper. These days we value such coverage for its unique ability reflect light and add a touch of glamor to the room.

Organic glass. These raw materials are now used to make magnificent pieces of furniture - transparent chairs and tables.

Solar panels. They provide a reduction in housing maintenance costs.

Volkswagen buses. You rarely see them on the road these days, but some homeowners are using the body of these cars in unique ways.

Bold floral designs. Use them to decorate walls, bed linen or curtains.

Rich tones. This modern kitchen was decorated with interesting bar stools with unusual upholstery on the seats.

Organic architecture. The facade of this building was designed by the talented craftsmen of the Modern Design company.

fleecy carpets. They give the premises incredible comfort and a more luxurious look.

Macrame. The craft is characteristic of this bizarre era. Use wickerwork for wall decoration and furniture.

The bright and original style of interiors of the 1960s and 70s was formed in the wake of the emotional reactionary movement of the post-war era against conformity. The men took off their soft felt hats and freed themselves from suspenders, women abandoned bulky “shells” of underwear and shortened their skirts, both of them willingly became addicted to cigars, Canadian Club whiskey and actively supported the new sexually liberated counterculture and the consumer boom initiated by industrial progress. The revolution has begun!

Plastic revolution

The technical achievements of the era brought to the forefront such innovative materials as durable plastics and polypropylene, which were easily molded, painted and made it possible to create objects of the most unusual configurations. Mass production instantly flooded the market with lightweight plastic furniture of streamlined and ergonomic shapes, hanging cocoon structures, rotating soft chairs with a tubular steel base and voluminous cubo-futuristic furnishings in “fried potato-colored foam.” Fantastic-shaped models of furniture and accessories by Eero Saarinen, Pierre Paulin, Verner Panton, Gaetano Pesce, Vico Magistretti, Angelo Mangiarotti appear on sale Mangiarotti) and many others.

Due to the ability of polypropylene to quickly and easily fill voids, in the 1960s new type upholstered furniture– large monolithic or composite objects, usually of round shapes, which made it possible to create entire sofa areas. This trend, in turn, gave rise to a fashion for studio-type living rooms with a sofa island in the center; furniture was often raised on a platform or, on the contrary, recessed into the floor. Another design know-how, provoked by the era of the first space flights, was multifunctional interior units with mobile pull-out elements, allowing you to save space and at the same time equip the interior with everything you need. IN designer interiors polished metal is introduced, as well as structures and ceilings intended for zoning and having a non-trivial geometric configuration: round arches and light wells, “floating” stairs, mobile screens, multi-level platforms, etc.

Psychedelic color palette

And finally, a color of bright, saturated, and, as critics say, “psychedelic intensity”, which arose under the influence of hippie culture, fascinated by the oriental flavor of India, Spain and the Mediterranean. These are blue, red, dark green, light green, sea green, as well as various shades of yellow, pink and orange: from pea and lemon to peach and saffron. Color is introduced into the interior not only with the help of colorful textiles, carpets and furniture upholstery, but also thanks to the abundance of rich plastic accessories (from radios and telephones to lamp shades and flower pots) and expressive graphic decor of walls and floors. Bright geometric motifs for the design of background surfaces are borrowed from the palette of the fashion industry and become a manifestation of special chic. Thus, the interiors of the 1960s and 70s were an extremely motley spectacle, barely on the verge of bad taste.

Guru of new philosophy in the field luxury interiors becomes an Englishman who brings “acid” shades of a psychedelic palette to the classical surroundings. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Dorothy Draper, a leading interior designer in Manhattan in the 1960s, continues to persist in her favored combination of dull white and sunny black. However, truly revolutionary metamorphoses are taking place in conceptual interior design. New innovative materials allow you to transform inner space in the manner of the original futuristic landscapes, and special credit here goes to the Danish industrial designer Verner Panton with his installations from the Visiona series (1968 and 1970) and the interiors of the Varna restaurant in Aarhus.

But the most important achievement of the experimental, hyper-creative and somewhat even “crazy” 1960s and 70s was the transition from smooth and unified modernism to an individualistic approach to design. Radial shaping and flashy game moves brought to the fore are due to the desire of designers to personalize the interior!

We are glad to see all visitors. Today we will meet Nina Berrocal and her husband, who, together with their three children, decided to move into the apartment where their wife previously lived.

The famous decorative designer Lourdes Gabriela Suárez helped restore the interior of the property. You can check out his incredible work below. Forward!

The foyer brought together all the colors found throughout the home. Instead of ceiling lighting, the master used wall lamps, and this Italian mirror delightfully reflects the light.

Cheerful nightstands with gold and white trim, coffee table with a glass top and a pretty pouf influence the formation of an opinion about the apartment from the very threshold.

Having repaired and cleaned the lattice windows, the specialist opened a stunning view of the city. And by adding simple shades with an organic feel, the interior has been incomparably decorated.

The polished chair supports and the unusual ottoman, which can be converted into an additional bed, are a great eye-catcher.

A stunning illusion has been created in the foyer that makes it seem as if Entrance door opens directly into the living area.

The wall covering defines this area. The barrel chair is original item furniture. Nina was amazed when she saw it, because she has a photo of her sitting on it when she was 2 years old.

This wonderful bench not only provides storage space, but also makes a great drink holder. The turquoise seat represents Biscayne Bay, which is located very close by.

And this amazing coconut mirror adds a touch of Florida-style.

A crisp white ceiling, walls and floor adorn this open space. A bright and clean “canvas” becomes a wonderful backdrop for beautiful furniture. Purple, olive, sea and yellow combine perfectly in the room.

Take a look at this room. Here you can see a wide carpet, gray colors and heavy curtains, which visually make the ceilings lower.

Suárez defined the dining room with two extraordinary details: the first is a flawless divider that looks like a real work of art, and the second is a Swedish chest of drawers. Modern table and the chairs fit perfectly into this vintage picture.

White glossy shapes, fossilized rocks and bright shades blue inspire design.

The graphic black and white pattern contrasts strongly with monotonous colors. Antique chest emphasizes the style of the apartment.

The family room has a mini gallery on the wall. By the way, this is a picture of a woman in yellow dress was written by the sister of one of the homeowners.

A colorful sofa that easily turns into a bed is upholstered in purple fabric. Table with at different levels and an interesting coating - another unique thing in the house.

The kitchen was completely dark and uninviting.

The designer included glossy surfaces, with which the deep shade of walnut wood is boldly stated. The room is equipped with everything necessary to create amazing culinary dishes.

The tabletop is made of high-strength porcelain. The stainless steel coatings are striking.

Before the radical changes, the bedroom was boring and discreet.

Vinyl on the wall looks fabulous. The bright red accent became focal point above the head of the bed. The rope bench brings 70s style charm.

Layered textures (sheepskin, zebra print and shag) add warmth and harmony to the space, while lamps flanking the bed add symmetry.

A large mirror with a rich frame makes the interior much larger and brighter. Turquoise upholstery on the chairs brings Miami color into the room.

The bathrooms were cramped and ugly.

Lourdes counteracted the claustrophobic feeling in the master bath by using glass shower doors, a cantilevered vanity and a comfortable color palette.

Large-scale tiles help visually expand the room.

The guest restroom remained oversized, as before. Clients were amazed at how the professional managed to furnish this tiny space exceptionally.

Before talking about the urban interior itself in the USSR, let's determine who its users were. Immediately after the revolution (and partly after the war), these were people whose taste for the aesthetics of urban life was just developing - for they all came from villages. That is, from poor families, where there was no such thing as an interior.

At that time, very, very few people retained the legacy of pre-revolutionary taste - mainly the military and revolutionary intelligentsia and a few ladies “from the former.” And their taste was subconsciously perceived by others as an aesthetic model - right up to the post-war period.

For most, the post-war period is an almost miserable existence - there was no time for beautiful interiors. This did not apply to the privileged minority (higher military and party officials): their homes were decorated with trophy furniture, trophy art and accessories. They had the opportunity to use once expropriated expensive and stylish pre-revolutionary furniture, and they created decent interior compositions to the best of their natural taste.

And for the “rest”, pre-revolutionary furniture was combined in the interior with the simplest, sometimes home-made, objects and fixtures (tables, stools, benches, bookcases). Trophy items also came across sometimes - as “spot” purchases with great luck.

There was no talk about aesthetics in the kitchen or bathrooms. The main criterion here was cleanliness. It was the establishment of cleanliness and order in the interior that was the main style of those times.

The interior of an apartment in one of Stalin's high-rise buildings. With taste? Yes. But such people are an overwhelming minority.

Most lived in communal apartments. Each room: a separate world.

Bathroom in a communal apartment.

Late 50's and early 60's. Thaw. The influence of European and American trends can be compared to a tsunami. The “trends” of that time were greedily absorbed by the Soviet people: they were so “hungry” for Western culture during the four Soviet decades.

However, a room is not a dress that can be quickly sewn from a picture in foreign magazine. To make an interior of truly high quality and integrity, you need material and physical capabilities, which were almost non-existent in that era. Therefore, for many, the “European” interior comes down to a range of accessories and decorative items - things that can actually be brought from abroad. Whoever could afford foreign goods exhibited them.

Helped to resemble the West Appliances(TV-refrigerator-radio-player-telephone), which began to spread in the country. The very presence of such items already made the interior “a little European.”

The trend of the 50s: if there is a TV or other household appliances in the room, then this is almost a European apartment!

Soviet equipment could already be bought, and American equipment could be viewed at exhibitions.

In the 60s, minimalist room and kitchen sets began to appear, produced in Eastern Europe. However, this minimalism was fundamentally different from today’s minimalism. That minimalism is a child of functionalism, when you have no time for beauty, and your beauty is purity. This style suited the Soviet man! And for the sake of these sets, still quite strong pieces of old furniture are thrown into the trash.

The manufacturer of new headsets is, although Eastern, but still Europe. Therefore, this is “European taste”, and you don’t want to spoil it anyhow. They begin to select suitable things for the ensemble, more or less in harmony. They are thinking about what color to paint the walls in the kitchen. I already want to think about what color to paint the walls in the bathroom at the same time, since the whole apartment has become more or less “modern”.

But in general, an ordinary Soviet person lives poorly, “according to needs.” And his needs are determined to be provided in the simplest - if not primitive.

Late 60s. One of the typical kitchen sets. Quite good.

Music school is gradually becoming a standard good education. There is a piano in almost every decent home. Everyone has ordinary pianos, and the musicians have unusual ones (pictured: Emil Gilels) or even concert grand pianos.

Room. It's more melancholy than nostalgia.

The trends of the 60s continue, but their own characteristics appear. The development of the interior largely depends on the ability to update it. And most Soviet people could not so much update them as correct them - change the wallpaper, upholstery. Fashionable rugs, rugs, prints, and foreign trinkets may appear somewhere.

Household appliances are being replaced with more modern ones - an extremely important and prestigious component of the interior image. The more the interior smells of the West, the more beautiful it is considered. The main direction is only to the west, only to the west, as far as your capabilities allow!

They are almost ashamed of local tradition - they value it only professionally educated people, or people with innate absolute taste. Of which there are only a few.

Kitchen from the movie “Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Sesame.” Sample kitchen. People wanted their kitchen to be like this.

"Enjoy Your Bath!". And this is no longer a sample of a bathroom, but rather its typical appearance. White tiles!

Such an interior can still be found today. It's hard to say whether this is good or bad...

It is necessary to separately note the trend of “shocking” Soviet interiors of the 70s and early 80s. This wave of the hippie attitude towards things has finally reached us. It just arrived in a very different way and was digested in a unique way.

These were people “about 20 years old” who well remembered the asceticism of their childhood. For them, the level of life of the early 70s was perceived as a breakthrough into luxury. And because of their youth, it seemed appropriate for them to demonstrate a rebellion on this ship (especially since in the West they were already rebelling with might and main against something there).

If a person or family committed to such sentiments had their own “platform,” they began to demonstratively (demonstrativeness is the main and fundamental feature!) to violate and destroy all signs of neatness and comfort in the interior. Captured wallpaper, bare walls; piles, the introduction of non-interior street items.

In general, it’s a kind of antithesis to Loft - there the non-residential is inhabited and lived, but here the residential is deliberately turned into almost non-residential and presented as a kind of message. There was also a “lighter” option - simply an intellectual disregard for the aesthetic aspect of the home - where you put it, there it stands, where you put it, there it lies.

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In general, the Soviet period of interior design is an island that broke away from the mainland of universal human culture. Breakaway; What he could, he took away. And something was brought back in waves - sometimes more, sometimes less...