How to Decorate a Restaurant in the Russian Tradition
Making your restaurant and not just your food and beverage feel traditionally Russian takes some creativity, planning and perhaps a little online ordering. Of course, there's not just one flavor of Russian decor. You can go the direction of something elegant and reminiscent of Russian royalty or instead keep it more rustic with the character of Russian provincial style. Either way, ornation is central to Russian interiors, which mean details and accents are essential.
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Instructions
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Purchase the right fabric decoration for your windows. Because of Russia's very cold weather, Russians of all walks of life like to use heavy, thick drapery that helps trap heat. If thick, dark-colored drapes or curtains make your restaurant dining room too dark, consider valances or window treatments of a similar style. If you want to be strictly authentic, consider red brocade for your material.
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Shop for wallpaper if you want a traditional, elegant feel. While Russians used to use flock wallpaper, you can probably find other varieties that suit you. Stick to dark colors and ornate patterns and you can achieve a similar feel.
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Look at heavy carpets. Again, people in cold weather environments look for ways to keep their feet and homes warm. Russians are famous for their ornate floral carpets and throw-rugs. In large cities with specialty shops and online you can find traditional hand-woven Russian carpets, but of course there are similar manufactured versions you can find more readily available in carpet stores. Because of Russia's long imperial tradition, other styles from surrounding countries and cultures were incorporated into Russian fashion and taste. As a result, Turkish and Persian carpets can also fit into Russian decor.
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Visit art galleries and art websites looking for Russian artwork. Much of the traditional provincial work is more floral and landscape oriented, while elegant high-society art focuses more on portraiture, salons, and images of luxury.
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Fill your restaurant with nick-knacks and ornaments. Russian nesting dolls, featuring numerous dolls that fit one inside the other, are a popular and well-known ornament. Picture frames, vases, clocks, wooden dolls, Russian nutcrackers and all manners of old European-style ornaments will help round out the your selection. If your restaurant has a fireplace, be sure to decorate the mantle, as that's a common custom in Russian homes. If you can have a faux-framed fireplace added, that will greatly enhance the Russian feel.
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References
- Photo Credit russian dolls image by Margerretta from Fotolia.com
