yinjispace

DESIGNER
Olga Ryukina
STYLING
Natalya Yagofarova
PHOTOGRAPHY
Mikhail Loskutov
WORDS
Bingyi
Collection

Olga Ryukina is a Russian interior designer and architect whose path into design began in construction.For her, space is not a statement but a condition to be lived in.The wooden house she designed for her family is an extension of that philosophy.Here, she acts as architect, designer, and resident at once.Set within a clearing surrounded by century-old spruces, the house stands quietly within the landscape—distant from the city, yet deeply connected to the rhythms of nature.

“I wouldn’t say we had clear criteria when looking for a plot,” Olga recalls. “It was more of an emotional choice — the moment we came here, we knew it was the place. The forest, with its century-old spruces, made it impossible to remain indifferent and ultimately led us to build our home here.”She wanted the house to step back, not to disrupt the natural order but to let the forest take the lead — a feeling that continues inside. Here, life moves at a slower pace, allowing for reconnection with nature and loved ones, as well as moments of solitude.

In this project, Olga was simultaneously the architect, designer, and client.“The overlap of roles was both complex and liberating,” she explains.“Technically, it wasn’t easy, but it brought a real sense of freedom—and freedom is an essential part of creation.”

The plan follows a circular flow, allowing movement through multiple routes.“At first, it may seem unnecessary, but it’s actually very convenient,” Olga explains.“When you carry groceries, you take the shortest path to the kitchen; when you’re not in a hurry, you can walk through the living room. This sense of freedom makes the space more engaging.”For her, rhythm is both a design strategy and a way of life.“Our son loves running around the house,” she says. “The rooms have become his own little world.”

Olga believes deeply in the intuition of design. “When I search for balance among materials, I rely entirely on intuition—there’s no formula, only feeling.” The wooden structure of the house was preserved and became an integral part of the space. Rather than concealing it, Olga saw it as an advantage. The façade wall in the living room was deliberately finished in a darker tone to highlight the structure of the house and remind people that its essence is wood. This wall acts like a curtain, setting the stage for the true protagonist—the forest outside the window.

The Every detail in the house seems to grow naturally from the design itself.“Handles, niches, furniture—these small things define the atmosphere,” Olga says.She also values the role of emptiness.The balance between rhythm, material, texture, and pause brings the space to life.

The house took shape gradually, not all at once.“For me, creating an interior is always a long process,” Olga reflects.“During that time, you change—you discover new objects and authors, your taste evolves. The interior develops through small additions that bring it to life.”This slowness, she says, is part of the natural rhythm.The space grows with us—it evolves as we do.

For Olga Ryukina, the house is not an escape but a return.It teaches her to listen again—to materials, to light, to time, and to the rhythm of her family.“I believe the best design isn’t about perfection,” she says,“but about creating spaces that are truly inhabited—where the everyday becomes conscious,and life itself continues the act of design.”

MORE PHOTOS