Snapshot: With bespoke ceramic furniture created by local craftsmen, and a scheme to highlight the natural setting, Ukrainian design firm Nott Design has accented the uniqueness of a small, pond side cottage with hints of modernity, while maintaining the home’s getaway feel.

Nott Design has chosen to give this summer retreat destination an aesthetic that centers on a woodsy, natural feel, and a color scheme that is reminiscent of earthen tones; browns and grays that reflect trees and rocks, and simple white and black accents, that focus on natural light and shadow.

There is a motif running throughout of long, wooden panels with horizontal grain, giving the space a sense of vastness and continuity that adds to the intrigue of the new design. The designers were intentional about the mainly white and black color scheme, which helps the natural light to flood into the space, only blocked by small shades and translucent curtains that adorn the windows. Even the furnishings of the area are in these colors, as dark chairs and sofas are used.

The area is dominated by a minimalist design; seen most clearly with the gravity-defying staircase leading to the second floor, which sports steps supported by a single black beam, that when viewed from the front perspective, appear to be floating. On the second floor, which was created to be an entirely private area for the residents, the elongated panels run throughout the bathroom and bedrooms, which are all furnished by ceramics hand-made by Sergey Gorban and tables, chairs, and bed frames that were all created by local Ukrainian craftsmen from sketches and schematics designed specifically for this space.

Without losing the home-y feel of a small cottage, Nott has created a space that caters to the New World aesthetic. Minimalist designs, long, continuous lines, and bespoke furniture and ceramics create a unique, complex, and inviting space that captures the essences of domesticity and sophistication.