Traditional Russian Peasant Interiors (Izba Style)
Rustic Structure and Materials Izbas were simple log cabins built of rough-hewn pine trunks, fitted together without nails and chinked with river clay or moss. The interior often showed the natural wood of walls and beams, giving a warm brown backdrop. Floors were wide wooden planks; ceilings were exposed logs. Wood was essentially the only building material (besides occasional stone or plaster). Stoves were frequently whitewashed, so the bright oven stood out against the dark wood, and woven cloths or painted tiles added color. Stove & Hearth: The Life-Giving Center Every izba centered on its massive Russian stove (“печка”) . Built of brick or clay, it could fill up to a quarter of the floor area. This stove was the home’s heating, cooking and sleeping platform all in one: peasants piled wood or charcoal in the hearth and even slept on top of it or on adjacent benches to stay warm. The stove was often called the “little mother” of the house, symbolizing life and comfort. ...