This Kazakhstani Mountain Home Is A Dialogue With Nature

In Kazakhstan, designer Laura Sharipova has created a warm retreat where wood, stone and botanical motifs echo the landscape

By Olivia Vergunst | October 1, 2026 | Category interiors/house-tours

In the Almaty region of Kazakhstan, where mountains, forest and a lake surround a 250-square-metre house, nature is impossible to ignore. For designer Laura Sharipova, it became the starting point for a 2025 renovation that set out to make the interior feel less like a separate environment and more like a continuation of the landscape beyond the windows.

The entrance sets the tone for this Kazakhstan retreat, pairing natural materials with an understated connection to its setting

Named House Dialogue With Nature, the project involved a complete renovation, including updated engineering systems and an expansion of the existing footprint. One of the most significant changes was the transformation of an open terrace into a closed annex with a fully functional kitchen. This freed the dining area to become a more generous space for family meals and entertaining, while making the house better suited to its role as a year-round retreat.

Bringing The Landscape Inside

Rather than imposing a single decorative style on the house, Sharipova worked with the existing architecture and allowed the surrounding landscape to determine the atmosphere. Wood remained the foundation, while a palette of earthy shades and tactile materials reflects the mountains, trees and greenery outside.

Natural materials recur throughout the interiors, including marble, wild stone and natural wood. Wooden bathroom countertops and timber-clad walls add warmth, while the high ceilings give the rooms a sense of openness. The effect is comfortable and layered rather than overtly rustic.

Natural wood, soft textures and earthy tones create a restful main bedroom inspired by the mountains and forest outside

The intention was to create a timeless interior. Some existing furniture was retained, while new sofas, armchairs and wooden pieces were introduced alongside contemporary lighting and more modern decorative details. The result deliberately avoids belonging entirely to either the past or present.

Wooden furniture, tactile fabrics and contemporary details create a warm living room that echoes the surrounding landscape

A Home For Family And Friends

Practicality was as important as aesthetics. Furniture was selected not only for its appearance but for its ability to support everyday family life and remain relevant over time. The reconfigured kitchen and dining spaces also make the home better equipped for entertaining, reinforcing its purpose as a destination for holidays, family gatherings and weekends with friends.

The dining room provides a welcoming setting for family meals, with timber and natural textures continuing the home's palette

Textiles introduce another layer of connection to nature. Among the most distinctive details is the use of William Morris's Strawberry Thief pattern, an iconic Arts & Crafts design featuring birds, flowers, foliage and strawberries. Its botanical imagery introduces a distinctly English historical reference while creating an unexpected visual dialogue with the flora and landscape of Kazakhstan.

Art by Kazakhstani artists Zhazira Zhumasheva and Assel Abilkhai brings another important dimension to the interiors. Rather than relying exclusively on international design references, the artwork gives the house a stronger sense of local identity and place.

Artwork by Kazakhstani artists Zhazira Zhumasheva and Assel Abilkhai brings local identity and colour into the interior

Designing Around The View

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of the project is the way the interior responds to what is outside. Mountains, lake and forest are not treated as scenery to be admired from a distance; they inform the colour palette, textures and decorative choices throughout the house.

Mountains, forest and lake surround the home, providing the natural palette and inspiration for the interiors throughout

The designer describes the landscape as the project's starting point, with colours selected to echo the natural surroundings and materials chosen to allow those tones to flow through the rooms.

The result is an interior that does not compete with its setting. Wood, stone, botanical patterns and artwork create continuity between indoors and out, while contemporary details ensure the house feels considered rather than themed.

Wood cladding brings warmth and texture to the interiors, helping the home feel connected to the surrounding mountain landscape

A Remote Retreat

The remote location presented one of the project's biggest practical challenges. Situated far outside the city, the house required careful coordination of logistics and every stage of the renovation.

A new kitchen in the enclosed terrace creates a practical space for cooking while freeing the dining room for entertaining

That effort has ultimately produced a retreat where the setting remains central. House Dialogue With Nature demonstrates how a strong connection to place can shape an interior without dictating a particular style. Here, the mountains, lake and forest are more than a spectacular outlook. They are the elements that give the house its identity.

Credits

Designer - Laura Sharipova, @laurasharipova

Stylist - Zhanara Kurmanaliyeva, @the_zhakadecor

Photographer - Natalia Gorbunova, @gorbunovainterior