One item to transform your room: Alevtina Grishina’s design tip
Console tables, reminiscent of opulent palaces from centuries past, have emerged as an essential element of contemporary interior design. From minimalist to genuine works of art, these versatile pieces serve practical and aesthetic purposes. Russian designer Alevtina Grishina, known for crafting unique console tables with a modern aristocratic vibe, shares insights on incorporating these pieces into interior decor.
Console tables are universal interior items that can be used in both large and small rooms. They can be placed directly against the wall or behind the sofa without taking up unnecessary space and can be used as an entry table, a TV stand, or a bedside table. You can place small items, lamps, and mirrors on them to add coziness to the space. Console tables combine practicality with elegance and sophistication. Thanks to modern design possibilities, they can become an accent piece that emphasizes the room’s style.
Alevtina Grishina is a furniture designer who creates console tables that fit seamlessly into any interior, from classic to modern. “I am deeply convinced that there is room for a console table in every house,” she says.
Finding the perfect console table that will be the centerpiece of your home can be quite a challenge — the table must be the right length, height, and fit your interior. Alevtina faced this problem during her home renovation when she wanted a long console table to be placed between the wall and the sofa. Unable to find anything suitable, she decided to create the furniture herself. This simple desire turned her into a sought-after carpenter-designer.
Grishina’s most famous work, which brought her nationwide fame, is her design of a blue table with a pattern based on Strawberry Thief by William Morris. Alevtina’s technique impressed other decorators so much that she opened an art studio to share her knowledge.
Alevtina has a recognizable style — her consoles do not look like everyday elements but rather like fabulous objects. Many people dream of such a magical table, which can serve as a decoration and a functional piece in everyday life. You can place bags, favorite books, vases with flowers, figurines, candles, photos, and even use them as a TV stand. Additionally, consoles are often festively dressed for holidays, adding extra charm to the room. Alevtina’s tables, with floral and animalistic patterns, transport you to a fairy-tale world at first glance.
Speaking about the influence of an exquisite console on the room, it is worth noting that the magic of such beautiful things extends to the homeowner. The presence of Alevtina’s fairy-tale work in the house improves the owners' mood and gives them a feeling of happiness. These are the feelings Grishina herself experienced when she created her first console. Her unwavering dedication, love for her craft, and eagerness to share her accomplishments with others turned into success and recognition in the industry.
Constantly developing and refining her technique, Alevtina has created a course on furniture redesign from scratch, allowing anyone to transform their furniture into art objects, even without experience. She uses techniques such as ‘wet’ sanding, which reduces the cost of imitating precious wood and saves time by combining washing with sanding. Her unique method of applying metallic patinas to wood creates a visual effect of glowing from within, even after waxing. These developments have allowed Grishina to increase the value of her finished products more than tenfold without significantly increasing material costs. She shares this knowledge with other enthusiasts, enabling them to increase their sales by popularizing decoration and redesign.
Alevtina’s console tables are unique. Despite competitors’ attempts to copy her style, she remains the only furniture artist whose works consistently delight clients and exhibition visitors. Her pieces are successfully sold at elite closed sales in Moscow and presented at national exhibitions, including the largest creative cluster in Moscow, Artplay, RUKI Fest, and international exhibitions, such as the International Exhibition of Furniture, Interiors and Art.
The combination of such unique skills as deep expertise in both carpentry and decorating has allowed her to become a well-known console table maker in Russia. She creates exclusive consoles from natural wood, using many techniques and more than a dozen layers of decorative materials on each piece. In addition, Alevtina has a talent for teaching, effectively explaining the art of decorative painting even to those who have no similar experience.
Grishina continues to master new decorative techniques, improve her carpentry skills, and create increasingly helpful content so that connoisseurs of fine interior items can craft them with their hands, learning from a recognized industry expert.