Arshaevy Wedding Atelier by Arever Space in Dagestan

In the center of Makhachkala, on the ground floor of a commercial building, a new space has opened — the Arshaeva Sisters’ bridal boutique-atelier, where design becomes a delicate translation from the language of tradition into the language of modernity. The project was brought to life by Arever Space, led by Aida Ragimkhanova, and the result is a story told through space.

The location previously housed a men’s clothing store with an overloaded interior — bulky wooden shelving and a stretch ceiling. Aida chose not to fight the architectural limitations but to turn them into strengths: preserving the structure while imbuing it with new meaning.

The key element of this project is its tone. The Arshaeva Sisters’ brand DNA is rooted in memory — elusive fragments of childhood, like the moment when a grandmother opens a creaky wardrobe filled with folded fabrics. That’s how the interior came to include meaningful objects: a restored 19th-century antique wardrobe and an old Singer sewing machine — items with a soul. Each speaks the same language as the dresses crafted in this space.

The main hall of the boutique includes two fitting rooms and two private waiting areas. The imperfect geometry, load-bearing columns, and windows required precise spatial choreography. Aida aligned the layout along clear axes and introduced a striking gesture — automatic curtains that part to reveal the bride, creating a small theatrical moment unique to each fitting.

Double-leaf panel doors inspired by traditional mountain homes serve as visual bridges between past and present. “I remember such doors from my childhood,” says the designer. “They used to be lower, but here we made them taller, adding a sense of celebration to the space.”

Material choices reflect a deep sensitivity to touch and authenticity. Hand-applied decorative plaster recalls the uneven walls of mountain villages. Textiles play a major role: linen-covered sofas, cotton-draped dressers, and sheer linen curtains that diffuse the bright southern light into a soft, poetic glow.

Almost all the furniture was custom-designed. Solid and veneered oak facades, rails mounted on stone bases handmade by local artisans — details are given special attention. Cabinet handles are modeled after antique earrings — the brand’s logo. Even the textured glass tables by Yaroslava Galaiko blend seamlessly into the visual composition.

In the window frame, a decorative Dagestani tray becomes a symbolic focal point. Traditionally used at weddings and adorned with hand-engraved patterns, this one was custom-designed for the brand — a tribute to heritage, reimagined.

The color palette is earthy and restrained, echoing the tones of natural dyes once used in Dagestani crafts: muted linens, cotton whites, and deep wood hues.

The Arshaeva Sisters’ boutique is more than a place to try on wedding dresses. It’s a space where design becomes storytelling, and where history and culture are not nostalgic callbacks but a refined foundation for the present.

Location: Makhachkala, Dagestan

Interior Designer: Aida Ragimkhanova, Founder of Arever Space
Instagram @arever.space

Photo Credit: Sergey Krasyuk
Instagram @skrasyuk
krasyukproduction.com