Holistic Home Tour: Alina Fassakhova In Upstate New York

After years of wanting to live in the company of trees, Alina Fassakhova packed up her Brooklyn loft and moved to a cozy forest home upstate. Here, the artist shows us around the space she shares with her husband and two tuxedo cats; a minimalist retreat that gets its color from nature-inspired paintings and 80+ plants.

I like to keep a color palette neutral to make artwork and plants stand out. As plants grow and my paintings on the walls change, the space changes as well.

Nature and organic forms found in the everyday are the main sources of inspiration for my work. It can be anything from plant leaves, the movement of trees in the wind, to light and shadows around the house in the afternoon.

Yes, my home also doubles as my art studio. Light is the key when it comes to choosing the right space for work. The fact that this house is so bright was one of the determining factors why I chose it. House plants are also a very important part of my workspace. Aside from being a source of inspiration for my art, they also give my eyes rest after I have been painting for hours.

My biggest recommendation for choosing art to hang up would be to not follow décor trends. Rather, buy something that speaks to you. It's also important to understand that it takes years to build a collection. It cannot be done in a week or a month.

The most meaningful object is probably one of the tribal masks I brought from Papua New Guinea several years ago. It was bought directly from a local artist who made the mask, and it traveled with me from there on a canoe, by car, and several planes all the way to NYC.

In the summer, the house was filled with the sounds of birds and cicadas. Now as it's getting colder and the windows are closed, we have a fireplace going. It fills the house with calming sounds of crackling fire and the smell of burning wood.

Although I'm not sure they can be called "objects," my plants bring me joy on a daily basis. I have 80 to 100 plants around the house, and plant care is a big part of my life.

This house is in a very quiet private setting, surrounded by forest. Being so close to nature on a daily basis is an amazing way to slow down and decompress. In addition to that, as I mentioned earlier, I have a lot of house plants, and plant care has always been a form of self-care for me.

Home is where my family is: my husband, our pets, and plants. Over the years, we have moved from one place to another many times, but I always felt at home no matter where we were. Home is where I feel safe and peaceful.