Russian With Love

It’s safe to say that Ray Johnson, founder of The Museum of Russian Art in south Minneapolis, brings his work home with him at the end of the day. He and his wife, Susan, have decorated the walls of their Lake Minnetonka estate with a few of their 10,000 pieces of Russian art—believed to be the largest privately owned collection outside the former Soviet Union. If you thought Russian art was cold and colorless, take a look around the Johnsons’ place, because you’re likely to fall in love with the bright, bold slices of Soviet life.

Throughout their home, the Johnsons have decorated with lots of red—Susan’s favorite color—and blue. The salon has an all-American feel, but walking through the Italian palazzo–style home is like taking a stroll around the world. German Biedermeier furniture and Tibetan teak pieces are in the “tennis room,” where the previous owner, Theodora Lange, and her friends used to retire for cards and drinks after a match—because it was then the only room in the house with comfortable furniture instead of period antiques. On the opposite end of the foyer, in the Palermo room, pieces from Italy and France share space with those from China.

The Johnsons keep a blend of new and old. Between the tennis room and a romantic pink bathroom (Lange’s nickname was Pinky), the house holds a lot of memories. From ottomans to handmade toys, personal touches are everywhere, but in just about every corner there’s a little something from Russia too.

Take Out  
When it comes to home cooking, Ray says, “all I really need is a telephone in the kitchen for making reservations.” Luckily the galley kitchen has twenty-nine running feet of stainless steel countertops—great for caterers.

A Family Affair  
The playroom upstairs is filled with Russian dolls as well as a dollhouse made by Susan’s father and a playpen and bunk bed made by her grandfather. But the Johnsons’ nine grandkids are interested in using other areas of the house as well. On our visit, the dining room was set for the Johnsons’ granddaughter’s thirteenth birthday murder-mystery party. Susan and her daughter were going to dress up as maids to host and serve before the “cocktail” party. “It’s glitzy,” says Susan, “but that’s what she wanted.”

Lake Living  
The Johnsons added more greenery to the manicured landscape in the sprawling backyard. As if it wasn’t peaceful enough, a long pier reaches out to the lake, where kayaks await early morning adventurers.

Artful Detail  
Plain faux marble accent tables grace the gorgeous marble-tiled floors of the hallways leading from the grand foyer. The Johnsons first thought they were bland, but now they’re a favorite feature since the designer reminded them they make the art stand out.