Interior in the style of modern classics

Decorator Elena Markina designed the interior of a three-room apartment for a young family

Elena Markina

This apartment has a total area of 84.40 sq. m. The apartment is located in a Stalinist house a stone’s throw from Timiryazevsky Park. The owners approached the design of its interior very consciously: before contacting the designer, they lived in the apartment for a year to better understand what kind of space they want to get after the renovation. As a result, the vishlist includes the following items: an office, a dressing room in the bedroom, a combined living room and kitchen area, a bathroom with a bathtub and shower, and plenty of storage space for books and household supplies. But the most important requirement is that the interior should not be so much the fruit of the designer’s creative self-realization, as convenient for the life of its owners. Despite the quite successful layout of the apartment, it was not possible to avoid “alterations”.

Lighting for paintings, posters – Eichholtz. Floor – parquet board, Khars

Console, panel of 4 mirrors and accessories – Arteva Home. There is a mosaic of natural marble on the floor.

The cabinets are made according to the sketches of the designer, Mr. Doors. Mirrored facades of cabinets do not overload the corridor deprived of natural light, but on the contrary, visually expand the space.

In the process of dismantling, it turned out that the quality of the old partitions is so deplorable that almost all of them need to be rebuilt. And if so, why not take advantage of the opportunity and make the “successful layout” even better. Thus, the partition between the living room and the bathroom was moved, which allowed to increase the area of the living room and equip a niche for the TV area. Also, the window sill was dismantled in the living room, the radiator was moved and double-glazed glass doors were installed on the balcony, which allowed filling the room with light. A partition with a portal of maximum width was erected between the kitchen and the dining room. Kitchen equipment was placed with the letter P on all three walls, using the usable area as much as possible. A cozy breakfast place has appeared near the window, which can also serve as an additional workplace. According to the designer, the most difficult thing was to figure out how to design an old inactive garbage chute. The approval of the dismantling turned out to be a complicated bureaucratic matter, so the garbage chute was disguised as a kitchen column and decorated it. The frieze of the hinged cabinet, in which the hood is hidden, is decorated with an inscription in Latin: Vivere in momento (“All life is moments”). The wall between the study and the bedroom was also moved a little to, as in the case of the living room, increase the area of one of the rooms. Two symmetrical portals were installed in the corridor. This technique made it possible to divide a long uncomfortable room into 3 zones and place spacious cabinets for books and storage of household accessories in niches along the walls. The transfer of the doorway in the bathroom made it possible to place a spacious shower room with a seat that goes into the bathtub. In order to visually hide the ventilation ducts in the office and at the same time not to lower the ceiling, they were placed in the upper facades of the cabinet. In the same room, a functional workplace was equipped near the window with an abundance of shelves and drawers for storing office and documents. Ventilation in this project was given a special place: in addition to supply ventilation in the form of grids and boxes, air infiltration valves are provided in each room, which the designer decorated.

Plumbing, Villeroy & Boch. Faucets, Nicolazzi. Tile, Vallelunga. Lamps, Visual Comfort.

Behind the facade of the cabinet under the sink there is a washing machine.

To prevent the ventilation box from looking massive, it was lined with mirrors.

When the redevelopment was finished, it was time to design the interior of the apartment. Elena suggested mixing modern classics with an American style bias and complementing the space with vintage accessories and elements. Since the owners wanted a light and light interior, the designer proposed a color palette of complex natural shades that create an enveloping atmosphere of peace and relaxation. The light upholstery of the furniture and the abundance of mirrored surfaces visually expanded the space of the apartment, filling it with air. And bright juicy accents in the form of textiles, accessories and carpet made the interior lively and interesting.