Moscow apartment with a French mood 38 m2

Architect Alexey Starodubtsev told ELLE Decoration how an elegant interior with a marble portal inspired by Parisian apartments was created

Chandelier and sconce, Regenbogen. Sofa, chairs, everything – “Lavsit”. There is a mirror panel behind the sofa. The table is made to order according to the architect’s sketches. Tile on the floor and apron, Equipe. Kitchen and countertop, Unice.

Photo: DINA ALEXANDROVA

Style: Alexandra Pylenkova, Happy collection

Bianca Carrara marble portal.

Photo: Dina Alexandrova

Style: ALEXANDRA PYLENKOVA, HAPPY COLLECTION

GENERAL PARAMETERS:

Property type: apartment in an old house

Where is located: Moscow, Khamovniki

Square footage: 38 m2

Style: Eclectic

The main idea of the project: to create an apartment in the spirit of a comfortable hotel room for non-permanent residence

Color scheme: neutral

Contacts: Alexey Starodubtsev, architectural workshop “Archmenu”, archmenu.com , [email protected], T. +7 916 916-84-20, @archmenu

Photo: Dina Alexandrova

Style: ALEXANDRA PYLENKOVA, HAPPY COLLECTION

In this project, we are faced with a contradictory task: on the one hand, it is a small apartment in a typical house of the Soviet period, but on the other — it is located in a place with a stunning view. Despite all the disadvantages of the house itself: low ceilings of 2.4 m, narrow staircases and the absence of a freight elevator (which we recalled more than once during construction work), everything worked out perfectly.

The main role in creating the layout was played by the stunning view from the windows

Chairs, “Lavsit”. The table is made to order according to the architect’s sketches.

Photo: Dina Alexandrova

Style: ALEXANDRA PYLENKOVA, HAPPY COLLECTION

Kitchen and countertop, Unice. Tile on the apron, Equipe. Decor, Roomers.

Photo: DINA ALEXANDROVA

Style: ALEXANDRA PYLENKOVA, HAPPY COLLECTION

The landlady of the apartment with her husband and adult daughter are active people and spend a lot of time at work. They viewed it as a place where they could comfortably stay on days when there was no way to go out of town.

A fragment of the corridor.

Photo: Dina Alexandrova

Style: ALEXANDRA PYLENKOVA, HAPPY COLLECTION

Pillow, Enere.

Photo: Dina Alexandrova

Style: ALEXANDRA PYLENKOVA, HAPPY COLLECTION

On an area of 38 m2, we needed to place two bedrooms, a kitchen with all necessary appliances, a living room area, a bathroom and an entrance hall, while adding more hidden storage places if possible. We were constantly at the construction site and tried to control all processes without exception: from the delivery of door handles to manually lifting a 140-kilogram marble portal into the apartment.

Photo: Dina Alexandrova

Style: ALEXANDRA PYLENKOVA, HAPPY COLLECTION

The layout revolved around the stunning view that opens from the loggia. When at the stage of the project it was decided to place the kitchen in one of its niches, there was a similarity with classic small Parisian apartments. This is how the concept developed – a modern interior with a French mood.

In the common area of the apartment, we did not use color in the decoration of the walls, but on the contrary left them white, decorating them with cornices and moldings. On the floor, as befits a French apartment, oak parquet was laid in a classic herringbone layout.

Bed, wall sconces – everything, Inmyroom.

Photo: Dina Alexandrova

Style: ALEXANDRA PYLENKOVA, HAPPY COLLECTION

Decor, Moon Stores. Olga Kozhevnikova’s graphics from the “Fragments” series, Artis Gallery.

Photo: Dina Alexandrova

Style: ALEXANDRA PYLENKOVA, HAPPY COLLECTION

Geometric notes appeared in the wallpaper in her daughter’s room, in contrast with which the color of the chest of drawers and the headboard, which became her business card, stands out favorably.

Despite the low ceilings and a very small area, everything worked out perfectly

Daughter’s bedroom. Wallpapers from the collection Cleasson Koivisto Rune, Eco. Bed, wall sconces – everything, Inmyroom. Cabinets and chest of drawers are made to order according to the architect’s sketches. Bed linen, Fiori di Venezia. Pillows, Enere.

Photo: Dina Alexandrova

Style: ALEXANDRA PYLENKOVA, HAPPY COLLECTION

We made the master bedroom gentle and calm, floral prints with birds appeared on the walls, the color of which set the mood of the room. Since the area and size of the room were limited, we decided to abandon bedside tables and bedside tables and made niches in the side parts of the cabinets, which are located on both sides of the headboard. In the area of the window behind the portal there is an armchair with a coffee table where you can spend time reading your favorite book or enjoy the sunset view after a long working day.

Bedroom. Bed, Inmyroom. Wallpaper Options 2, Arthouse. Sconces and chandeliers, Inmyroom. The cabinets are made to order according to the architect’s sketches. Textiles, Happy Collections. Pillows, Enere.

Photo: DINA ALEXANDROVA

Style: ALEXANDRA PYLENKOVA, HAPPY COLLECTION

Bed, Inmyroom. Sconce, Inmyroom.

Photo: Dina Alexandrova

Style: ALEXANDRA PYLENKOVA, HAPPY COLLECTION

The chair, “Lavsit”.

Photo: Dina Alexandrova

Style: ALEXANDRA PYLENKOVA, HAPPY COLLECTION

We tried to hide all the storage places in the hallway behind mirrored cabinet doors with brass handles. Brass in the interior appears everywhere in the form of accents in window and furniture fittings, in ventilation grilles, in the frames of switches and sockets, in chandeliers and sconces, and even in the decor of the marble portal.

Mirrors add geometric complexity to the space

View from the hallway to the bathroom. There are tiles on the floor, Equipe.

Photo: Dina Alexandrova

Style: ALEXANDRA PYLENKOVA, HAPPY COLLECTION

In the bathroom, we fought for every inch. It houses a comfortable shower and a beautiful marble sink area. Mirrors give a certain geometric complexity to the space and visually expand it. By the way, mirrors are also present in the living room, where the panels are assembled from them. They add air to a small space, and in the evening the room is filled with glare from the refraction of light – a real French romance.