The Best of ELLE DECORATION: luxury interior in St. Petersburg

When designing an apartment in St. Petersburg, architects Slava Valoven and Alexander Gupalov did not limit their imagination in anything. This was one of the conditions of the owners. The project was printed in ELLE DECORATION in November 2017

The dining room with mirrored panels adjoins the living room. The table is made to order according to the sketches of architects. Console, Baker. Floor lamps, vintage. Curtains, Pierre Frey. Chandelier, Preciosa.

Photo: Giorgio Possenti

Marble, rosewood, exotic sycamore, Murano glass, embossed leather, brass… and this is just the beginning. The authors of the interior of this apartment in St. Petersburg, architects Slava Valoven and Alexander Gupalov, did not limit themselves in expressive means, choosing the best from all over the world for the project. This task was set for them by customers.

Living room. Sofas, Cesare Ferrari Group and Brabbu. Coffee table, Essential Home. The shelving is made of rosewood according to the sketches of architects, Cesare Ferrari Group. Ceiling lamp, vintage, bought in Milan.

Photo: Giorgio Possenti

This project is interesting primarily by the verified combination of textures. The owners were guided by the principle: if the sink is made of rock crystal, and the bathtub is made of a solid block of onyx. Actually, the work began with the search for materials. “We traveled a lot in Italy, visited woodworking plants, quarries,” says the architect. — I personally chose slabs of onyx and marble with the most expressive texture.”

A fragment of the living room. Table, Boca Do Lobo. Curtains, Pierre Frey.

Photo: Giorgio Possenti

The area of the apartment is 220 sq. m. meters allowed to apply all the treasures found and realize the most daring ideas. The front part of the apartment includes a spacious living room, smoothly turning into a dining room and an office.

Workplace in the living room. Desk, armchair, Giorgetti. Table lamp, Ralph Lauren Home. Curtains, Pierre Frey.

Photo: Giorgio Possenti

In addition to the large master bedroom, there are two guest rooms planned here — for daughters who stay in the apartment when they come to St. Petersburg. Adjacent to the bedrooms are bathrooms, decorated as elegantly as the main rooms.

“The Art Deco style, which we were inspired by, in addition to valuable materials in the decoration, implies spaciousness. We had difficulties with this because of not very high ceilings,” Slava says. “That’s why, for example, in the dining room we used mirror panels, which helped to add air to the space.”

Bedroom. Bed, Ralph Lauren Home. Wardrobe, Cesare Ferrari Group. The doors are covered with leather. Curtains, Pierre Frey.

Photo: Giorgio Possenti

“This interior has everything you need to create a sense of celebration”

Bedroom. The walls are covered with silk wallpaper, James Hare. Wardrobe, Cesare Ferrari Group. The doors are trimmed with leather. Bed, Rivolta.

Photo: Giorgio Possenti

In order for the sun to get into the corridor, it was decided to do without blind doors. Between the living room and the corridor, the architects left an open passage, without a partition, and the kitchen was separated by glass panels. “Please note, the sofas in the living room are quite modern,” Slava continues. – I wanted to reduce the overall degree of seriousness and make the composition easier. I don’t really like direct quotes of one style or another.”

Bathroom. There is a mosaic of stone on the walls.

Photo: Giorgio Possenti

“Our task was to find harmony in this ensemble”

Kitchen, Valcucine. Ceiling lamp, vintage.

Photo: Giorgio Possenti

All cabinet furniture is made according to the sketches of architects. “It was interesting for us to think through every detail — even the shutters on the windows are made to order from brass!” says Slava. Wardrobes in the bedrooms are complemented by doors made of colored leather. The “backdrop” of the library cabinet in the living room is finished with suede. “The lamps became the final chord—” says the architect. – Vintage, made of Murano glass, they look like sculptures under the ceiling and set the mood for the whole project.” Without this note, the interior would definitely not have sounded.