Russian Houzz Tour: Careful Reshuffling Creates a Liveable Home
Colourful accents, organic-looking lights and creative touches turn this apartment's odd shape into an asset
Евгения Назарова
22 February 2018
Designer Olga Arapova was asked to work on an unusual space: the kitchen was triangular and there was a long entry hall that had no space for a closet. The new layout evolved as a way to make sense of the difficult geometry. Curvy lines now connect different zones and conceal structural features. The resulting design is low on frills: every bend and bright accent was carefully thought through and motivated by a design need.
Photos by Nina Petukhova
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Yekaterinburg, Russia
Size: About 114 square metres
Who lives here: A young businessman
Designer: Olga Arapova
“The owner of the apartment is an energetic and emotional person. When we first met, he confessed that he does not like sharp angles and was always getting snagged on everything in the house. So we chose smooth lines. They are justified here, though I prefer simpler layouts,” says Arapova.
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Yekaterinburg, Russia
Size: About 114 square metres
Who lives here: A young businessman
Designer: Olga Arapova
“The owner of the apartment is an energetic and emotional person. When we first met, he confessed that he does not like sharp angles and was always getting snagged on everything in the house. So we chose smooth lines. They are justified here, though I prefer simpler layouts,” says Arapova.
Before: Original apartment layout. From top left: bedroom, living room, kitchen, entry hall, two bedrooms.
After: Current layout
Arapova merged the kitchen and living room, creating space for an entryway and a laundry room.
Arapova merged the kitchen and living room, creating space for an entryway and a laundry room.
One of the walls in what used to be the hallway is now decorated with a mural. This was also a deliberate choice. The owner sells cars, and the pattern was designed according to his preferences. This wall is visible from the living room and goes well with the other black details throughout the apartment.
The electrical panel, parts of the smart home system and several storage shelves are concealed behind the mirrors.
The electrical panel, parts of the smart home system and several storage shelves are concealed behind the mirrors.
After the wall was torn down, it turned out that the windows in the kitchen and the living room were at different heights. That is how the idea of a line connecting the different levels came about. The bar benchtop, which is made of Corian, turns into the windowsill and acts as the focal point of the interior: “Initially we thought about making it blue like a river, but in the end we picked yellow. In the Urals we have cold, short summers, so warm accents give the interior a sunnier feeling,” says Arapova.
Bright colours can also be seen on the floor. “The vinyl flooring was laid down like puzzle pieces. It’s a very durable material that is often used in airports and hotels. We chose it because of the low ceilings – wood would have taken away another 5-7 centimetres.”
Bright colours can also be seen on the floor. “The vinyl flooring was laid down like puzzle pieces. It’s a very durable material that is often used in airports and hotels. We chose it because of the low ceilings – wood would have taken away another 5-7 centimetres.”
Curved lines are echoed in the light fixtures, which look like they are growing out from the ceiling. The plaster lamps were mounted into the ceiling and shaped for a seamless effect.
The recessed wall light creates meditative evening lighting – that is why it was installed next to the hammock. “This chill-out area was the finishing touch. The hammock can be removed, but the owner is so in love with it that he lies on it constantly,” the designer says.
Every piece of furniture in the living room was chosen based on availability, because the owner did not want to have to wait months for delivery. The only imported element of the decor are the Italian textured branches that adorn the wall between the windows. Arapova is especially pleased that she was able to find the iconic yellow DU 55 armchair designed for Poltrona Frau in 1954.
The kitchen features two colours: the cabinet fronts are made of white frosted glass (these appear completely opaque on the photo) and seem to vanish in the space, while the black columns with appliances are next to the area that used to be a balcony.
“We lowered the ceiling slightly to accommodate the built-in lights, but this is justified aesthetically as the panel highlights the kitchen area,” says Arapova.
The wall of what was once the balcony is painted with chalkboard paint, so the owner can draw on it or record the menu for the week. The small table with two chairs is perfect for morning coffee.
There is a bright detail – a yellow floor – in the otherwise more restrained bedroom. The neon inscription on the bedhead livens up the simple walls.
The tall sink and cabinet designed by Philippe Starck is now the central element of the bathroom. It was paired with faux-wood and faux-stone tiles.
The guest bathroom turned into an “adventure library.” Books can be placed on open shelves in a narrow niche, and the wall tiles imitate cargo crates.
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Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
More
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God! How much did this cost? I wish I had customers with this amount of money!
Never thought I'd like the yellow accents but I do. Wonderful look.
How very clever. Clearly a costly endeavour but the creative attention to detail and the personality it captures is a joy.