Houzz Tour: Colour and Character Rejuvenate a Small Flat
Pop art shades and clever design solutions bring fun, vibrancy and good organisation to a compact apartment
Before it was renovated, this apartment had comic-book-themed wallpaper. The owner wanted a more grown-up version of the same look – and something that reflected her personality. “I like rock and superheroes and I’m also a bit of a princess,” she said to the designers when they first met.
Milovzorowa suggested using bright colours in areas where the owner spends little time and softer hues in the bathroom and kitchen.
Furniture and decorative pieces carry the accent colours. They can easily be replaced without having to renovate the apartment, should the owner get tired of the constant riot of colour. The hallway walls are turquoise, on the other hand, because the owner wanted to be immersed in colour from the moment she first steps into the house.
Furniture and decorative pieces carry the accent colours. They can easily be replaced without having to renovate the apartment, should the owner get tired of the constant riot of colour. The hallway walls are turquoise, on the other hand, because the owner wanted to be immersed in colour from the moment she first steps into the house.
The shoe rack and the gold mirror with its lighted frame contrast with the walls. “We call it the selfie mirror,” says Milovzorowa. “A social media producer just cannot do without it! It’s very popular with the owner’s friends and her Instagram is already filled with pictures taken in this mirror.”
Shoe rack; console; shelf with coat rail, all Lavval Wood.
Shoe rack; console; shelf with coat rail, all Lavval Wood.
A hydraulic mechanism under the mattress allows it to be lifted easily by pulling on a fabric loop, revealing storage space for seasonal clothing, shoes and even suitcases.
The owner turns on the lights on the ‘Rock Star’ inscription to create the right atmosphere when she hosts parties. The painting above the bed is by Mikhail Nikatin.
Discover these space-saving beds that maximise every inch
The owner turns on the lights on the ‘Rock Star’ inscription to create the right atmosphere when she hosts parties. The painting above the bed is by Mikhail Nikatin.
Discover these space-saving beds that maximise every inch
There are two closets on either side of the sofa. The closet on the left has a clothes rack, and the one on the right has drawers.
The apartment also has a small walk-in closet in the laundry room. “The owner’s parents were afraid that it would have been hard to resell the apartment after a large-scale renovation, so the only [structural change] they agreed to was the creation of a separate storage area,” says Milovzorowa.
The apartment also has a small walk-in closet in the laundry room. “The owner’s parents were afraid that it would have been hard to resell the apartment after a large-scale renovation, so the only [structural change] they agreed to was the creation of a separate storage area,” says Milovzorowa.
The love seat is from the owner’s old apartment. She liked its functionality and size, but its colour and texture did not fit the new interior. In the end, the sofa was reupholstered with yellow fabric to match the colour of the balcony walls.
The owner bought the coffee tables herself. They go well with the painting by Elena Fuks, which features an armchair and a console table and was added later.
The owner bought the coffee tables herself. They go well with the painting by Elena Fuks, which features an armchair and a console table and was added later.
The balcony walls were painted yellow because the designers wanted to give the interior a sunny feel, especially as its windows are the only source of natural light in the living/bedroom space.
The ceiling lights are located in the main functional areas: above the bed, the desk, the sofa and the TV. Like the ‘Rock Star’ inscription, the central chandelier helps create the right atmosphere and is turned on for parties.
Try these multi-functional furniture ideas for compact living rooms
The ceiling lights are located in the main functional areas: above the bed, the desk, the sofa and the TV. Like the ‘Rock Star’ inscription, the central chandelier helps create the right atmosphere and is turned on for parties.
Try these multi-functional furniture ideas for compact living rooms
Except for the kitchen table and chairs, all the furniture in the apartment was custom-made from the designers’ sketches. The owner wanted limited open shelving, so they mainly opted for cupboards with plain doors. They left two open bookcases: one is above the desk, where books alternate with decorative figures by Vitra from Designboom. The second is inside the bed structure, between the bed and the closet (marked on the plan with a dotted line) and holds most of the owner’s books.
Shelving unit, Lavval Wood.
Shelving unit, Lavval Wood.
Placing the guitar where it would be easily accessible was another of the owner’s requests. The solution was simple: the guitar has become part of the wall decor, while the combo amp is now stored in the TV console.
Clock, Vitra. Elena Fuks painting, Art Brut Moscow.
Clock, Vitra. Elena Fuks painting, Art Brut Moscow.
The long wooden shelf on the balcony is especially handy for parties – it can seat about 10 guests. When it’s not needed, it can be folded down against the wall.
Painting, Art Brut Moscow. Armchair, Kreslo.
Painting, Art Brut Moscow. Armchair, Kreslo.
While a rock feel dominates the living/bedroom, the owner wanted the kitchen to be fit for a princess. Originally the whole kitchen was supposed to be painted a soft pink, but the lower cabinets ended up being a light-blue colour.
The painting by artist Ksenia Ermakova was brought in by art director Daria Soboleva for the photo shoot, but the owner was so in love with it that she couldn’t let it go, as the image reflects her perfectly.
Soboleva is also the one responsible for the blue bananas and pink pears. “Daria saw the apartment and came up with the idea of painting fruit as part of the decor,” Milovzorowa says. “It’s a pity that such decor doesn’t last long – the colours go well with the kitchen doors!”
Soboleva is also the one responsible for the blue bananas and pink pears. “Daria saw the apartment and came up with the idea of painting fruit as part of the decor,” Milovzorowa says. “It’s a pity that such decor doesn’t last long – the colours go well with the kitchen doors!”
The same colours are repeated throughout the apartment. The tiles in the bathroom are exactly the same colour as the shoe rack in the hallway and the basin cabinet echoes the hallway walls.
“When they were putting in the red tiles, the builders thought that we were insane. In fact, the cabinet and tiles in the bathroom act like colour accents: one of the four walls and the floor are a shade of white, softening the whole look,” says Milovzorowa.
Ceramic cactus, Designboom.
“When they were putting in the red tiles, the builders thought that we were insane. In fact, the cabinet and tiles in the bathroom act like colour accents: one of the four walls and the floor are a shade of white, softening the whole look,” says Milovzorowa.
Ceramic cactus, Designboom.
The floorplan shows how every inch has been utilised. The apartment has a living room that also incorporates a sleeping space and storage, a kitchen/dining area, bathroom and laundry room.
Tell us…
What do you think of this new-look studio apartment? What space-saving solutions have you tried? Tell us in the Comments section.
Tell us…
What do you think of this new-look studio apartment? What space-saving solutions have you tried? Tell us in the Comments section.
Who lives here A social media producer
Location Moscow, Russia
Property A small studio apartment
Size One bedroom/living room and one bathroom
Designers Natalia Milovzorowa and Olga Tsarevskaya of Salmon Lair
Photos by Mikhail Loskutov
The designers mostly avoided light wood in this project because the owner doesn’t like it. However, the dark flooring fits well with the bright interior. The floors in the hallway, the bathroom and kitchen feature the same flooring to avoid dividing the already small space.