Top 5 Cool Kitchens from IKEA in Stalin-era Apartments

In this guide, we've collected design projects with beautiful and functional kitchens in Stalin-era apartments. See how renovation and IKEA furniture can be used to outfit modern spaces in buildings of the previous century.

Small Kitchen with Glass Partitions

Before renovation, the kitchen was extremely small and it was impossible to fit a dining table. Designer Natalia Solo suggested moving the dining area into the living room and making the kitchen unit L-shaped with tall cabinet columns and a sink by the window. A suitable black-and-white kitchen unit was found at IKEA and complemented with Italian handles.

Since the apartment has a gas stove, kitchen insulation was needed. For this purpose, sliding glass partitions were chosen. They are functional and visually maintain a unified space.

Design: Natalia Solo. View Full Project

Gray Kitchen with Bar Stool

In this studio apartment, designers from SODA Homedecor decided to combine the modestly-sized kitchen with the living room to make the space feel more spacious. As a result, an IKEA corner kitchen unit with columns and built-in appliances appeared on the kitchen. Preference was given to gray fronts that almost blend into the walls. Monochrome was softened with a bright apron made of Moroccan tiles.

Instead of a dining table, a bar stool was created, which can also be used as a workspace. For convenience, small storage units were built into it for office supplies and documents.

Design: SODA Homedecor. View Full Project

Kitchen in Place of Former Corridor

The owner of this apartment loves cooking, so designers had to provide a large working space in the kitchen. A reconfiguration was unavoidable, and it started with moving the kitchen to the former corridor. As a result, a convenient isolated space with sliding doors was created.

A light IKEA kitchen unit with louvered doors and glass panels perfectly fit into the interior of modern classic style. For the apron, tiles "calf" were chosen, and large-format ceramic tile was laid on the floor.

Design: Oksana Butman, Natalia Anakhina

Cozy Kitchen with Bar Stool by the Window

A young client wanted to transform an old two-room Stalin-era apartment into a practical and interesting space. Designer Anna Sukhaya helped him with this. She focused on natural and calm shades of gray and beige, and added loft elements to the interior.

The kitchen was joined with the living room, and solid partitions were replaced with glass in a loft style — this made more light enter the apartment. To install a spacious kitchen unit and necessary household appliances, it was decided to forgo the dining table. Instead, a bar stool was made by the window.

Design: Anna Sukhaya. View Full Project

Functional Kitchen for a Cook

Before renovation, this kitchen in a Stalin-era building was in the same "dead" condition as the entire apartment. The challenge for designer Elena Zufarova was to create a comfortable and stylish home, with special attention paid to kitchen layout and equipment.

The IKEA kitchen unit was placed along two walls, raised up, and the gas pipe was relocated. Two extractors and a glass sliding door were installed in the kitchen. Several light sources were provided: a pendant light was placed in the center, and wall-mounted spotlights were chosen for work zones.

Design: Elena Zufarova. View Full Project

On the Cover: SODA Homedecor Design Project