How a Designer Created the Atmosphere of an Old-Style House in a New Building

In this small 50 m² apartment, the designer managed to organize two working zones since the clients are an active creative couple.

Let's see how this was implemented.

• Area: 50 sq. m
• Rooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 1
• Design: Julia Atamanenko
• Photos: Sergey Ananyev

Layout

In a standard studio located in a new building near the river, the windowsill between the balcony and kitchen was removed, the balcony was insulated, and space was gained for a work office that is closed by a folding door.

The kitchen was visually expanded and made brighter due to the lack of a partition between this part of the apartment and the entrance hall.

Moreover, a wardrobe was perfectly fitted into the balcony niche — it looks like an entry to another room. A bench-transformer was also placed there, which can be turned into a sofa for guests when needed.

Finishing

The walls were painted white, and the bathroom was finished with moisture-resistant paint to avoid tiling costs. The floor in the bathroom was covered with slate, and the screen was made of quartzite.

The balcony was lined with boards, adding a rural color scheme.

Oak planks were laid on the floor in all rooms, as the owners prefer to walk around barefoot.

Storage

The storage room was removed during renovation, so it was decided to move storage into custom-built wardrobes.

The balcony wardrobe stores two folding bicycles, while the main part of belongings is located in the living room — from outerwear to books.

The kitchen shelves for convenience were raised to the ceiling.

Furniture and Decor

The chair at the desk was brought from the Saint Petersburg Musical Comedy Theater — now it has a linen upholstery. Dining chairs were purchased at an antique shop and restored.

A chest bought on a flea market now has a new bottom and wheels, so it's also used as a portable table.

The kitchen stool, desk, bench and painting in the living room were created at "Atamanenko Studio". These interior items evoke images of a Russian estate.

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