How to Create an Interior That Won't Go Out of Style

Designers Oksana Butman and Natalia Ananina decorated a flat in a Stalinist five-story building from 1958 in 2013, yet the interior still looks modern and relevant ten years later. What is the secret? We share the details.

Functional Layout

An interior that stands the test of time starts with a functional layout. It's important to plan all functional zones and areas where the homeowners spend most of their time. For example, in this interior, the kitchen was moved to where the corridor used to be, expanding the kitchen-living room area. The circular layout includes another door from the kitchen into the hallway, which is very convenient for bringing groceries in without entering the living room.

High-Quality Finish Materials

Customers had long dreamed of parquet "little tree," tile "hog," and wall paint. This determined the choice of finishing materials. For practicality, ceramic granite was used in "wet" zones. Over time, paint, tiles, and parquet retain their appeal and remain stylish.

Furniture with Classic Shapes but Interesting Upholstery

Armchairs with "ears" are timeless classics. To keep them in line with trends, it's better to choose colorful upholstery. Customers fell in love with the multicolored Marie's Corner armchair. It became the starting point for the entire interior—vibrant and cheerful, yet balanced against calm neutral wall colors.

Long-Lasting Tones

When choosing tones for interior finishing, pay attention not to the most intense trends and fashionable colors but to those combinations that have stood the test of time. For example, gray-tinted and taupe tones are always in style.

Classic Paneling

Custom cabinetry is one of the main budget items. It would be a pity if the cabinet doors go out of style in a few years. Choose more traditional rectangular paneling—it has been tested by time.

See a detailed room tour of the apartment