How to Make a Flat in an Old-Style Building Super-Functional

Designer Natalia Komova transformed a three-room flat in an old Stalin-era building for a family with a child. In addition to decoration and style, it was important to plan functionality and storage systems. We share our best ideas.

Expand the space by using adjacent rooms

In a small flat, it's important to use all potential. Here, the bathroom was expanded by using the corridor. Also, they moved away from a narrow long corridor, making it part of the living room. In addition, the designer tried to create an effect of a hallway layout so that when the doors are open, four windows can be seen at once. This always visually makes the space appear larger.

Make kitchen cabinets reach the ceiling

Kitchen cabinets were made up to the ceiling in two rows. "It's obvious that upper cabinets aren't used daily, but they allow storing everything needed. Lower shelves were immediately planned for specific items — the family members themselves said how many drawers, shelves, and sections they needed," — Natalia Komova explains.

Use niches

Niches were maximally used: in the corridor, a mini storage area and built-in column with washing and drying machines were created. A wardrobe was designed in the office/children's room.

"Carpentry is always one of the most significant items in a budget. You can still save money — if niches are built in a construction manner, it's basically only the beautiful fronts and minimal interior that need to be ordered. This is cheaper than separate cabinets," — the designer shares.

A shelf with open and closed sections was installed along the wall in the former corridor. This way, functionality was increased and a visually beautiful storage system was created.

Design niches in the bathroom

"This is one of my favorite layouts for small bathrooms — when a bathtub with storage niches on both sides and a large mirror above is placed perpendicular to the door," — Natalia Komova tells.

Want more details? See the full project