What Great Interiors Look Like in Panel, Khrushchyovka, and Stalin Apartments

We collected kitchens that were designed by heroes of our projects. They proved that even in old buildings, it's possible to beautifully transform the space and make the kitchen modern, stylish, and ergonomic. Get inspired and take note of interesting solutions and unconventional ideas for your interior.

Video (37 minutes): Cozy Small Kitchen in Panel House 58 m²

This kitchen in a three-room panel house was arranged by Maria Verkhovskaya without a designer. She invited a measurer who calculated the dimensions of the kitchen cabinet, the height of the countertop-window sill, and the width of the router slot in the doors — everything looks neat, aesthetic, and tidy. The cabinet is made in white color with a wood texture addition. Despite the limited area, it was possible to place everything necessary: a dishwasher, a standalone refrigerator, a microwave oven, a gas cooktop, an electric oven, and a washing machine hidden behind the back panel.

Behind the sliding shelf with spices, access to gas pipelines is hidden. Some space was left above the upper doors to allow air to circulate freely in the room. Bright colors were added using textile on the window. Beautiful hanging lanterns above the countertop-bar counter echo the light fixtures in the living room and create a cozy warm atmosphere.

Budget Solutions and More Storage in the Kitchen Without a Designer

Oльga Korkina, formerly an IKEA designer, decorated this 51 sq. m two-room flat in a new building for herself and her family. To make the apartment more functional, they conducted a small reconfiguration. They moved the kitchen opening — this allowed them to increase the kitchen front and fit a dishwasher that is 60 cm wide. They chose a standard IKEA cabinet with gray doors and white artificial stone countertop. These basic tones are timeless and will remain relevant for a long time.

One wall was decorated with decorative brick, adding expressiveness and character to the interior. In the kitchen, it was possible to create a proper resting area with a soft bench that became part of the dining zone. For additional storage, a white IKEA cabinet was placed, and on top of it — an aquarium with fish. It became the highlight of the interior, giving the kitchen more light and dynamism.

Stylish White Kitchen with Retro Elements

This bright kitchen is located in a Moscow Stalin apartment, one of the famous Red Houses of the capital. It was designed for himself by a product photographer and photography teacher Alexey Sokolov without professional help. He took the Scandinavian mid-century as a basis and preserved the vintage look of the room, while making it incredibly stylish.

The floor in the kitchen is finished with the famous Metlakha tile 'Octagon', walls are painted with washable light-colored paint, and the backsplash is a minimalist 'boar'. On a small area, everything necessary was arranged. Alexey diluted the standard Scandinavian style with elements from the Soviet era. For example, a crystal chandelier 'Satellite' hangs from the ceiling, and a marble table Tulip from 1955 is complemented by chairs from Czechoslovakia of the same year.

Minimalist Functional Kitchen in a 1978 Thresh House

In the next project, the kitchen is combined with the living room. Anna Ratnikova decorated it for her family and grandmother without the help of designers. She focused on minimalist style and provided a large number of storage spaces. The most important thing — she connected the kitchen and living room in a gas house, legally agreeing the layout. For this, it was necessary to disconnect gas and replace the stove with an induction one.

All the kitchen in the living room is mainly white, so the matte cabinet doors were painted in the same tone. The kitchen's feature is hidden storage. The large refrigerator and freezer are almost invisible: all thanks to the cabinet doors matching the wall color. On the right side of the kitchen, washing and drying machines are hidden: before reconfiguration, this was a storage room, and all necessary utilities remain here. Behind one of the doors are household appliances (toaster, kettle, mixer), with sockets provided inside.

Modern Kitchen in Scandi-Loft Style

In decorating this kitchen, interior blogger Alena Zhivkova combined the styles of loft, Scandinavian, and eco. She wanted to use space more efficiently, so she did a reconfiguration. The entrance to the room was moved, and now you can enter from the kitchen through sliding glass partitions. To accommodate a built-in refrigerator, the partition in the hallway was extended.

The linear cabinet is made in two shades: 'concrete-like' and 'wood-like'. Upper closed doors alternate with open shelves. Beautiful spice jars, decor, and dishes transform the space and make it more interesting. The dining area was placed near the window and highlighted with a large hanging pendant in the loft style. Different colored chairs help diversify the minimalist and slightly brutal interior.