Bright Multi-Layer Interior of a 45 sqm Compact Apartment (Before Photos Available)

Designer-decorator Sarah Mikhailova created a stunning project for an apartment in a typical Moscow studio. This space will be home to a young woman with a cat who is well-versed in fashion and appreciates the beauty of items with history. Sarah successfully transformed an unattractive apartment into a vibrant contemporary space in the mid-century style and designed a functional compact flat with a full bedroom and living room.

Location: Moscow
Building Type: Panel House
Area: 45 sqm
Ceiling Height: 3 m
Rooms: 2
Bathrooms: 1
Design: Sarah Mikhailova

Originally, it was a standard one-room apartment, with a kitchen that opened to a balcony. The main wish of the client was a bedroom with its own balcony. Therefore, a reconfiguration was made to move the bedroom into the kitchen, and the kitchen unit was placed in the area of the former corridor. According to the new layout, the apartment features a hallway, kitchen-living room, bedroom with balcony, wardrobe, laundry area, and a combined bathroom.

The living room has three separate functional zones: a soft zone, kitchen, and mini-office with a desk near the window. For wall finishing in this room, contrasting shades were chosen. The upper part of the window was painted white, while the lower part featured a bright burgundy trim that smoothly transitions into the curtains. This solution visually expands the space and adds volume to a small room.

The living room is filled with items with history: a restored 60s hi-board from Czechoslovakia, a lantern from St. Petersburg, a blue mirror from the 1950s, a restored desk, and a Bauhaus-era armchair. On the floor, two elements typical of mid-century style were combined: a semi-classical rug in the living area and artificial deer hide near the desk. The sofa is modern, designed in the 1950s style.

The room features multiple light sources: a decorative ceiling chandelier, technical spotlights, a table lamp in the living room, and a desk lamp at the workspace.

The kitchen was placed where the former corridor used to be. It’s small but spacious enough for comfortable cooking and living. The kitchen includes a built-in refrigerator, oven with microwave function, two-burner cooktop, and a 45cm dishwasher. Monochromatic white cabinets, the same white countertop and backsplash made of artificial stone almost blend into the walls, making the kitchen as unobtrusive as possible.

The bedroom was set up in the former kitchen area. The walls are painted in a soft olive color. Bright accents include a vintage green lamp on the bedside table, a burgundy headboard and pillows. The balcony was glazed and insulated, creating a beautiful lounge area.

To avoid drawing attention to numerous doors in the hallway, a color-block technique was used that is common in mid-century style. Cream color transitions into burgundy on one wall, and to dark on another, then back to cream. The doors seem to dissolve and don’t draw attention. Behind one of the doors, the laundry and utility area are hidden. The vintage vanity immediately sets the tone for the entire interior.

The bathroom was combined. For its finishing, small-format white tiles were used. To break up the sterility of white, colored grout was used. The taps and meters were hidden behind solid facades above the installation, and a built-in cabinet for storage was provided nearby. The countertop for the drop-in sink is made from the same stone as the worktop of the kitchen unit. A vintage light fixture completed the mid-century ambiance.