How a Designer Decorated a Kitchen in a Small Apartment for Herself

Interior designer Lyubov Kopeykinskaya proved that even a small kitchen can be both functional and beautiful. In just 9.5 square meters, she managed to fit a functional kitchen and a living room area with a fold-out sofa and armchair.

To avoid clutter, Lyubov chose a kitchen set with pull-out shelves. The upper cabinets reaching the ceiling increased storage space and helped organize the area. This solution is especially important for a kitchen that is combined with a living room: everything is hidden behind the doors, creating a neat and stylish look.

The kitchen set is made in a restrained combination: upper doors in oak, lower ones white. Black minimalist handles add graphic appeal, while a dark ceramic granite backsplash supports the minimalist style. A black sink made of artificial stone and a flexible faucet are both convenient and durable.

Since Lyubov rarely cooks, she chose a two-burner cooktop and added a multi-cooker. There is also a dishwasher, oven, and black refrigerator. The microwave is not built-in – a separate shelf was made for it.

The living room-dining area includes a round table, a 190 cm fold-out sofa, and an armchair. Wooden shelves above the sofa serve not only for storage but also for the owner’s creative pursuits – Lyubov enjoys making candles and home decor.

All the walls in the apartment, including the kitchen, are painted in a deep dark blue color that the designer calls “storm cloud.” This shade makes the interior cozy, but the designer admits that matte paint requires attention – smudges and fingerprints are clearly visible.

To make the kitchen-living room look more spacious, Lyubov replaced standard windows with sliding lower sashes with floor-to-ceiling windows. This design choice added light and visually expanded the space.