How a 1990s Dacha Was Transformed Into a Cozy Home for Comfortable Living (+ Before Renovation Photos)

This two-story house is located in New Moscow on a plot of 6 sotkas. Designer Elvira Stankevich inherited it from her parents. She managed to carefully restore the house and turn it into a cozy and homey space for permanent living. Let's see what was achieved.

Location: Moscow
Area: 180 m²
Number of Rooms: 5
ceiling Height: 2.9 m
Bathrooms: 2
Design: Elvira Stankevich

The house made of silicate brick was designed and built by Elvira's father in 1990. Parents used it as a summer dacha: there was no water, heating, or sewage. It was necessary to preserve the structure, insulate the house from inside and outside, bring water and gas, install heating, and fully replace the electrical system.

For external finishing, they used imitation of log cabin. A heated vestibule was built on the porch, which serves as a hallway. On the first floor are the staircase hall, a separate kitchen, a living room with dining area and a separate relaxation zone, and a bathroom with a shower; on the second floor – a spacious hall, a bedroom, an office, and a small bathroom.

Inside, the walls and ceiling are finished with log imitation and painted with dense paint in a light color. On the first floor, ceramic granite is laid on the floor as one continuous surface. The staircase in the hall was redesigned – it is convenient and safe. To visually lighten the spatial structure, the frame was made on a monocoque with floating steps from larch wood. Wood in the interior is introduced as an accent. For example, all window sills are made from pine wood.

From the staircase hall, you enter the kitchen. Along the window, a linear cabinet is placed. It is equipped with everything necessary: dishwasher, oven with microwave function, gas cooktop with two burners, range hood, and water filter.

The main feature of this space is a real stove in the corner, which was tiled to look like tiles. It is functional but now serves only as an art object. The samovar, inherited from parents, is actively used in the family. It is especially relevant when guests come for a warm cup of tea.

Elvira hand-painted the windows in the living room using special paints. She drew a firebird from an old family photo and stylized it as a stained glass window. The glass was then covered with stained glass film.

The fireplace was almost unchanged, only the chimney was cleared and the burned log was replaced. It was supplemented with a cozy armchair with a fur coat. On the second level, a lounge area with a sofa, projector, and screen was set up. Stylish wall sconces provide decorative and cozy lighting.

In the dining area, there is a round expandable table, at which a large family or friends can comfortably gather for weekends and holidays. The decoration here is a vintage buffet from the 1960s. It was well preserved and did not even require restoration. The buffet stores family dishes beautifully. Above it, there are grandfather's grandfather clock with a pendulum that still works and shows accurate time.

The spacious bathroom on the first floor is equipped with a shower. The walls are clad with the same ceramic granite as the floor. Behind the blinds, a lot of storage space was arranged, a boiler, and even a washing machine.

On the second floor, a relaxation area was created in the hall, Elvira's workspace, shelves with books, documents, and family artifacts. The desk was left over from her father.

The bedroom has a bed, bedside tables, a shelf with family books, a small cabinet, a wardrobe, and a TV. In the guest room, there is a small expandable sofa in an accent bright fabric and a desk.