How They Updated a 32 m² Panel Apartment for a Young Couple

This one-room apartment is located in a Moscow panel building of series II-57. It is occupied by a young couple: the woman works as a bank analyst, and the man is a lawyer. To make their 'worn-out' interior stylish, modern, and comfortable for living, they invited designer Yana Gaevskaia.

Location: Moscow
Area: 32.4 m²
Rooms: 1
Ceiling Height: 2.6 m
Bathroom: 1
Design: Yana Gaevskaia

Rumtour of this apartment (14 minutes)

The layout remains typical: an isolated bedroom, a kitchen, a combined bathroom, and a hallway.

About the Kitchen

The kitchen area is only 6 sq m. For wall finishing, they used washable paint, and for the floor, large-format ceramic granite. To maximize space usage, the upper shelf extends almost to the ceiling, and additional storage sections were added above the refrigerator. The upper facades were painted in the same color as the walls.

The kitchen feature includes a window, with the sills and window sills clad in ceramic tiles. The same tiles were used for the backsplash. When sunlight hits their glazed surface, it reflects and brightens the space. The window is framed with black-painted molding.

For the dining area, they installed a compact table and two chairs. Visually, the dining group is highlighted with a stylish pendant light that complements other black accents in the room.

About the Bedroom

The bedroom area is 17 sq m. Functionally, it is divided into three zones: the bedroom itself, a relaxation area near the window, and storage. The walls and ceiling in the relaxation zone were painted in an elegant blue tone and beautifully framed with a black border. To create a unified and stylish look, the air conditioner was painted to match the wall color.

Storage was organized around the window. The windowsill became a full relaxation zone—pillows can be placed on it to enjoy the beautiful view of the park. The window sills have outlets built-in. The finishing touch was two restored Soviet armchairs.

On the floor of the bedroom and hallway, they preserved the old Soviet parquet—refinished and oiled. The ceiling in the bedroom was painted to match the wall color, making it visually higher and the room more spacious. The bed was chosen with upholstery close to the wall color. Black trim in the headboard delicately echoes all black lines in the interior. The bed is equipped with a lifting mechanism, and there is a large storage box under the mattress.

For main storage, a large built-in wardrobe spans the full width of the wall. It has varying depths, which significantly improves ergonomic comfort. The wardrobe was painted in the same color as the walls to make it visually lighter. The corner transition between the narrow and wide sections was decorated with a mirror.

About the Hallway

Opposite the entrance is an oval-shaped full-length mirror that emphasizes the shape of the hallway light fixtures. A small wardrobe with turquoise roller shutter facades serves for everyday clothing storage. The electrical panel is hidden inside. There is a niche with underfloor heating to keep shoes dry. For additional storage, a wooden-style console was placed.

About the Bathroom

They opted for a shower cabin instead of a bathtub. This allowed them to place the washing machine and dryer column. The shower area is tiled like glass blocks. The wall above the sink was accentuated with blue glazed tiles. There is a storage cabinet above the installation and a wall-mounted cabinet under the sink.