Before and After: The 'Second Life' of a Dead Kitchen in a 36 sqm Studio Apartment

This apartment is located in a Stalin-era high-rise in the residential block of the former hotel 'Ukraine'. Designers Irina Primak and Anna Kudrina carried out a complete renovation, recreating the atmosphere of an elegant Moscow apartment. The kitchen turned out vibrant, convenient, and functional.

In the 'before' version, the kitchen was a dull, stripped-down space. Dreadful finishing, crooked doors, outdated attic storage, and insufficient lighting — the space desperately needed a major update.

Photo of the kitchen before renovation

Photo of the kitchen before renovation

For wall finishing in the new interior, they chose light tones. Thanks to the 'pine' tone of the cabinetry, graphic floor tiles, and stone-like ceramic granite on the countertop, the space does not look dull. Windows and sills were replaced, adding texture and wood color to the room.

To avoid visually overloading the interior, the main part of the kitchen was designed without upper cabinets. For the countertop decoration, large-format ceramic granite in a stone pattern was chosen — this created the effect of a single surface with minimal seams.

The black cylindrical extractor emphasizes the chosen style and harmoniously echoes the appliances and other black accents.

Next to the dining table, a mini sofa with a rounded back was placed. The design of this model blended harmoniously into the apartment's style, inspired by interiors from the middle of the last century.