How an Old Stalin-era Apartment Was Transformed Into a Comfortable Living Space: Before and After Photos

The owner of this apartment, Julia, is interested in decor and design. Together with her husband, they dreamed of living in the center of St. Petersburg and looked for housing in the old stock. Seeing an arched window in the ad, Julia immediately understood: this was the one.

Despite the poor condition of the apartment, they were not intimidated by the difficulties and took on the renovation. The project turned out to be vibrant, stylish, and functional, preserving the spirit of the historical house.

Julia Arendar, Blogger, Apartment Owner
On Layout

Originally, it was a standard two-room apartment with narrow passages, bulky corridors, and a separate bathroom. During the renovation, the space was completely re-planned. The kitchen was merged with the living room, creating a larger bright area for communication.

Instead of an inconvenient corridor, they created a passage wardrobe that also serves as storage. The bathroom became more spacious, and a separate laundry area was organized for household appliances.

On Renovation

Before starting the finishing work, they updated all engineering systems. Walls were leveled, wiring was replaced, and old pipes were changed to modern ones. To achieve maximum comfort for living, special attention was paid to sound insulation.

Before Renovation Photos

Before Renovation Photos

As the house is old and the floors are far from perfect, Julia wanted to apply ready-made solutions and install the KNAUF SPACE® system to protect against external sounds: conversations with neighbors, traffic noise, and operating appliances. Between the bedroom and living room, as well as for neutralizing neighbor noise, they used KNAUF SPACE® construction. Comfort — the system reduces domestic noise to a comfortable level, making the atmosphere cozier and calmer.

The additional advantage of KNAUF SPACE® solutions is the ease of installation and availability. The system can be installed in a new building or an old apartment without major renovations. Now even in an old house with thin walls, residents can enjoy silence and comfort without resorting to complex construction work.

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On the Kitchen

Julia prefers minimalist and airy interiors, so she opted out of upper cabinets and instead installed open shelves.

She bought the kitchen cabinet from a factory, and the countertop and backsplash were finished with tiles.

Under the sink, a sliding trash bin was organized that opens synchronously with the cabinet door, as well as pull-out shelves for convenient storage of cleaning supplies.

The sofa was bought at a discount for 67,000 rubles, the TV stand was found for just 8,000 rubles, and the chandelier was purchased in a budget segment of a construction store.

Wall decor also became an important part of the decoration. In the living room, there is an art object titled "Where Is My Mind," which Julia assembled herself: she ordered a poster, an aged frame, and acrylic glass separately.

The workspace was placed by the window, choosing an ergonomic table and a comfortable chair. To avoid disorder, all cables, chargers, and gadgets are stored in special baskets.

A separate wardrobe for everyday clothes and laundry is provided in the bedroom. Such thoughtful zoning makes the space as functional as possible: items are always in their right places, simplifying daily life and allowing for easy maintenance without extra effort.

On the Bathroom

Julia always wanted to experiment with color, so the bathroom became the most vibrant room. Pink finishes and bold decor make the interior unique.

Two sinks were installed instead of one to avoid morning queues. All cosmetics are poured into universal dispensers to avoid visual clutter. The tiles feature a playful phrase “Get Naked,” ordered from an online marketplace.

An additional feature is the “cat walk.” This is a special passage that allows pets to move freely between rooms.

A soda can with a dispenser is used for storing fabric softener—this makes it easier to control the consumption of the product. Instead of expensive storage systems, regular furniture shelves and brackets were used, saving 40,000 rubles.

The renovation turned out to be stylish, thoughtful, and functional. Thanks to the re-planning, the space was used rationally, and KNAUF SPACE® sound insulation ensured a comfortable atmosphere in the apartment. As a result, the flat became not just beautiful but also convenient for living—exactly as the owners had envisioned.