Before and After: Transformed a Fearful Khrushchyovka into a Cozy 2-Room Apartment for 1.5 Million Rubles

This 2-room apartment was transformed by architect Anna Karacheva. The flat is located on the first floor with north-facing windows — it had little light. Therefore, the main task was to create a bright modern interior with minimal bulky furniture.

Location: St. Petersburg
Area: 42 m²
Ceiling Height: 2.45 m
Number of Rooms: 2
Bathroom: 1
Budget: 1.5 million rubles
Design and Photos: Anna Karacheva

Apartment Before Renovation

Before renovation, the apartment was a dark and outdated space that hadn't been updated since Soviet times. All rooms were heavily cluttered with furniture. Scratched walls and doors only emphasized the feeling of abandonment.

About the Layout

During the re-planning, a wall between the bathroom and toilet was demolished — the bathroom became combined. A window between the bathroom and kitchen was relocated to accommodate a shower cubicle. Kitchen and storage room openings were expanded. The apartment features an entrance hall, separate kitchen, open living room, bedroom with wardrobe and a combined bathroom.

Kitchen After Renovation

The kitchen unit was assembled from standard ready-made modules and placed along one wall. A compact refrigerator with non-standard dimensions (width 49 cm) was chosen, along with a two-burner stove. The dining area was set up opposite — a round table on one leg and a couple of soft chairs. The gas pipe was moved under the kitchen countertop, enabling the installation of a tiled backsplash and electrical outlets for appliances.

Living Room After Renovation

In all rooms except the bathroom, dense flannel wallpapers were used for wall finishing to effectively hide imperfections and create a cozy atmosphere. In the living room and bedroom, the original parquet was preserved and restored — it adds warmth and a nostalgic touch. Cast iron radiators were also left untouched — they were only cleaned and repainted.

The interior aimed for minimalism to avoid cluttering the space: a pull-out sofa, comfortable armchair with a reading lamp and TV stand were placed in the living room. A highlight of the project was a Soviet cabinet with books left by previous owners, which underscores the history of the apartment.

Bedroom After Renovation

In the bedroom, only essential items were included: a double bed with a nightstand next to it and a desk by the window. A mirror above the desk can also serve as a vanity table. Sheer linen curtains on the windows let in daylight and create comfort in both the bedroom and living room.

Originally, the layout had a storage room with low ceiling height. It was expanded and replaced with a dense curtain reaching the ceiling instead of a door. Now, it has become a convenient wardrobe with shelves and rails.

Entrance Hall After Renovation

Monochrome ceramic granite resembling wood was laid on the floor in both the entrance hall and kitchen, helping to expand the space and harmonize with the existing parquet. The curved wall remained unchanged. An entrance hall was added with a wall-mounted coat rack, shoe bench and full-length mirror for convenience.

Bathroom After Renovation

Combining the bathroom and toilet allowed placing a toilet, shower and washing machine with a separate sink and cabinet underneath in a small space. The towel warmer was relocated to the cold wall bordering the entrance.

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