Moving into your own home, especially the first one, is an exciting experience. Not only do you get to have privacy and make the house rules, being in your own physical space means that you can fit it exactly to your tastes. Such is the case for the homeowner of this one-bedroom apartment in Moscow, Russia. Previously living with her family in a large estate on the outskirts of the city, this unit is her first independent dwelling.
To create her personalised abode, the occupant engaged the services of Inga Arshba and Daria Shirokova from design firm I.D. Interior Design. As her family had previously worked with the company, the partnership was bound to be a successful one and the designers sure did not disappoint.
They share, “drawing inspiration from her travels, our client liked eclectic interiors, where modern items ‘live’ with traditional furniture. She also likes burgundy, pink and purple combined with grey, so we chose this colour palette for the interior.” As the new property was an open space and had no interior walls, the designers had to section out specific rooms from scratch. With clever space planning, the approximately 1,000sq ft space now comprises two bedrooms, two bathrooms, two dressing rooms and a living-cum-dining room.
The owner’s personality is evident right from the get-go, where velvet burgundy ottomans from furniture retailer Marie’s Corner sit by the entrance, across full-height shaker cabinets that provide a hiding spot for household supplies. As one moves further into the home, more and more of the owner’s preferences shine through. In the living room, a pair of dark purple loveseats encourage conversation, while recessed wall shelves proudly display books and trinkets.
Meanwhile, the open-concept kitchen is fitted with custom grey-laminated cabinetry and an elegant island that can accommodate as many as six diners at any one time. Additionally, the kitchen also overlooks the living area, ensuring that the owner can easily interact with her guests while she is cooking in the kitchen—a necessary feature given her fondness for entertaining.
In the master bedroom, a sea of soft greys and streamlined fixtures make for a calm and restful environment where the owner can escape the hustle and bustle of life. The clever decision to clad custom cabinetry in similar grey laminates as those in the kitchen also draws a visual link between the private space and the outer communal zones.
Venturing out into the real world by yourself is scary at any age, but having your own safe space to retreat into at the end of the day will make the transition a lot easier to manage. By combining the owner’s favourite things with clever design sensibilities, the design team has managed to carve out a personal sanctuary that’s perfect for the young occupant. They conclude, “We are very proud to be able to incorporate everything our client wished for into the design of this home.”
This post was adapted from an article originally published in the July 2021 issue of SquareRooms.
