Design of a three-room apartment in a Khrushchev building using wall panels and linoleum

Sterlitamak, Russia

Year of design: 2014

Size: 53 m²

Building type: Khrushchev’s brick 5-storey house

It was decided to bring a three-room apartment in an old housing stock to its senses with minimal costs.

Planning solution

A family with a small child lives here, the changes in the layout option were minimal, but functional:

One of the storage rooms was removed, and the doors were moved.
The sunniest room next to the living room was chosen for the son.
The door was moved and placed opposite the parents’ bedroom.
The common storage room was given over to storing a bicycle, scooter, roller skates, and other sports equipment.

Materials used in the design project

For the materials, commercial wood-colored linoleum was used throughout the apartment, in the hallway, wall panels quickly covered uneven walls, in the bathroom, marble-like wall panels were also used, and in the kitchen, panels resembling warmer stone were used.

Color and style options

In the hallway, a full-length mirror was hung in place of the door. Open storage systems are placed on the left along the wall. The apartment was enlivened with textile decor, prints on curtains, carpets and decorative pillows.

Boy's room

The proportions of the nursery were visually adjusted, bringing the configuration closer to a more optimal square. A voluminous storage system was organized at the entrance for this purpose.

The furnishings consisted of small items commensurate with the child. The bed was placed to the left of the window, and to the right is a narrow, long desk-cabinet with a laptop where the child plays and can watch cartoons.

Between the bed and the storage system is:

a play carpet area with toys,
a bright red IKEA children’s table,
a magnetic and chalkboard,
and a bright shelf that acts as a garage for children’s cars.

The textile of the curtains is made of organza with a simple pattern of balloons and airplanes, which actively supports the pattern of light wallpaper and a multi-colored airplane chandelier.

Bedroom

The parents’ bedroom is located on the north side. The wallpaper was chosen with a warm fabric pattern. A wardrobe was placed on the site of the former storage room.

The room turned out to be elongated, and it was conditionally divided into a sleeping area and a working area with a computer desk by a shelving partition.

Living room

In the living room, a corner sofa with a coffee table that folds out into a large dining table was placed by the window. Furniture – a wall of shallow hanging cabinets to increase the space for receiving guests.

An aquaterrarium for a turtle, decorated with corals and river pebbles, was placed on one level along the wall.

Kitchen

In the kitchen, the kitchen apron is decorated with decorative panels that look like metal sheets. They echo the open storage systems:

metal shelves,
hanging metal baskets,
chair legs and kitchen table support.

The kitchen furniture was custom-made, corner and only with lower blocks in the color of wood.

Bathroom

In the bathroom, the cast-iron bathtub was restored and the fittings were replaced. A sink was installed above the washing machine, and a mirror cabinet was hung on the wall.