A one-room apartment with a bright orange kitchen and an ornate living room in a Khrushchev panel house
Moscow, Russia
Year of design: 2016
Size: 34 m2
Building type: Khrushchev’s panel house series 1-528
This Moscow one-room Khrushchyovka apartment breaks the stereotypes of designing small spaces in typical buildings of this kind. Decorative techniques, color schemes, and classic elements reference Stalin-era and pre-revolutionary buildings.
Kitchen
The round dining table and the kitchen’s lower cabinet fronts are veneered. The kitchen set was restored; the upper cabinets are painted in light truffle shades, as is the drywall box built above them. The drywall allowed for repeating the rounded shapes of the upper corner cabinet.
The cozy dining area is furnished with soft chairs upholstered in mustard-colored fabric, a large still-life painting, and a retro chandelier made of colored glass.
Living Room
The sleeping area is located in a niche. The bed features a lift-up mechanism and internal storage. The upholstery of the bed and the bench is made from high-quality furniture fabrics. An eclectic mix of different textures, prints, and patterns is united in a single color palette inspired by the contrast of the blue sea and sandy shore. Above the bed, crystal wall sconces and a painting framed in a vintage white-painted baguette are hung. The walk-in closet was arranged in the former storage room, with handleless push-to-open sliding doors installed.
The couple are true lovers of paper books. Their library is housed in a restored TV wall unit, which was painted with furniture paint. Almost all the furniture in the apartment was restored, repainted, and reupholstered with new fabrics. A crystal ceiling chandelier and brass wall sconces complement the main lighting with warm, intimate light.
Hallway
The hallway is very bright and at the same time vibrant. Despite being very narrow, it is filled with decorative elements and wooden wall hooks. The main wardrobe for clothes was arranged in the former storage room, also with sliding doors.
A bright mandarin-colored floor shoe rack was placed, and a mirror framed in a vintage baguette was hung. A chest of drawers on legs is located in the corridor-such furniture always feels lighter and adds airiness. A decorative fruit bowl is used for storing small items.
Bathroom
The small bathroom is finished with understated terracotta-coloured tiles. A shelf has been built into a niche in the shower. Next to the washing machine, a floor cabinet for storage was installed, designed like a pull-out bottle rack. A countertop sink was chosen and installed on a wooden tabletop above the washing machine. The cabinet with a mirror was restored and repainted with furniture paint.
