Echoed by arched niches and mirrors, these curved details lend the apartment a “fairytale quality”, says the designer. “They’re elegant, slightly whimsical and timeless, referencing classical architecture, but reinterpreted in a lighter, more modern way. The entire concept was built around the idea of ‘light classicism’ – graceful symmetry, soft forms and refined proportions without excessive ornamentation.” Splashes of bold accents, later the look with the Unexpected Red theory creating focal points in every room.
Michael Brave
Michael Brave
Michael Brave
There’s also a sense of geometric purity to the design, reflected in the crisp black lines that frame the glazed doors dividing the kitchen, dining room and living room; similar lines pop up on lighting, architectural details and curtain borders. In the kitchen, this idea is delicately reversed with a white relief pattern on cabinetry. “One of the client’s key requests was to create a spacious, bright, and elegant living area, visually connected to the kitchen but free from visual clutter,” says Kolesnikova. “To achieve this, the kitchen’s functional elements were concealed behind sliding doors. When closed, they give the impression of a seamless storage wall, leaving only the island visible.” The island itself was designed as a sculptural, standalone object that reads like a piece of furniture, so it blends effortlessly into the living space.
Michael Brave
Michael Brave
The principal bedroom’s elegant look was likewise an intelligent response to a technical difficulty. “There was a load-bearing wall directly behind the bed that couldn’t be removed or altered, so to integrate electrical outlets and lighting, it was carefully framed in plasterboard, creating an arched niche into which the bed was recessed,” says Kolesnikova. “It began as a necessity, but evolved into a defining element of the room’s identity: we enhanced it with graphic wallpaper [Jungle Land from Rebel Walls] that resembles hand-drawn pencil sketches, which introduces a sense of quiet sophistication. The fine black lines on the pattern echo the ceiling mouldings, chandelier and curtain hardware, creating a restrained yet expressive space.”
Michael Brave
Michael Brave
Michael Brave