A 322-square-foot apartment in the Vidny Gorod residential complex, about four miles from Moscow, was renovated as a surprise gift for its owner, Lara. Her daughter, Marta, and son-in-law oversaw the project with interior designer Polina Chumakova of Lagolga Buro. Lara first saw the home after the renovation was complete.
The design reflects Lara’s love of cooking and baking, with the kitchen given a prominent place in the layout. Its work area sits beside a window overlooking a courtyard, while the apartment was planned to accommodate family visits, including weekend and holiday gatherings.
Chumakova combined contemporary design with classic details, natural walnut and selected vintage elements. The original layout included a bulky load-bearing pillar and two separate small bathrooms. Since the pillar could not be moved, the design incorporated it into a large entryway closet. The bathrooms were combined, creating a more comfortable space and additional storage.
Limited natural light also informed the choice of finishes. The team replaced a light porcelain tile that looked more beige than expected in the apartment, adjusting the palette to keep the interior bright and warm. Rather than relying on a single light source, the plan includes ceiling lighting, pendants, display-case accents and spotlights, with about five types of lighting used throughout.
Flexible furnishings help the small rooms serve more than one purpose. A sofa bed takes the place of a traditional bed, leaving the room open for relaxing and spending time together during the day. The dining area was also designed without a fixed overhead fixture, so the table could remain flexible in its position.
Custom storage units in the entryway and living room were designed to blend into the interior. Olive green marks the entryway, while milky white is used around the sofa bed; touches of orange appear in details such as a pouf and floor lamp. Walnut features throughout the apartment, alongside entryway tiles patterned with small black accents and wall moldings that add depth.
The result pairs traditional references, including walnut moldings and vintage-shaped lamps, with furniture scaled for the compact home. The article, originally published in AD Italia, describes the project as a way to create a warm, adaptable home for Lara while preserving space for family life.
Sources: Architectural Digest.