yinjispace

INTERIOR
Vera Lemeshko
STYLING
Tatiana Gedike
PHOTOGRAPHY
Mikhail Loskutov
EDITOR
Gina
Collection

This project began even before the apartment was purchased — a rare but invaluable scenario that allowed the designer and the client to carefully select a property that fully aligned with their vision of everyday life. After reviewing numerous options, this particular apartment stood out due to its spatial potential, location, and architectural character.

The client — a mother living with her young daughter — has a refined taste, a deep appreciation for art, and a clear understanding of her lifestyle needs. During the design phase, several layout options were developed, each suitable for official approval of redevelopment, which is often required in historic buildings.

Working with heritage properties always comes with unexpected challenges. Over the years, the original stucco details had been lost during the apartment’s communal past. However, this absence became an opportunity: the space was thoughtfully reimagined, allowing it to regain its sense of dignity and architectural rhythm while embracing a contemporary language.

One of the key requests was a spacious living room adjacent to the child’s bedroom — a place where the daughter could play, study, and remain close to her mother. The program also included a compact kitchen, a laundry room, a guest bathroom, and a master suite featuring a bedroom overlooking a quiet courtyard, a walk-in wardrobe, and a private bathroom.

Despite the relatively modest size, all areas are highly functional and well-balanced. A striking contrast is created by glossy black double doors, while storage units in the living room and child’s room are visually concealed by matching the cabinetry to the wall color, subtly emphasized only through classic panel detailing.

A particularly distinctive space is the entrance hall, defined by two portals, two doors, and a built-in double wardrobe. Rather than disguising this complex layout, the designer transformed it into a focal point: a soft semicircular geometry was introduced in the plan and accentuated by a high cornice. Decorative moldings on walls and doors help visually mask secondary spaces while giving the hall a strong architectural character.

The compact kitchen accommodates all essential functions, yet feels ceremonial thanks to a large-scale chandelier, a round dining table, and carefully selected artworks. In the master bathroom, a freestanding bathtub becomes a visual centerpiece, elegantly revealed through two portals — one from the bedroom and another from the dressing room.

Natural light plays a vital role throughout the apartment. In the mornings, soft daylight filters into the kitchen and bedroom through the dense foliage of a maple tree growing just outside the windows. In the afternoon, the setting sun fills the living room with warm, golden light.

As is often the case with historic buildings, the construction phase involved numerous technical challenges. However, thanks to a positive working relationship and mutual trust between designer and client, the project reached a result both are genuinely proud of.

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