The Hosts:
Olga, an interior designer
Peter, works in an automobile company

Number of rooms: 2
Metric area: 96 m²
Ceiling height: 2.75 m

Olga has lived in an apartment of the “Blue Bird” housing estate for 10 years already. Before her it used to be a typical bachelor’s nest with minimum furniture and dull gray walls, but Olga managed to breathe new life into it, filling the space with bright splashes. Meanwhile the layout remained practically unchanged: arches and partitions give enough elbow room to try out new ideas. Thus, the dining room zone at some point became a room for cats, then turned into a study to later become a dining room again.

Three years ago Peter moved in to Olga and they actively got down to redecoration. However, there is still no single interior concept in the flat, as the hosts like to make changes depending on the mood. Time and again Olga and Peter re-papered the walls, painted the ceiling, switched different zones, and they actually feel great within such an eclectic, constantly renewed interior.

Olga made up her mind to re-wallpaper the working zone quite spontaneously. On coming to OBI with a totally different purpose, she ran into a polka-dot wallpaper, which was adorning her walls in just a few days. IKEA table and a chair are more than 5 years old; blue storage boxes of the same manufacturer come from a limited designer edition.

The workers had the greatest difficulty in tile laying, as Olga confesses: they had to cover the entire wall surface with 10×10 cm tiles.

The bedroom, according to Olga, is the only space in the apartment with a whole and premeditated interior concept. A bed, a closet and a chest of drawers are IKEA’s, pillows come from the “Tvoy Dom” (rus: Your House) shop, and a mirror is by Zara Home.

The Apollo’s bust, utilized for storing adornments, was bought by Olga in an art gallery.

Peter went to Tula on purpose for a set of 6 glasses with holders.

Collection cola bottles are a friend’s New Year gift.

A refrigerator along with an adjoining wall is decorated with magnets and travel pictures.

A wooden counter with boxes was also found in an IKEA special edition.

A round dining table and one of the chairs came through Grandma, they’re over 50 years old.

A samovar, along with the glass holders, arrived from Tula.

A chandelier was a spontaneous purchase. In its place used to hang another one, more blending with the interior, but it was not clear enough for reading.

An old record player is a gift of Peter’s parents.

A sign of road works was stolen from Leninski Avenue, and a bus “No Boarding” sign was dug out near the house.

Posters come from IKEA.

South Park tables are Peter and Olga’s spot for playing board games.

Reading lamps and an embroidered bag were brought from Egypt.

An orange ball of unknown assignment is Olga’s Dad’s gift – he is a scientist, conducting strength tests of different materials.

There could be several options in choosing the material. If the picture is put to a place exposed to dirt like somewhere close to the oven you could use image printed on paper-based material which is then laminated with thermo-resistant film. In this case your picture will be really durable. You can wash it with water and even with detergents. The other option is to print your picture on any material and cover it with glass. You will need to purchase a piece of glass to cover all the space so you wouldn’t have problems with the junctions. It should be also strong enough because kitchen is a place where it can easily be hit by pan or something like this by accident. Both these options can be well used for the space between counter top and cupboards’ bottom.
This part of the wall has also another specificity regarding its size – it is usually very narrow while being very long. This is why panoramic pictures are better to be used. You can also collect several different pictures and ally them into a collage.
If your kitchen is not a very big one you can extend it visually using perspective pictures like alley or a small European street. Another good way to give your kitchen some more visual space is to build an imitation of window or a balcony.
A very nice and soulful atmosphere will be created by pictures of cafes. You should only find an image matching your furniture set or, otherwise, pick up chairs and tables regarding the picture you loved.
Coffee, wine, vegetables and fruits and also bakery would look awesome in any kitchen. It could be a good idea to put large flowers like orchids, gerberas, roses, lilies or any others in the main or contrasting color on your walls.
In any case, whatever is your design solution and style is, nowadays wall murals come as one of the most powerful instruments to bring your vision of your dream kitchen to life.

Recent searchs:

murals of kitchen

The Host:
Artem, a lawyer

Number of rooms: 2
Metric area: 46 m²
Ceiling height: 2.5 m

Having become a happy owner of an apartment on the 33rd floor of a newly-built housing estate 4 years ago, Artem was able to move in after a year of redecoration works. At the moment of purchase it was an empty space with an only load-bearing pillar between a bedroom and a kitchen. On the advice of his friends, the host turned to professional architects from the “Archtika” company for the development of layout and interior design projects. Artem’s wishes were few – modern-style décor, an isolated bedroom and a large shower cabin. The developed plan was immediately approved by the host, who made just a few slight changes in the process.

The architects set their choice on minimalist style. Thanks to well-thought layout, the 46 m² managed to accommodate three full-fledged zones: a kitchen, a lounge and a bedroom, as well as a utility room. While zoning the space, the architects were striving for its maximum spaciousness, which accounts for the absence of hallways. Also, taking into account the developer’s requirements on fire-control units, the ceiling had to be lowered by 15 cm.

Due to small metric area, the décor was arranged in light colors, which are traditionally meant for visual expansion of space. A wall separating the lounge from the bedroom was initially planned as concrete, but in the end, so that the interior didn’t look too harsh and cold, it was decided to utilize velvety plaster.

Tile pavement by Porcelanosa.

A choice for the bathroom floor was deck wood – natural teak. The bedroom flooring is made of the same material, just lacquered.

According to Artem’s desires, a large shower cabin was squeezed into the bathroom.

The entire kitchen appliances, including a wine cupboard, is built in. A kitchen set is ABC, a table is made by NAOS, chairs by Desalto.

Installed under a stove instead of an oven is a steam cooker with an air pressure sensor.

A table of architectural glass was custom-made from designers’ sketches.

A clock by Alivar.

A picture, painted by aborigines, was brought from Australia. A sofa is made by Zanotta.

Considering that the windows overlook the sunny side, chosen were Roman blinds, not admitting the light.

A walk-in closet by Rimadesio.

The Host:
Walid, vice president of the National Television of the Ukraine
Lidia, his wife

Number of rooms: 5
Metric area: 200 m²
Ceiling height: 3 m

It was four years ago when Walid and Lidia moved in an apartment on the top floor of a newly-built house on Podol. Before the redecoration it had an only load-bearing wall, which gave bonus room for imagination while planning the layout.

The development of interior design was entrusted to Walid’s friend and a professional architect Judie Arnook. As they were already experienced in joint working, Judie got hold of exactly what Walid wanted and successfully implemented all his wishes and ideas. The hosts were striving for country-house atmosphere, where they can rest from the rat race of the city and all left behind the door. The interior design was worked out with ergonomics and maximum comfort in mind. Since Walid comes from Lebanon, the interior was arranged in the Middle East style.

Walid collects books and albums on the history of arts, and in particular, photos. Besides, the home library features French literature, profiles of famous politicians, artists, musicians and other prominent people. Lidia’s shelves are filled with books on classical and modern philosophy.

The adornment of the library is an old Italian screen by an unknown artist, which was purchased by auction. The pouffe serves for two purposes: for reading books and ceremonial sitting for the road.

A floor vase was bought on a public sale in Italy, but ironically it arrived in Kiev through Berlin: due to mail and messenger service’s mistake the vase was sent to Germany, and a picture purchased by a German collector travelled to the Ukraine.

The ceiling is decorated with wooden beams with inclusion of a cedar of Lebanon. The entire wooden finish is Lebanese.

The lounge is visually divided into a relaxation and a dining zone.

Thanks to the top-floor location it was possible to make a dormer on a skewed ceiling.

The chimney-clock of the time of Napoleon was bought by auction and given by Walid’s brother Omar. Every fifteen minutes they jog the hosts up with a mellifluous chime.

Lidia is a Buddhist, which explains for a plenty of Buddha figurines in the house. Most of them were purchased in Thailand and each has its own place. Under the Thai laws it’s strictly prohibited to take more than 5 Buddha’s statues out of the country, but for the Buddhists a point is stretched.

The table is actually a wooden door with massive forged elements, covered with glass. This door was delivered in parts by air from Tibet.

The house frequently welcomes guests, and Lidia gives them treats of different national cuisines.

The statuettes of terra-cotta warriors and a clock are Chinese souvenirs.

Walid’s piano is also a gift of his brother. He always plays it, when comes to visit them. The hosts’ daughter Emily has recently started to show interest in music and will probably learn to play the piano soon as well.

The oriental-style fireplace was specially designed for this apartment.

Walid can’t cook, so the kitchen is Lidia’s sphere of influence. Foie-gras is her specialty.

A music table arrived from Italy.

A chest of drawers inlaid with mother-of-pearl was brought from Syria.

A special corner for mise-en-scènes, which can be changed depending on a holiday to come. At Easter it features painted eggs, at Christmas – Santa Clauses.

The terrace is a favorite relaxation spot for both the hosts and their friends. Its beautification was extremely time- and effort-consuming, but it was worth this. The terrace looks especially great when it rains or just after the rain. Now the family longs for the summer to install a barbecue here.

Designer: Brian Persico

Pearl Valley 276 by Antoni Associates:
“A young family re-locating to the Western Cape was looking to change from city living to a more relaxed country lifestyle in which to bring up their young family and settled for the exclusive Pearl Valley Golf Estate located near Paarl, just 30 minutes away from the Mother City of Cape Town.
The owners approached ANTONI ASSOCIATES to create an interior that was modern but with an emphasis on ‘barefoot luxury’ and the use of natural materials. The design approach by Mark Rielly and Jon Case was to focus on the use of natural organic materials such as timber and stone. These tactile materials add a sense of homeliness and warmth to the contemporary architecture. Timber flooring was used throughout, which contrasts with the raw off-shutter concrete ceilings, warm stone and marble cladding.
The owners of this home love to entertain and wanted the house to reflect their lifestyle. The informal family spaces include an open plan kitchen, informal dining and open bar, all linked to the entertainment lounge. A feature marble clad two-sided fireplace divides and screens off the family lounge from the spa room. These areas of the house flow out onto the outdoor entertainment deck with a sunken outdoor boma (a typical South African outdoor enclosure). Here timber seating is casually arranged around an open fire.
The furniture is modern and complementary to the experience of the home. The clients’ love for colour has been introduced with injections of bold prints and vibrant fabrics. Bespoke furniture from OKHA Interiors is featured throughout. A combination of bold and discreet lighting was used to create a “wow” factor and the layering of lighting set various moods. Subtle lighting has been incorporated in all recesses and feature bulkheads to give a warm glow to peripheral edges. Concealed lighting has also been used to highlight and accentuate the organic natural finishes.”

The design places the station at the centre of a network of pathways, skybridges and metro lines envisaged by the KAFD master plan. Connectivity diagrams and traffic across the site have been mapped and structured to clearly delineate the pedestrian routes within the building, optimize internal circulation and avoid congestion. The resulting configuration is a three-dimensional lattice defined by a sequence of opposing sine-waves (generated from the repetition and frequency variation of station’s daily traffic flows) which act as the spine for the building’s circulation. These sine-waves are extended to the station’s envelope and strictly affiliated to its internal layout, translating the architectural concept to the exterior.

Recent searchs:

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The Hosts:
Leonid, engaged in printing trade
Tatyana, a sales manager in an advertising agency

Number of rooms: 2
Metric area: 94,6 m²
Ceiling height: 2,6 m

It was 2010 when Leonid and Tatyana moved in a new apartment on Skribnokilskaya Street. The district was chosen by the couple’s parents, and it’s actually perfect for a young family: with its well-developed infrastructure of a dormitory suburb, a parkland, sports clubs, shops, schools and kindergartens.

The interior design was worked out by the hosts, the ideas were coming from everywhere: designer magazines, Internet and shopping centers. Leonid and Tatyana were initially determined to give up the biggest room to a kid’s room, despite the fact that their son Timothy was just a gleam in their eyes at that time. The parents were utterly opposed to infantile wallpapers with teddy bears and frilled curtains for the playroom, and set their choice on a restraint concept. The kitchen is the family’s favorite spot. Though it was originally large, the hosts decided to extend it even more by joining it with a balcony. The main room is divided into two zones – a lounge and a relaxation one.

The hallway wallpaper with savage ornament was found by Tatiana, who just fell in love with this pattern and had to spend much time and effort to talk her husband into this choice. The combination of two colors in the hallway is meant to make it not so dark. Unexpectedly for themselves the hosts painted the ceiling purple and now plan to purchase a matching sofa.

The window was covered with a reflecting film for the sake of hiding from prying eyes of the dwellers of the house across the street.

While changing the layout, the balcony was added to the kitchen.

The wall separating the kitchen from the room was partially demolished and replaced with a sliding door with an Italian scheme, which enables to move the door without floor rails. The hosts were looking for it quite long.

The lacquering in the kitchen appeared quite unpractical with the arrival of a baby.

The idea of a wooden partition with glass shelves was drawn from the Internet. The imported project was a little worked further and implemented with their own hands.

The parents were dead against too infantile wallpaper with teddy bears and frilly curtains, and arranged the playroom in a restrained manner.

Timothy grows up very fast and the decision to make interior neutral seems to be more and more right and reasonable.