In renovating his own apartment in Moscow, Russia, designer Alireza Nemati was determined to create an open space with natural light and lots of storage in an ordinary odnushka, or one-room apartment. The main steps were the removal of interior walls and the construction of a wooden “sleeping box.” This sleeping box and its built-in storage allowed for the functional use of the small space.
Contemporary Living Room countertop by Studio Bazi
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Nemati Alireza of Studio Bazi and his wife
Location: Moscow, Russia
Size: About 377 square feet (35 square meters)
Like most apartments in new buildings in Russia, this space looked like a concrete box before it was renovated, with a wall separating the kitchen from the living room, and two windows. Its square shape made it difficult to divide it into separate zones, and the interior wall sliced the apartment in half. Therefore, Nemati decided to get rid of it “to create a more open space, full of light,” he says.
To create a sense of breadth and a clean look, he chose finishings in white and wood tones. He had the walls and ceilings painted with white latex paint and used a highly water-resistant commercial-grade laminate for the flooring. It is common practice in Russia to use heavy-duty flooring in entrance areas and living rooms.
Contemporary Bedroom countertop by Studio Bazi
The entrance area is adjacent to the main space but separated by a curtain. “There is a lot of storage space: There is a coat closet [on the left, by the door] and three large pullout closets for large items under the sleeping box,” he says.
Because of the small size of the apartment, it was difficult to distribute the functional areas, but the owners decided not to sacrifice comfort. They set up a space for sleeping on a second level, in a special sleeping box with its own lighting, which can be reached by a wooden staircase.“The height of the staircase allows a person to stand up straight, and it has built-in drawers for storage,” the designer says.
The metal frame of the sleeping box is lined with pine boards. The exterior panels are painted with natural brown wax, and the interior ones are colorless. Wax is an environmentally friendly material, and wood gives the simple interior a feeling of warmth.
The upper cabinets next to the sleeping box (see previous photo) form a shelf where they meet the sleeping area, as can be seen here.
There are also open bookshelves next to it. The wall in between is decorated with graphic drawings that the owner made during his first year at university.
Since the bedroom is located well above the main level, the entire apartment and both windows are clearly visible from inside.
Contemporary Living Room by Studio Bazi
Studio Bazi
The TV is set into a niche framed by white panels; hidden behind each of them is a storage space. The structure, including the sleeping box and the staircase, was built based on Nemati’s sketches.
Contemporary Kitchen by Studio Bazi
Studio Bazi
The living and dining rooms are flexible spaces that can be transformed to meet any need. For example, by moving the sofa and extending the dining table, the owners get a comfortable social area that can accommodate up to 10 guests.
A small area between the kitchen unit and the window is used as a workspace. Open shelves allow books and documents to be stored without cluttering up the room.
The L-shaped kitchen is from Ikea. The countertop is a laminate. Ornate handmade Iranian tiles brighten the backsplash.
by Studio Bazi
Studio Bazi
“It’s hard to work with a small bathroom. You have to find room for all the necessary fixtures, provide storage space and, of course, hide the pipes,” the designer says.
However, he managed to not only put in a full bathtub with all the necessary plumbing but also hide the washing machine behind the plain facades of the vanity.
Contemporary countertop by Studio Bazi
This is a 3D rendering of the apartment. According to the owner, the most interesting and at the same time most difficult stages of this project were the design and construction of the sleeping box. “It [is in itself] a mini piece of architecture within the apartment,” Nemati says.
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