Houzz Tour: A Clever Design Turns a Studio into a One-bed Flat
Having to make up a sofa-bed each evening is no fun, so this ingenious redesign is a life-changing use of space
The owners of this apartment, Elena Kareva and Alexander Romanov, work for an airline, so they wanted their first home together to be within an easy commute of Sheremetyevo Airport.
They found a place in the perfect area, the neighbouring city of Khimki, in the Moscow Region, but it was a studio flat, and the couple really wanted a separate bedroom. Cue a clever redesign by Space For Life.
They found a place in the perfect area, the neighbouring city of Khimki, in the Moscow Region, but it was a studio flat, and the couple really wanted a separate bedroom. Cue a clever redesign by Space For Life.
An internet search brought Elena and Alexander to Space For Life. They liked designers Ivan Proskurin and Ekaterina Irtiugo’s clever approach to small spaces. “As a result, everything turned out exactly the way we wanted it: it’s simple, unpretentious and full of light,” Elena says.
The work took three months. “This project is a very rare example of when the design on paper and the real-life interior are like two peas in a pod,” says Ivan. “We carefully planned and designed the space, calculating everything to the nearest inch with a view to comfort of use.
“Usually, it’s necessary to make adjustments during the work,” he says. “Sometimes it even happens that, as ideas develop, eventually nothing remains of the original plan.”
The work took three months. “This project is a very rare example of when the design on paper and the real-life interior are like two peas in a pod,” says Ivan. “We carefully planned and designed the space, calculating everything to the nearest inch with a view to comfort of use.
“Usually, it’s necessary to make adjustments during the work,” he says. “Sometimes it even happens that, as ideas develop, eventually nothing remains of the original plan.”
The owners got the apartment from the property developer as a concrete box with a clear layout: a living room on the left and the kitchen, bathroom and separate toilet on the right.
However, the owners wanted to sleep on a normal bed and not have to fold out a sofa every night, but without giving up on having a proper living room. Combining two zones with different functions was therefore the project’s main challenge.
In practice, there were two possible ways to fit a bedroom into this small space: either in an alcove or as a partitioned unit, which was the solution they went for. The glass wall creates a sense of spaciousness, but the bedroom can be concealed with a curtain when the owners have friends over.
However, the owners wanted to sleep on a normal bed and not have to fold out a sofa every night, but without giving up on having a proper living room. Combining two zones with different functions was therefore the project’s main challenge.
In practice, there were two possible ways to fit a bedroom into this small space: either in an alcove or as a partitioned unit, which was the solution they went for. The glass wall creates a sense of spaciousness, but the bedroom can be concealed with a curtain when the owners have friends over.
The team didn’t skimp on bedroom materials, but neither did they go over the top. One of the main expenses was the welded partition. This kind of divider can cost up to £228 (20,000 rubles) per sq m, but it’s paid off.
The partition is sturdy and the glass panels are fixed tightly and safely in place. However, the structure also makes it easy to remove and replace damaged panes in future. One of the sections of the partition swings open, serving as the bedroom door.
Tempted to create something similar? Track down professionals in your area
The partition is sturdy and the glass panels are fixed tightly and safely in place. However, the structure also makes it easy to remove and replace damaged panes in future. One of the sections of the partition swings open, serving as the bedroom door.
Tempted to create something similar? Track down professionals in your area
The couple were able to save on wallpaper by painting the accent wall with a stencil in the same shade of green as in the living room.
It was a difficult job: the stencil was small, and they always had to wait for the paint to dry before going on to the next section of the pattern. The larger the stencil, the more expensive it is, but it’s also easier to work with.
It was a difficult job: the stencil was small, and they always had to wait for the paint to dry before going on to the next section of the pattern. The larger the stencil, the more expensive it is, but it’s also easier to work with.
The curtain on the inside of the partition protects the bedroom from the sun and hides it from view.
A forced ventilation system feeds air into the bedroom. However, the owners rarely use it, as the partition is not hermetically sealed and therefore lets in sufficient fresh air.
A forced ventilation system feeds air into the bedroom. However, the owners rarely use it, as the partition is not hermetically sealed and therefore lets in sufficient fresh air.
Most of the furniture in the apartment is from Ikea. The dark green chosen for the living room walls is a classic colour that should continue to be fashionable for many years to come.
Note that there is no TV. “Many of our friends and colleagues are still surprised – how can you live in an apartment without a TV? – but we are totally fine with it,” the couple say. “We don’t need one.”
Note that there is no TV. “Many of our friends and colleagues are still surprised – how can you live in an apartment without a TV? – but we are totally fine with it,” the couple say. “We don’t need one.”
To keep the feeling of space and visual lightness, the kitchen-diner was combined with the living room. The owners don’t cook a lot, so they focused on aesthetics in designing this space. They even refused to have a dishwasher, as they don’t use many dishes.
The fridge is the only tall feature in the kitchen; the plumbing and appliances are built into the lower cabinets, and the upper shelves are used to store kitchenware and spices.
There’s laminate flooring throughout the apartment, and all the walls are painted.
A large, built-in cupboard with mirrored doors is the apartment’s main storage unit. The couple went for swinging rather than sliding doors, so they would be level and create a sleek surface when closed.
A large, built-in cupboard with mirrored doors is the apartment’s main storage unit. The couple went for swinging rather than sliding doors, so they would be level and create a sleek surface when closed.
Both the bathroom and the separate toilet are small, so it wasn’t easy to find a good spot for the washing machine. It was therefore placed perpendicular to the vanity unit and parallel to the bath, doubling as a worktop.
In the loo next to the bathroom, simple fixtures and a narrow wash-hand basin leave room to move around.
Tell us…
What do you think of this flat and its new bedroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Tell us…
What do you think of this flat and its new bedroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here? Elena Kareva and Alexander Romanov
Location Khimki, Moscow Region, Russia
Size About 345 sq ft (32 sq m), with a 50 sq ft (4.6 sq m) balcony; ceiling height: 9ft (2.77m)
Interior designers Ivan Proskurin and Ekaterina Irtiugo of Space For Life