Houzz Tour: Bold Colours Zone an Urban Townhouse
Yellow, indigo and pink not only give this family home an individual look, they help to define the different areas
To divide the spaces in this house in Moscow’s suburbs, designers Ekaterina Svanidze and Ekaterina Lyubarskaya of Dvekati added vivid colours and unusual materials, from fuchsia fitted carpet to coquina, a kind of limestone made up mostly of shell and marine life deposits. The result is a stylish, highly individual home.
The staircase, which is covered in pink fitted carpet, serves as a bright accent and vertical axis in the home.
In Russia, carpeting is rarely used in high-traffic areas, since many consider it to be difficult to maintain. The Dvekati designers are sure the opposite is true: it’s no coincidence that fitted carpets are often used in hotels, where deep cleaning is frequently required. This decision was also practical in other ways. There are young children in the house, and the soft carpet reduces the possibility of injuries from falls.
The indigo banisters are a good complement to both the fuchsia carpet and the yellow entrance. “Despite the abundance of rich shades, we tried to create a sense of lightness,” Lyubarskaya says.
In Russia, carpeting is rarely used in high-traffic areas, since many consider it to be difficult to maintain. The Dvekati designers are sure the opposite is true: it’s no coincidence that fitted carpets are often used in hotels, where deep cleaning is frequently required. This decision was also practical in other ways. There are young children in the house, and the soft carpet reduces the possibility of injuries from falls.
The indigo banisters are a good complement to both the fuchsia carpet and the yellow entrance. “Despite the abundance of rich shades, we tried to create a sense of lightness,” Lyubarskaya says.
Part of the concrete ceiling has been left raw, only varnished to underscore the texture. Patterned porcelain tiles were chosen for the floor and laid in different directions.
“Porcelain stoneware in the living room – it’s not a material we’re very used to, possibly because it seems cold,” Svanidze says. “Here, though, there’s underfloor heating, which solves this problem.”
A light-coloured fluted partition hides the bathroom and a small storage room. Since the doors are hidden, it gives the impression of one monolithic structure.
“Porcelain stoneware in the living room – it’s not a material we’re very used to, possibly because it seems cold,” Svanidze says. “Here, though, there’s underfloor heating, which solves this problem.”
A light-coloured fluted partition hides the bathroom and a small storage room. Since the doors are hidden, it gives the impression of one monolithic structure.
The pink of the kitchen cabinets helps define the dimensions of the cookspace, while multi-coloured pulls add visual interest. The dining table and chairs echo colours used elsewhere in the home. Above the table is a pendant light made from metallised plastic using an origami-style technique.
The cat poster is a witty touch. “We brought it in for the photo shoot, but it was such a natural match to the rest of the interior that, in the end, we kept the cat here. It’s a limited-edition print of a painting by the artist Alexander Mityaev,” Lyubarskaya says.
Coquina is another unusual finish. It covers one of the walls in the living room. “Soviet architects were very fond of this simple and inexpensive material and often used it in interior décor. Today coquina has been undeservedly forgotten, and you usually only see it on façades,” Svanidze says.
“We chose to bring back natural materials for this interior. This is an interesting solution: real shells in the tiles.”
“We chose to bring back natural materials for this interior. This is an interesting solution: real shells in the tiles.”
The vintage mirror frame is made of flat pieces of wood with brass buttons. It was found on Avito, a Russian classifieds site.
On the console unit opposite the sofa stands a wooden robot made by the owners’ younger son.
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The panoramic windows are one of the advantages of this townhouse, but living in constant contact with the outside world takes some getting used to.
The balustrade on the landing is made of steel rods welded together and painted in the same yellow as the wall.
A dark palette dominates the upper storey, creating an intimate atmosphere. Black paint makes the walk-in wardrobe stand out, while the grey wall is raw plaster.
A dark palette dominates the upper storey, creating an intimate atmosphere. Black paint makes the walk-in wardrobe stand out, while the grey wall is raw plaster.
The master bedroom features a shade of blue that doesn’t appear anywhere else in the house. It looks fresh and calm against the contrasting grey and black background. The headboard wall features a plaster finish that was applied with a spatula to create a light relief.
Differing bedside tables bring an asymmetric touch to the eclectic interior. A woven tapestry from a flea market in Tbilisi, Georgia, and a poster of a Raphael painting over the headboard add the finishing touches.
Differing bedside tables bring an asymmetric touch to the eclectic interior. A woven tapestry from a flea market in Tbilisi, Georgia, and a poster of a Raphael painting over the headboard add the finishing touches.
A black partition divides the room into two zones: one for relaxation, and the second for a home office. The artwork on the wall consists of a painting by the owners’ son, a clock by the Spanish company Nomon and a piece of corrugated metal – a kind of manifesto against the dominance of this material in Russia.
“Corrugated metal is a building material used for roofing and temporary fences. They build hideous fences out of it throughout Russia. We thought to ourselves, ‘Since corrugated iron is mostly used for things other than its true purpose, why not turn it into a piece of art?’” Svanidze says.
“Corrugated metal is a building material used for roofing and temporary fences. They build hideous fences out of it throughout Russia. We thought to ourselves, ‘Since corrugated iron is mostly used for things other than its true purpose, why not turn it into a piece of art?’” Svanidze says.
The yellow in the children’s room was chosen in consultation with its little inhabitants. There are two zones: the play area is yellow and features a large toy-storage system from Ikea. By separating part of the play area from both the floor and the ceiling, the designers made the geometry of the room more complex and interesting.
The windowsill is deep enough to be used as a seat.
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The windowsill is deep enough to be used as a seat.
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The second zone features a laminated floor and colourful wallpaper. This space is for sleeping and creative activities. The wallpaper inspires the kids’ imaginations and teaches them English at the same time, as it’s inscribed with the English name for each animal.
The finish in the shower area is coquina and blue porcelain tiles. The coquina has been laid in such a way as to take full advantage of its texture. This, combined with the outdoor-style light fixture, makes this wall look like an exterior façade.
Tell us…
What do you think of this colourful family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Tell us…
What do you think of this colourful family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here A young family with two children
Location A suburb of Moscow, Russia
Size About 1,291 sq ft (120 sq m)
Designers Ekaterina Svanidze and Ekaterina Lyubarskaya of Dvekati
Photos by Denis Komarov and Aleksandr Komzikov