Rustam Minnehanov, founder of Kvadrat Architects Studio, leisurely created and realized the interior of an apartment for his family, giving himself full carte blanche. When he could not agree with himself, he turned to a designer friend. The 93-square-meter apartment is next to a park and a lake in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. This was a new experience for the designer because he had to rely on an internal monolog to determine his needs as he was both the client and the designer. The rules of the game have changed.
The help of a friend, who began treating Rustam as a client, came in handy. “When there are too many inputs (and you know yourself well), it’s harder to make a decision. You are in a constant search for new hypotheses. That’s why it’s convenient to turn to a designer friend. I could even ask Sergei Bekmukhanbetov to choose a variant for me,” — says Minnehanov.
Architecture, volume, and light flows
First of all, the designers worked out the architecture of the space and the layout. For a feeling of air and space, the kitchen and living room were united, the corridor and transit zones were minimized, and the rooms were organized in a convenient area.
The central space with an impressive island sofa gives an understanding of the architecture and volumes. After the redesign, there are three large windows, the most significant of which is located opposite the island made of natural marble by the Italian brand Antolini. The light rays reflected from the polished surface of the island diffuse into the room in a new way each time. With the help of blinds, it is easy to direct the light streams and play with light shadows.
Canvas accents
The layout and geometry create an understated, laconic interior. It resembles an even canvas with light natural accents. The natural oak veneer was chosen for paneling and furniture fronts. The large kitchen island is made entirely of precious Carrara marble. Natural materials ground and give a sense of peace.
Window inside
One of the interesting solutions is the window leading from the bathroom to the master bedroom. The room’s parameters did not allow for a window opening to the street, but the presence of natural light is necessary for insolation and as an aesthetic detail. The bedroom is enveloping and dark, and it is pleasant and comfortable to enjoy sleeping in.
