«White penthouse» project was published in « SALON » magazine

At the very first meeting, we discussed zoning with customers. In my opinion, the organization of space is the most important component of the future interior. Therefore, we carefully discussed the issue of functional separation with the owners. The mandatory set includes a living room, connected with kitchen and dining room, parlor, master bedroom, two nursery rooms and a bathroom. We had no fundamental difficulty with the layout. The apartment is in a new building in the centre of Kiev, almost without walls, it’s a completely clear space with load-bearing columns,which allows many possibilities. I divided the apartment into two parts, focusing on the location of the windows. Some of the windows looked out on a bustling avenue, which of course was a public area, others on a quiet street, so perfect for a private zone.

As for the design, I based this on the customers’ wishes. The starting point was a sofa, the client discovered in a magazine and showed me. I reflected further on the interior and its design and produced some ideas.

This is true to some extent. Initially we started with minimalism as the driving force, but then departed in the direction of a more expensive and respectable interior. As I said, the sofa by TOSCONOVA factory has significantly influenced the design of the public area. Its soft, rounded shape is somehow is repeated and imitated in many other items.

For example, with its rounded mirrored columns the famous kitchen Ola 20 by SNAIDERO factory has undulating contours, which are a representation of high design itself, and at the same time, rhythmically echo the sofa.

As for the interior as a whole, the private part of the apartment is slightly different. It has dominant dark shades, which incidentally were the customers’ principal wish.In contrast, the living room is lighter and more solemn.The style is more modern if compared with the public area, in which the influence of Art Deco is perceptibly greater.

As a result, we created an eclectic interior, which absorbed the techniques of different design directions. The style is difficult to categorise, but I would call it a luxury-minimalism,as we used expensive finishing materials and furniture by well-known brands combined with modern technologies.

A “smart house” has systems that control the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, humidification, lighting, home theater, a system of “multi-room” (the sound is distributed over all bands), video surveillance, controlled curtains and other functions.

Alternatively, a sauna with chromotherapy.

Of course, with time every professional produces a distinctive style. However, this does not mean that every project is a copy of the previous one. Simply, there are some achievements, some favorite techniques, and according to individual style the client chooses the designer. The ideal situation is a mutual freedom of action and the gaining of the client’s confidence. Only then it is possible to create and do something new,as the ideas are generated during discussions related to each particular project. Each customer has their own life-story, and eventually a personal and unique interior can be envisaged.

A marble wall with lamps and Wall rupture by Flos was installed inside one of the most beautiful elements of the interior. As Natalia mentioned, she did not want to cut the marble slabs, although due to their impressive size, they did not fit in the elevator! Eventually, they were raised through the windows by winch, and the final adjustment was carried out in the facility. The Upholstered furniture was made by Tosconova.

Columns, lined with mirrored stripes and black lettering, hide the supporting structures and at the same time give the interior a special solemnity. At the owner’s request, the glass wall with a waterfall, set next to the kitchen appeared in the living room. Another style-forming element of the interior is a modular system of luminaires by Fabbian. They are effective because the glass pendants can create totally different compositions, and in such a large space the single style of lighting fixtures, such as chandeliers and sconces, work to create a whole and complete image. The Kitchen was made by Snaidero.

The Cabinet. Wall panels, pilasters and capitals closet are lined with leather. The chairs, stand and table-top desk are lined with the same leather. Part of the wall is decorated with plaster-corrugated panels. All the furniture is from the Ulivi Salotti collection. As Natalia explained, the design of this installation is so distinctive that things from other manufacturers work artistically.

If viewed from the hall to the living room, the public area is decorated in soft cream colors. In order for the light interior not to look too pale, the designer used a large number of black components, which created a contrast graphically. Mirror Caadre from Fiam by Philippe Stark. Console by Cattelan Italia.

Dining room. Dining table, Ulivi Salotti. Chairs, Rolf Benz.

The parents unit is a separate area, consisting of a bedroom, bathroom with a bath and dressing room. “The owners were not afraid of the dark shades in a private part of the apartment, in fact, they asked for it themselves – says Natalya. – I think it’s wonderful, because in a dark space with a sense of comfort and intimacy, we feel stronger. Some walls are saturated, but on the floor there is a soft milky carpet, white ceilings and furniture give a positive vibe. In addition, the use of the heavily contrasting colors helps to avoid the polarised feeling of a very dark or very bright room.” Bed, lamps by Tosconova.

The window in the bathroom is a great advantage. Additionally, through pleasant greenish tobacco-colored walls, we have managed to create the feeling of a living room. The floor is texture tiled under natural slate. In addition to the spa (Jacuzzi) there is a sauna (Effegibi) and a shower, through which we were offered a complete home spa. Sink by Duravit.

The private area is different from the public primarily by color: dark colors dominate here.

The youngest son’s room. One of the walls decorated with blue boiserie. According to designer, she needed a bright accent in a bright room. And the wall became the source of this accent. To give it a seamless feel the door (Effebiquattro) leading to the dressing room and even the door handle have been painted to match the wall panels. Furniture by Halley.

One more nursery room.

Detail of the parents’ bedroom. Chair, floor lamp by Tosconova.

Natalia Bolshakova: “The most important question for me after finishing the work is how both the owners live over time in their new house, or if some aspect causes discomfort or unease. We are not talking so much about the beauty as about functionality. According to the customer, they feel very comfortable here. The spacious living room with a home theater system has become the favorite place for the family. Each child has their own room, decorated to their own taste, and parents have a separate area and a complete home spa with a sauna and hot tub“