Houzz Tour: Easygoing Elegance for Cats and Their Owner
A cat lover renovates his Moscow apartment, blending modern style with classical references
Before taking the renovation plunge, Evgeny Lavrov spent a few months working everything out to the tiniest detail: planning the budget, scheduling deliveries and drawing sketches of custom pieces like the home’s polyurethane molding. The molding, a modern version of a classical design, is a great example of the decor approach throughout the space. Lavrov’s portraits of his beloved cats, two chests of drawers painted with card motifs inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and other quirky and chic details further the happy mix of modern and classical styles.
The first aim of the renovation was to reconfigure the layout of this Stalin-era apartment. The owner wanted to combine the 129-square-foot living room and the small kitchen into about a 300-square-foot open space.
The entryway was also incorporated into this open room. Mirrored closet doors make the 6-foot-wide space seem larger. The closet is about 3½ feet deep and houses a washer and dryer as well as the owner’s outerwear.
The entryway was also incorporated into this open room. Mirrored closet doors make the 6-foot-wide space seem larger. The closet is about 3½ feet deep and houses a washer and dryer as well as the owner’s outerwear.
Lavrov’s new interior is grounded in modern style, but not without references to the past. He installed polyurethane molding in the living room. He had to forgo plaster moldings because the manufacturer did not want to handle such a small order; moreover, plaster is harder to install and takes more time to dry, and Lavrov didn’t want to stretch out the renovation even more.
The walls in the living room are a dark teal. A new dropped ceiling conceals the built-in audio system, but gaps were left between the walls and the new structure so that the ceiling would not look low.
“I listen to the news in the morning. I don’t like it when I can’t hear it just because I have gone into another room — I used to miss important information because of that. Now there is a 7.1 surround sound system in the living room, with speakers both there and in the bathroom. The bedroom has its own semi-independent 5.1 surround sound system, so you can listen to either what’s on in the living room or something different,” Lavrov says.
“I listen to the news in the morning. I don’t like it when I can’t hear it just because I have gone into another room — I used to miss important information because of that. Now there is a 7.1 surround sound system in the living room, with speakers both there and in the bathroom. The bedroom has its own semi-independent 5.1 surround sound system, so you can listen to either what’s on in the living room or something different,” Lavrov says.
The owner refinished the accent tables in the entrance and the living room himself. The red one has hearts and the black one has spades, both inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. “I bought these cheap side tables on the internet, but I didn’t like their color. So I drew a sketch of the layout, ‘rounded’ a chessboard pattern and printed out the stencils. Then I applied a shiny paint with gold and silver leaf. However, the black did not turn out right on the first try, so I had to remove the entire finish and start from the beginning,” Lavrov says.
The builders exposed old bricks on a wall in the living room, and Lavrov decided to make them part of the decor. The walls around the window and balcony had to be made level with plasterboard, however, leading to the question of how to make the transition between the two materials look good.
“I told the builders to just randomly spread plaster with a putty knife, and it came out surprisingly well,” the owner says. The crossbeam that marks the former boundary between the kitchen and the living room was also painted white.
“I told the builders to just randomly spread plaster with a putty knife, and it came out surprisingly well,” the owner says. The crossbeam that marks the former boundary between the kitchen and the living room was also painted white.
The console table under the TV is another custom piece based on Lavrov’s sketches. It was inspired by an Italian design. The hardest thing was making the bun feet. In the end, Lavrov painted them black and applied silver leaf on top to achieve a craquelure, or crackle, effect.
On top of the console table sit souvenirs from trips and a ceramic cat that had been given to Lavrov as a gift. He bought the mini Romero Britto miniature shoes in Miami and the porcelain cows in London.
Plants also decorate the living room. Flowers grow well in this bright room, and the cats aren’t too interested in them.
Plants also decorate the living room. Flowers grow well in this bright room, and the cats aren’t too interested in them.
“The Scottish fold, Izumka, was the latest addition. I brought her home so Diesel, the British shorthair with the marble coat, wouldn’t get bored. They have completely different personalities: Diesel is melancholy, and Izumka is braver and more down-to-earth,” Lavrov says.
A portrait of Diesel, painted by the owner, adorns the wall in the kitchen. “I am not an artist, and this is my first attempt at such work. Diesel came out plumper than he is in real life, but all in all, it looks like him.”
A portrait of Diesel, painted by the owner, adorns the wall in the kitchen. “I am not an artist, and this is my first attempt at such work. Diesel came out plumper than he is in real life, but all in all, it looks like him.”
The custom bar counter needed to be large enough to be comfortable, but small enough to fit into a tight space. It therefore took careful planning. “It’s been placed at such a height that having a quick bite standing next to it or a complete dinner while sitting on the bar stools is equally comfortable. All the bar stools are different — I could not decide on a single style and just bought those I liked for their color and shape,” the owner says.
Kitchen cabinetry: Veneta Cucine
Kitchen cabinetry: Veneta Cucine
In the bedroom, Lavrov decided on an even bolder experiment: black walls. The mirrored doors of the closet and the light-colored, floor-length curtains ensure that it doesn’t feel cramped. The light in the bedroom can be turned on with switches at the door or on both sides of the headboard.
The diamond-tufted headboard was custom-made and hangs on the wall. It is just over 11 feet wide, spanning the bed and both bedside tables, which had been purchased before the renovation. The owner assembled the bed from disparate elements: a frame, two mattresses, a mattress topper and two bedspreads. “As a result, the bed is about 30 inches high. All that’s missing is the pea,” says Lavrov, laughing.
Bed frame: Ascona; valance: Zara Home; sun-shaped mirror: Dantone Home
Bed frame: Ascona; valance: Zara Home; sun-shaped mirror: Dantone Home
The owner bought the turquoise armchair, a replica of Grant Featherston’s R160 Contour chair, on sale. The ’70s-style chair is a nice accent in the otherwise monochrome interior.
The long console is decorated with a Britto bear and a figurine from Berlin that is a tribute to the work of Thierry Noir, the street artist who was the first to paint the Berlin wall in bright colors, in 1984.
The portrait of Izumka also stands out. “With this one, I already had some experience. I think this portrait is more successful than the first. However, I haven’t added her whiskers because I’m afraid I’ll mess up the thin lines,” the owner says.
The portrait of Izumka also stands out. “With this one, I already had some experience. I think this portrait is more successful than the first. However, I haven’t added her whiskers because I’m afraid I’ll mess up the thin lines,” the owner says.
The bathroom, which was enlarged in the renovation, contains a large tub and a double-sink vanity.
Vanity: Caprigo
Vanity: Caprigo
Everything looks perfectly planned out and designed within an inch, but this apartment is proof positive that no renovation is ever complete. While this article was awaiting publication, Lavrov repainted this space. It just goes to show that the more you renovate, the more you feel you should do. Who knows what other changes are in store for this apartment?
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See more pet places on Houzz | Find cat supplies
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: Evgeny Lavrov, director of strategy and business development at an international media company, with his two cats, a British shorthair, Diesel, and a Scottish fold, Izumka
Location: Moscow
Size: 581 square feet (54 square meters)
That’s interesting: Diesel and Izumka have their own Instagram, @diesel_izumka
When Lavrov first moved into this apartment, he freshened it up with a DIY renovation. After making do with the results for a decade, he felt that it was time for a major revamp. “I spent a year planning out the design, making drawings, figuring out the budget and calling all the manufacturers in advance to build a strict schedule for orders and deliveries in advance. But that is normal for me because I love planning everything,” the owner says.
This approach paid off: Not a single supplier delivery went wrong in the whole renovation. Still, the construction work did take a month longer than expected.