Houzz Tour: Clever Studio Apartment Sleeps 4 in 463 Square Feet
A pair of Russian designers put their creativity to the test when fitting two double beds in this tiny Moscow residence
Designers Pavel Gerasimov and Aleksey Ivanov managed to fit two double beds — one full double and one sofa bed — in a tiny Moscow studio apartment, without overcrowding the space. On top of that, they managed to pull off the Scandinavian look the owners love so much. Read on to see how they did it and where the double bed hides during the day.
“The clients said from the very beginning that this apartment was to be a temporary residence only,” Gerasimov says. The owners planned to live here until the renovation of their home was completed, then use the apartment for work, rest and as a place for guests.
“They really wanted the place to feel spacious and to be zoned as functionally as possible despite its small size,” Ivanov says. They had no doubts about the style: It had to be Scandinavian, with light-colored walls, natural finishes, black features and some color accents.
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“They really wanted the place to feel spacious and to be zoned as functionally as possible despite its small size,” Ivanov says. They had no doubts about the style: It had to be Scandinavian, with light-colored walls, natural finishes, black features and some color accents.
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Apartment Layout
Since all the walls are load-bearing, the structural elements defined the apartment’s layout. The kitchen is located just to the right of the entryway. To the left of the front door is a small bathroom. Straight ahead is a wide, rectangular room with a huge window leading to an enclosed balcony.
Since all the walls are load-bearing, the structural elements defined the apartment’s layout. The kitchen is located just to the right of the entryway. To the left of the front door is a small bathroom. Straight ahead is a wide, rectangular room with a huge window leading to an enclosed balcony.
Entryway
Because the entryway is so small — about 37½ square feet — the designers thought it was important to bring natural light into the space. It’s separated from the bedroom-living room by a wide, sliding glass door with a black frame and from the kitchen by an openwork wood-slat partition, seen here.
Because the entryway is so small — about 37½ square feet — the designers thought it was important to bring natural light into the space. It’s separated from the bedroom-living room by a wide, sliding glass door with a black frame and from the kitchen by an openwork wood-slat partition, seen here.
They borrowed space from the bathroom for a built-in closet, which stands just in front of the shower. The wooden door conceals the electrical panel, router, fire and security alarm systems and video monitoring equipment.
“During the renovation, the clients decided to install a smart home system comprising a variety of cameras, gadgets and leak sensors that can be controlled with a smartphone,” Gerasimov says. “For example, you can turn the faucets on or off with your phone. The intercom also has cellphone call forwarding, so you can always answer someone who’s ringing at the door even if you’re not at home. These are very interesting solutions for so little floor space.”
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“During the renovation, the clients decided to install a smart home system comprising a variety of cameras, gadgets and leak sensors that can be controlled with a smartphone,” Gerasimov says. “For example, you can turn the faucets on or off with your phone. The intercom also has cellphone call forwarding, so you can always answer someone who’s ringing at the door even if you’re not at home. These are very interesting solutions for so little floor space.”
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Bathroom
The bathroom is only about 31 square feet. The raised floor of the shower was built to be wider at one end, opposite the door. Because of this, the shower doors are at an angle to the rest of the room, but this also allows for a bigger shower tray.
At the back of the room are built-in open shelves.
The bathroom is only about 31 square feet. The raised floor of the shower was built to be wider at one end, opposite the door. Because of this, the shower doors are at an angle to the rest of the room, but this also allows for a bigger shower tray.
At the back of the room are built-in open shelves.
The bathroom walls are covered with a gray waterproof paint, while the shower is decorated with small geometric tiles, which feature all of the colors used in the apartment.
The stone sink on a teak shelf in the corner is also custom.
Kitchen
The kitchen is dominated by pure lines and colors: only white, graphite and a shade of natural wood. The flooring is the same as in the entryway and bathroom. This helps visually enlarge the overall space.
The kitchen is dominated by pure lines and colors: only white, graphite and a shade of natural wood. The flooring is the same as in the entryway and bathroom. This helps visually enlarge the overall space.
Because the bathroom is so small, the washing machine was placed in the kitchen, in the far left cabinet. There’s a fridge in the next cabinet. Between the sink and stove is an 18-inch-wide dishwasher. An extractor hood is hidden in the cabinet over the stove.
The backsplash consists of Italian-made tiles with raised patterns. Their colors echo the wood finishes.
The backsplash consists of Italian-made tiles with raised patterns. Their colors echo the wood finishes.
Under the window is a built-in storage unit that also serves to conceal the radiator. There is a vent in the windowsill.
Bedroom-Living Room
In the living room, the designers used classic Swedish blue and yellow. A raised floor divides the room into zones. On it, a gray sofa stands against a dark gray accent wall. Beanbag chairs provide additional seating when needed.
In the living room, the designers used classic Swedish blue and yellow. A raised floor divides the room into zones. On it, a gray sofa stands against a dark gray accent wall. Beanbag chairs provide additional seating when needed.
The floor is composite wood, while the windowsill is marble.
A white storage unit takes up one wall of the space. A bioethanol fireplace was built into it. It produces a real flame out of biofuel, helping to create the cozy atmosphere of a Scandinavian country house.
The client found the screen and high-quality ceiling speakers for the home theater. A protruding cornice above the closet houses the screen. “When we lowered the ceiling, we had to calculate it down to the centimeter to make sure everything would come together properly,” Ivanov says.
The raised platform hides a surprise: a full double bed that rolls out.
Creating this feature required painstaking work, the designers say. Several contractors worked on it — one built the frame and finished it with engineered wood, and another — a furniture maker — made retractable steps out of the same wood. The difficulty was in joining the two components. They had to redo everything several times to get it right.
Balcony
The long balcony was turned into an office. On the left is a compact workspace, and on the right is a relaxation area with a small built-in sofa.
The long balcony was turned into an office. On the left is a compact workspace, and on the right is a relaxation area with a small built-in sofa.
Storage was added under the seat and in the back of the sofa.
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Read more stories about apartment design
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with a child, who use it for short stays and as an office
Location: Moscow
Size: About 463 square feet (43 square meters).
Designers: Pavel Gerasimov and Aleksey Ivanov of Geometrium