Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Istanbul Apartment Does a Double Take
Two apartments and two contrasting design styles combine in a single stunning home with a view in Turkey
Divided right down the middle in style and purpose, this combined Turkish apartment is a distinctive combination of modern and traditional styles, and public and private spaces. The owners, a middle-age couple, purchased two apartment units to combine them into one space. Designer Neslihan Pekcan of Pebbledesign was faced with the challenge of creating a seamless home out of two separate spaces and two distinct looks.
Because of the units being combined, this home has two living rooms. The entrance is right in the middle, dividing the house between the right side and the left side. Since the husband prefers traditional homes, but the wife likes both modern and traditional, Pekcan split up the spaces into a more traditional entertaining side and a modern private living and bedroom suite.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A middle-age couple
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Size: 3,000 square feet
That's interesting: The apartment is in Istanbul's Gayrettepe neighborhood, a central spot for Europeans in Turkey.
Because of the units being combined, this home has two living rooms. The entrance is right in the middle, dividing the house between the right side and the left side. Since the husband prefers traditional homes, but the wife likes both modern and traditional, Pekcan split up the spaces into a more traditional entertaining side and a modern private living and bedroom suite.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A middle-age couple
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Size: 3,000 square feet
That's interesting: The apartment is in Istanbul's Gayrettepe neighborhood, a central spot for Europeans in Turkey.
An office, complete with a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf and red rolling library ladder, sits just past the living room. The TV cables are hidden in the pipe that runs from the ceiling to the floor. This pipe also allows the TV to turn 360 degrees around, which is why Pekcan set it between the living room and the workspace.
Bookcase, work table, ladder: custom by Pebbledesign
Bookcase, work table, ladder: custom by Pebbledesign
Pekcan painted the entire master bedroom — including the floors — in a bright white, inspired by a hotel room the couple stayed in during a trip to New York. The duvet is a hand-me-down from the wife's grandmother. Pekcan placed a sturdy lining underneath the delicate fabric to make it more practical.
The painting above the bed is an original from the Russian painter Tatyana Nazarenko. The only time she visited Turkey was in 1987, when she painted this painting for the client.
Bed frame: Moda Bagno
The painting above the bed is an original from the Russian painter Tatyana Nazarenko. The only time she visited Turkey was in 1987, when she painted this painting for the client.
Bed frame: Moda Bagno
The couple's collection of antiques and paintings helped define the style of each room. The pendants in this bedroom were another treasure from the wife's grandmother, reworked from older and broken table lamps.
Custom Barrisol lighting panels etch elegant floral designs into the master bathroom walls. The light can be dimmed with a switch next to the sink. White parquet flooring and Corian walls are elegant accompaniments to Pekcan's custom-designed sink and cabinets.
The kitchen is situated on the left and more public half of the unit. Pekcan designed the clean-lined, modern kitchen space to complement the rest of the home's sleek architecture. As she got to know the clients' style, she was able to help them choose colors and materials that they were comfortable living with.
A smart kitchen island incorporates counter seating for casual meals, storage for serveware and a wine refrigerator. The clients love to entertain and spend a lot of time at home, so Pekcan designed a flexible space that would work for small or large groups.
Pendant: Flos, Skygarden; countertops: Corian; cabinets: Dada Kitchen
Pendant: Flos, Skygarden; countertops: Corian; cabinets: Dada Kitchen
A separate office sits on the more private half of the unit. Rather than install a standard set of floor-to-ceiling shelves, Pekcan created a sliding shelf unit as a movable and functional piece of art.
In the more formal living room, designed for entertaining, custom-designed cases hold cherished antiques collected from around the world. A traditional Turkish prayer rug sits underneath two silk-upholstered chairs.
Chairs: Ica
Chairs: Ica
The couple wanted to integrate some of their antique furniture in this space, so Pekcan took a bit of a risk and designed it in a more formal style. Working with English-style furniture and antiques for the first time was a challenge for the designer. While the space may look disjointed from the other rooms at first, the clean architecture and glamorous accents help the room flow with the rest of the house.
Couch, table and chairs: Ica; chandelier: Lamp House
Couch, table and chairs: Ica; chandelier: Lamp House
The restroom on this side of the apartment maintains the same formal, British-inspired look. Antique frames and classic fixtures mirror the look in the formal living room.
Flooring: Moda Bagno ironstone ceramic; sink: 13 Yütas
Flooring: Moda Bagno ironstone ceramic; sink: 13 Yütas
Couch: Giorgetti