Kitchen of the Week: Preserving Traditional Flavor in Moscow
A tiny Russian kitchen gets an era-appropriate update that's sensitive to its history but makes better use of the space
The owners of this tiny 1920s kitchen in one of Moscow's oldest districts wanted to preserve its traditional look, but they needed the 55-square-foot space to be practical, too. Designer Irina Tatarnikova preserved the kitchen's footprint during the remodel and used small appliances, a white palette and custom cabinetry and furniture to make the most of the room.
The clients decided to preserve the kitchen's footprint, so Tatarnikova chose extra-small appliances to fit into the tiny space. A forest-green range and oven from Italy nestle perfectly into an existing cabinet nook. Originally the kitchen had no space for a full refrigerator, so Tatarnikova carved out a niche in a former closet.
Oven: ILVE; refrigerator: Smeg
Oven: ILVE; refrigerator: Smeg
The designer knew that ready-made furniture would be hard to use in this limited space. Taking precise measurements and designing a custom kitchen table allowed her to save on cabinetry space and fit a small dishwasher and microwave into the custom panels.
Dining stools: Kartell
Dining stools: Kartell
A low ceiling made the space feel even smaller, so Tatarnikova chose a glossy white paint to visually lift it. The shine reflects light too, a bonus for a small room with one small window.
Sink, fixtures: ILVE; drawer pulls: custom
Sink, fixtures: ILVE; drawer pulls: custom
The chandelier is a replica of a popular Russian art deco chandelier.
Cabinetry, shelving: painted MDF; countertop: marble; rugs: kilim, from Istanbul