Balbek Bureau Designs a Perfect Habitat for a Young Kyiv Businesswoman
The Ukraine-based firm Balbek Bureau has designed hospitality, office, and residential spaces from Qingdao to London to San Francisco, but when a young businesswoman in its home city of Kyiv asked them to turn her 1,600-square-foot apartment into a home, the project was a little more personal.
“She inspired us to design a perfect habitat that’s synergetic with her lifestyle,” says senior interior designer Yevheniia Dubrovskaya. A kitchen includes a marble-topped freestanding island and cabinets in contrasting dark and pastel tones, ready for culinary entertaining. While panoramic views from the 29th floor offer drama, a reading nook in a bay window allows for more contemplative moments.
The owner’s favorite details are the bathroom’s light-blue wall panels and marble flooring, but Dubrovskaya favors something brighter. “The client had been hesitating for quite a long time whether to choose such a bold color as salmon for the ceiling in the guest bathroom,” she says. “I suggested myriad other, more reserved options, but she decided to return to the original design.” That’s what synergy looks like.
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