November 4, 2019

Bulgaria’s ALL in Studio Embraces Challenges to Master Complex Smart Home

Lighting by Flos and Sattler illuminate the living room’s Saba sofa and armchair; the table lamp is by Brokis. Photography by Dian Stanchev.

When conceiving interiors for a young couple’s two-story, 3,400-square-foot apartment in Sofía, Bulgaria, what might be a greater challenge—ceilings that follow the roof’s asymmetrical pitch, an affinity for a palette emphasizing dramatic black, or a need to make most every mechanism in the house controllable via smartphone?

For ALL in Studio and lead architect Pavel Yanev, all three issues “turned out a lot easier than imagined.” The team just embraced the challenges. “The kitchen’s metal frame both connects the two house levels vertically and is patterned to follow the geometry of the roof pitch, as well as the custom herringbone wood panels that cover the cabinets,” he says.

In the master bedroom, a custom bed rests against wood-paneled walls, with a lamp by Michael Anastassiades for Flos. Photography by Dian Stanchev.

As for the palette, a graphite fireplace warms things up, while a white floating bookcase along the living room walls lightens up the space. Smart-house apps added an accidental touch of whimsy: “Someone had set the curtains on the first floor to be controlled by the switches in the master bedroom!”

The result? An object lesson in celebrating complexity. “It’s a space categorical and elusive,” says Yanev, “coherent and creating visual stimulations all at the same time!”

Sliding doors in black-tinted glass and a mirrored wall define the master bathroom. Photography by Dian Stanchev.

In the dining room, Etch fixtures by Tom Dixon join an Andreu World dining table, with Pedrali chairs. Photography by Dian Stanchev.
The daughter’s bedroom is a pink fantasia of custom millwork. Photography by Dian Stanchev.
The son’s bedroom includes a loft bed and a Magis Puppy. Photography by Dian Stanchev.

Read more: Mono Architects’ Minimalist Kiev Apartment Is Anything But Boring

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