The leading authority for the Architecture & Design community
August 6, 2020
Text: Elissaveta M. Brandon
Understated Moscow Apartment by Maria Mikena Interiors Evokes Purity of Thought
A series of custom-made, watercolor wall panels by Russian artist Ekaterina Lobanova, wrap around the living room, infusing it with soft pastel tones. Photography courtesy of Evgenii Kulibaba.
The best apartment designs often reflect the owner’s personality. Such is the case in this understated Moscow apartment, where halftone colors mix with vintage furniture and Russian contemporary artworks. Designed by Maria Mikena Interiors—a Moscow studio that recently relocated to Southern California—the three-bedroom apartment is made up of two adjacent units, which were combined into a single 1,240-square-foot abode.
The end result features custom cabinetry, patterned rugs from The Rug Company and lighting by Jaime Hayon for &Tradition. Inspired by her client’s personality, Mikena named the project Purity of Thought. “This inspiration,” she explains, “transformed into pure lines, consonant with Russian constructivist architecture and Luke Turner’s ideas on metamodernism.”
A Visual Comfort chandelier hangs above a custom-made dining table flanked by vintage dining chairs from the 60s. Photography courtesy of Evgenii Kulibaba.Clean lines and a soft color palette prevail in the open kitchen, which features a sculptural, cylindrical air vent, custom cabinetry by Maria Mikena, as well as a marble countertop and backsplash. Photography courtesy of Evgenii Kulibaba.In the boy’s room, a vintage chair and speckled Sanderson wallpaper add texture, while a digital art poster by Russian artist Varya Schuka brings a modern touch. Photography courtesy of Evgenii Kulibaba.A series of custom arc panels injects character and playfulness into the girl’s bedroom, whose walls are dressed in Swedish brand Eco Wallpaper. Photography courtesy of Evgenii Kulibaba.The master bath sports a striking onyx countertop and handcrafted sconces by Russian studio Wishnya Design. Photography courtesy of Evgenii Kulibaba.An east-meet-west Formakami pendant by Jaime Hayon for &Tradition, as well as a Kelly Wearstler lounge chair, grace a corner of the master bedroom. Photography courtesy of Evgenii Kulibaba.
