- Interior
A historic district in St Petersburg forms the backdrop of this minimalist-style luxury apartment. The decoration may have been reduced to only the very best, but the result is by no means impersonal. The essential and the homely go together here undisturbed, surrounded by light shades. Explore this refocused property with us.
It was word of mouth that brought interior designer Maria Edinaya's clients to her. Although their duplex apartment had just undergone a renovation, the couple did not feel at home with the furnishings. In their own words, when they returned home, they thought of the atmosphere of a hotel, which in this case meant nothing positive. Edinaya steered the course and clearly mapped out their expectations and preferences. This showed that a minimalist, clean look in particular was their preference. With an area of 350 square metres, large windows and existing walls in monochrome shades, there was a lot of potential in her hands. Without making too many changes to the floor plan, the designer transformed the overall feel by mainly rethinking the choices in materials and furniture. On the ground floor are the living areas, including a spacious hall that flows through an arched opening into the living room and dining combination of a kitchen and dining room. There is also an office with its own cloakroom and bathroom. The upper floor is reserved for a sizeable master bedroom, spacious walk-in wardrobe, bathroom and guest room.
The most radical change occurred at the floor on the first level
To avoid the dominant white remaining too cold or distant, the interior designer decided to give the walls and ceilings a slightly warmer colour. In general, the residents wanted to keep a subdued palette; therefore, only a few other shades were further selected. The main focus was on contrasts. Together with natural wood and black, white forms successful combinations that characterise the entire concept. In contrast, the most radical change occurred at the floor on the first level. Previously there was a shiny ceramic granite floor that was replaced by wooden herringbone parquet. A change that immediately made a huge difference. Furthermore, the designer removed the heavy marble mouldings from the arched openings and incorporated plaster mouldings in their place. Some French flair was allowed to creep into the project, so the skirting boards and cornices were deliberately kept. On top of that, customisation came into play in several places in the apartment. The bed and walk-in wardrobe were specially made for the project, for example. In the furniture selection, connoisseurs may recognise several icons, such as The Tired Man lounge chair by Flemming Lassen and Samuel Accoceberry's Rough table in the dining room. Even though the furnishings are clearly anchored in minimalism, the designer sought out appropriate pieces and details for each room that make the picture fit from start to finish. 
Spread over two floors, Maria Edinaya transformed an impersonal-looking apartment into an intentional whole that clearly reflects the style of its occupants. St Petersburg shows its most charming side here thanks to the heavy presence of white surfaces, wooden elements and weighty accents. 
Interior design by Maria Edinaya
Photography by Sergey Krasyuk
Styling by Dasha Soboleva
Text by Cara Jacobs