Modern 140 m² apartment with vintage details in Moscow

This bright 140 m² apartment in the historic center of Moscow belongs to a family who loves to travel and appreciates art. Interior designer and decorator Yulia Golavskaya brought together a respect for family traditions with a contemporary sensibility.

Large windows fill the rooms with light, and the urban views beyond them became part of the design concept. The color palette was inspired by the sky — from pearly gray to bluish and sandy hues that evoke calm and freedom.

“The client had followed my work on social media for a long time and told me right away that she trusted my taste,” says Yulia. “We discussed only a few key wishes, and then I built the interior’s composition as a story filled with meaning and warmth.”

From the entrance, there is a direct view into the living-dining area framed by two contrasting portals: one finished with painted oak veneer panels, and the other in dark brown oak with rich red edging. The compact kitchen can be accessed both from the hallway and from the dining area, which is concealed behind sliding doors.

One of the apartment’s defining features is a central corridor that separates the living, kitchen, and dining zones from the private area with three bedrooms. It serves both aesthetic and functional purposes — acting as a passage lined with artwork and bookshelves, while discreetly hiding the utility area behind flush doors.

Because the layout, proportions, and large windows didn’t lend themselves to a classical approach, Yulia combined modern furniture with vintage accents. In the living room, a Gervasoni sofa, an elegant Magis armchair with ottoman, and Zanotta coffee tables create a relaxed atmosphere. From their previous apartment, the owners kept a large IKEA dining table that perfectly fit the new concept, pairing it with Manual Mode chairs upholstered in Jean Paul Gaultier fabric. In the bedroom, a Ditre Italia bed stands alongside the retained IKEA wardrobe. The look is completed with lighting by Flos, Fabbian, Mazzega, and Artemide.

Many items were custom-made from Yulia’s designs: consoles in the dining room and bedroom, a dressing table, bookcases for the extensive home library, display cabinets, a wardrobe, and a chest of drawers in the dressing area.

Vintage pieces add individuality to the home — a writing desk in the bedroom, a chest of drawers in the hallway, and a classic Soviet chair. The console in the dining area and the window sills in the living room are adorned with vintage Italian lamps. During the renovation, the homeowner even took restoration courses and personally refurbished a small table and chair that now have a place in the new interior.

A distinctive decision was to let the two daughters design their own rooms. “I created the base layout, and they came up with the rest. We decided not to show them entirely — it’s their private space,” Yulia notes.

Finishing details maintain a unified rhythm: all walls are painted in a pearly gray palette that creates a soft, misty atmosphere. Window frames are made of stepped veneered moldings, each painted in a slightly different hue. The custom-designed doors are painted in gray and bluish tones, with textured glass inserts in the panels, transoms, and one interior window adding a subtle accent.

Particular attention was given to the oak engineered flooring with its expressive grain and natural knots — a warm contrast to the urban views outside.

“I love the integrity of this project,” says Yulia. “It seamlessly brings together vintage and contemporary pieces, meaningful heirlooms and new objects, art and simplicity.”

Interior designer, decorator Yulia Golavskaya, founder of GOLAVSKAYA Studio
golavskaya.com
Instagram @yuliagolavskaya

Interior designers: Margo Terentieva, Anastasia Baranova

Photo credit Sergey Ananiev
Instagram @sergeyananiev