Houzz Tour: Clever Design Transforms a Stylish Loft in Moscow
A flat in a former textile factory has been revamped with contemporary features and movable partitions
The owners of this unusual apartment, designer Ella Korneva and her husband, Nathan, define themselves as restless people who like to move around. After selling their previous flat, they were keen to hunt out a loft space for their next home.
The couple found a suitable option in a residential complex called the Loft Garden, which had been built in a converted sewing factory. They say it’s like living in a typical Russian country house, a dacha. There are old chestnut trees in the garden, and dense vegetation protects the apartment from the city noise and dust. In addition, a light aroma often wafts in from the nearby chocolate factory, while from the railway there’s a barely noticeable touch of smoke.
The couple found a suitable option in a residential complex called the Loft Garden, which had been built in a converted sewing factory. They say it’s like living in a typical Russian country house, a dacha. There are old chestnut trees in the garden, and dense vegetation protects the apartment from the city noise and dust. In addition, a light aroma often wafts in from the nearby chocolate factory, while from the railway there’s a barely noticeable touch of smoke.
The interior was inspired by the building’s exterior, which was designed like a Dutch factory.
The original brick walls were preserved only on the ground and first floors of the building, but Ella and Nathan decided to repeat the finish in their apartment, too, for a modern loft style.
The new brick wall features cracks and a lived-in texture. The designer created the finish by hand, as explaining to the builders how to do it turned out to be surprisingly difficult. “I didn’t like the look of the brickwork.” Ella explains. “I had to experiment with it using techniques such as ageing, plastering and grisaille.”
The original brick walls were preserved only on the ground and first floors of the building, but Ella and Nathan decided to repeat the finish in their apartment, too, for a modern loft style.
The new brick wall features cracks and a lived-in texture. The designer created the finish by hand, as explaining to the builders how to do it turned out to be surprisingly difficult. “I didn’t like the look of the brickwork.” Ella explains. “I had to experiment with it using techniques such as ageing, plastering and grisaille.”
The bathroom is hidden in the white cube next to the apartment’s entrance. The roof is lower than in the surrounding living room, and the space above the cube can be used for storage. So the owners could access it, the builder made a ladder out of pipes on the adjacent wall.
The open-plan living space is filled with light, which spills in from the large window. The brutalist finish is another connection with the exterior, and the building’s historical past. To this space Ella would also, in time, like to add a leather sofa from Arketipo.
Dining table; lamps; shelves, all LeHome Vintage. Yellow armchair, Ikea.
Dining table; lamps; shelves, all LeHome Vintage. Yellow armchair, Ikea.
The arch accentuates the kitchen area. “We built it to tie the interior to the façade, and it’s given the room a warm feeling. Arches are not typical at all in my work,” says Ella.
The lighting and accessories are from the Gusev Crystal Glass Factory, with brass, copper and aluminium additions. The kitchen worktop and unit exteriors are made of polished stainless steel. The long run houses built-in appliances, which include a dishwasher and washing machine.
All the art pieces are from family and friends. On the shelf are pictures by Alexandra Mareeva and Yury Masjutin. The unusual bright sculpture is a work by Leonid Sochranskij, who recently had his own exhibition in Moscow. The couple placed the piece near the window to allow the sun to illuminate it from behind.
The sofa consists of a wooden frame and a leather-covered mattress. “My daughter’s classmates sewed the cover. They have their own workshop, Kozha da Kosti [Leather & Bones]”, says Ella.
The couple’s daughter, Sonya, studies in Japan and is only at home during the holidays, so her room adapts for this. The space is located in a cube, which is separated from the living room by a moving partition. The sections are made from MDF panels covered with canvas.
The owners decorated the fabric themselves. “I wanted to create an effect like the roof flowing over a wall, an echo of an oriental watercolour,” says the designer.
The owners decorated the fabric themselves. “I wanted to create an effect like the roof flowing over a wall, an echo of an oriental watercolour,” says the designer.
Two of the three panels are movable, the third is stationary and is covered with mirrored glass. When the moving partition is open, the sofa is part of the living room, and is visible from all areas of the apartment. By simply closing the shutters and removing the decorative cushions, the sofa turns into a bed, and Sonya is given a feeling of total privacy.
The air conditioning unit’s top tube not only underlines the industrial notes of the interior, but also removes condensation. “Many people for some reason don’t do this, even though it’s a really simple way to create a deviation,” Nathan says. The corridor between their daughter’s room and the main wall leads to the master bedroom, zoned off by textile partitions.
This is what Sonya’s room looks like from inside, a great example of Japanese minimalism. A large mirrored wardrobe solves all her storage issues, and the opposite wall opens into her parents’ bedroom.
A small desk hugs the pillar, and the structural element has been turned into a board for notes and postcards. To make use of the narrow space between the column and the wall, bookshelves have been positioned here.
A small desk hugs the pillar, and the structural element has been turned into a board for notes and postcards. To make use of the narrow space between the column and the wall, bookshelves have been positioned here.
The master bedroom feels softer and more comfortable, with tactile fabrics and a white colour scheme. The room’s two windows made it tricky to arrange the furniture. The bed has an unusual headboard made of micro-cement, which hides the heating and the electric system. The dark, cast iron radiators were already in place and the couple decided not to change them.
Instead of curtains, the owners hung Ikea blankets at the windows, hemmed by Ella’s mum. They keep the room warm, block out the street noise, and also create a comfortable night-time atmosphere. “They give me a relaxed feeling. When I enter the room, I immediately want to sleep,” says Ella.
A reproduction of a Magritte artwork hangs on the wall, as requested by Nathan. “I love the rich green colour of the Granny Smith apple,” he says.
A reproduction of a Magritte artwork hangs on the wall, as requested by Nathan. “I love the rich green colour of the Granny Smith apple,” he says.
For the walls of the bathroom, Ella chose white textured tiles. It took two attempts to lay them, as it wasn’t easy to cut them to fit.
The shower is separated from the rest of the room by a curtain. To drain the water, the floor was elevated, which created a chute. It has proved a handy space for all the household, as the owners also have dogs.
Vanity unit, Caprigo. White tiles, Porcelanosa.
The shower is separated from the rest of the room by a curtain. To drain the water, the floor was elevated, which created a chute. It has proved a handy space for all the household, as the owners also have dogs.
Vanity unit, Caprigo. White tiles, Porcelanosa.
A floor plan of the apartment.
What do you think of this cleverly designed loft apartment? Share you thought in the Comments below.
What do you think of this cleverly designed loft apartment? Share you thought in the Comments below.
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Who lives here A married couple, Ella and Nathan; their daughter, Sonya, currently studies in Japan and comes back home during the holidays
Location Moscow, Russia
Size 645 sq ft (60 sq m), with 10.5ft-high ceilings (3.2m)
Designer Owner Ella Korneva of Atelier Korbaza
Photos by Yury Grishko
The renovation of Nathan and Ella’s home took three months. “Ella designed the apartment in the spirit of New York,” says Nathan. “It feels almost like the brickwork could have been taken from 12th Avenue.”
However, the preparation for the renovation began well in advance. For example, it took almost a year to find the grey travertine for the floors. Ella knew the exact material she wanted, and eventually found it.