For this home in St. Petersburg, Maria Onuchina and Ivan Minyaev of O&M Design Studio were not afraid to mix eras, textures and hues to create a home that feels as individual as its owner.
The apartment was conceived as a place for short stays and weekends filled with new experiences, gatherings with friends and relaxation. The client, a creative person, wanted the interior to be as lively and unconventional as she was. From the outset, the project embraced color, bold combinations and objects with a story to tell.
In the living room, an antique china cabinet immediately draws the eye. It is complemented by a pink Correct Form chandelier made of Murano glass, which took two months to arrive from Italy. Designer chairs by Konos and 1917design sit naturally alongside these pieces, as does the pink Zig Zag side table by Pols Potten. The kitchen was custom-made to the designers’ sketches. A checkerboard tile backsplash adds a graphic element, while ceramic sockets and switches by Leanza reinforce the overall color scheme.
Working with color proved to be one of the most painstaking aspects of the project. Particular care went into selecting the shades for the walls and ceilings, each of which had to work in harmony with the furniture and adjacent surfaces. Yellow was the most challenging color to get right. After two weeks of testing, the designers found the perfect shade, which ultimately became one of the apartment’s defining features.
Color, rather than doors alone, helps distinguish the different spaces. The tall skirting boards and ceiling cornices were painted to match the walls, bringing the architectural details together into a unified composition. At the same time, the pink ceiling in the living room and the yellow one in the bedroom visually distinguish the two areas without compromising the overall cohesion of the interior.
In the bedroom, the main feature is a striped headboard that extends into a canopy above the bed. The idea emerged from a desire to introduce more textiles and create a cosy, sheltered retreat for rest, almost like a separate room within the room. A blue curtain conceals the dressing area, while an antique mirror and a vintage bedside table lend the space a relaxed, informal character. The pink ceiling completes the composition.
The bathroom continues the striped motif, creating a visual connection with the bedroom. A green vanity unit, designed specifically for the project, is paired with a mirror shaped like a wreath of thorns and sanitaryware by Boheme. The washing machine is concealed behind a curtain, preserving the visual lightness of the compact space.
There is no pursuit of perfect symmetry or flawlessly coordinated furniture sets in this interior. Instead, its character emerges from contrasts: an antique cabinet alongside a contemporary chandelier, a pink ceiling paired with a yellow bedroom, designer furniture mixed with finds from vintage markets.
It is this diversity that makes the apartment feel personal and alive. Old objects find a new context, bold colors become part of everyday life, and each room retains its own distinct mood. The interior does not attempt to follow a single style or set of rules. Instead, it takes shape gradually, through objects, textures and thoughtful choices that come together to create a space full of character.
Photography by Katja Litke.
Styling by Natalia Strizhakova.
Like what you see? Get it first with a subscription to aspire design and home magazine.