Cover Conversation pieces abound in the living room of this Moscow home
Conversation pieces abound in the living room of this Moscow home
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In the heart of Moscow’s historic Petrovsky Boulevard, interior designer Ariana Ahmad imbues a contemporary luxury twist to classic Parisian aesthetics
Along Petrovsky Boulevard in Central Moscow, Russia, genuine 19th-century buildings still line the verdant streets, though their numbers are declining with time.
One of these historic buildings is where a family with three sons purchased two separate apartment units to serve as their full-time residence, located just a stone’s throw away from cultural stomping grounds like the Bolshoi Theatre and the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theatre.
Interior designer and architect Ariana Ahmad, whose design bureau was approached to develop the home, recalls that it was “a refined and sophisticated apartment with views of Moscow’s old rooftops.”
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Above Ariana Ahmad, founder of Ariana Ahmad Design
Ariana Ahmad, founder of Ariana Ahmad Design
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“Having spent time in Paris, they wanted their new Moscow home to embody French interior design throughout the four bedrooms and large living/dining area meant for family gatherings,” says the founder of the eponymous design firm.
“The homeowners have exquisite tastes, hence their high expectations regarding the overall concept, layout, furniture, and decor selection, but we share similar tastes [in design], and I was excited to create [for them] a refined and intelligent atmosphere [in their home].”
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Above A monochromatic palette that recalls classic Parisian interiors
Above An antique tapestry from Mark Patlis Studio in the entry hall
A monochromatic palette that recalls classic Parisian interiors
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Spanning over 3,350 sq ft, the merged apartment units feature an entry hall and wardrobe that leads to a communal space comprising the living room, dining room and kitchen with an adjacent pantry area.
The apartment also houses a master suite with a bathroom and wardrobe, three children’s rooms, a guest bedroom with a private bathroom, a home office, and a laundry room.
“The layout was initially a challenge, as it involved combining two apartments and addressing a façade issue where cold air seeped through,” Ahmad recalls. “We addressed this issue by injecting concrete into the walls.”
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Design icons like Piet Boon, Maarten Van Severen and Fabian Schwaerzler anchor the airy space
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Above The iconic LC4 chaise longue by Le Corbusier is the focal point in the living room
Above An antique tapestry from Mark Patlis Studio provides a vibrant backdrop to the Bonaldo armchair
The iconic LC4 chaise longue by Le Corbusier is the focal point in the living room
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Drawing inspiration from Parisian apartments, Ahmad opted for a monochromatic palette with all walls–including the built-in furniture, window sills, and radiators–painted in one unified colour.
Alongside a herringbone parquet flooring, and decorative mouldings and cornices, the timeless interior design further opens up the generous space with 3.5-metre-high ceilings and graceful arched windows with picturesque views of the city.
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In turn, the white walls also provide a time-honoured backdrop to accentuate bright accents and graphic elements that instil the ambiance of a classic Parisian interior with a modern twist.
Besides natural marble and antique tapestries from Mark Patlis Studio, such as the ones hanging on the walls of the entry hall and the living room; the space is filled with carefully curated furnishing that not only focuses on functionality, but also on design interest.
Above A hidden door behind the bookshelf leads into the home office
Above The concealed room reveals more designer hits, such as Jean-Marie Massaud and Poltrona Frau
A hidden door behind the bookshelf leads into the home office
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The iconic LC4 chaise longue by Le Corbusier anchors the space as a conversation piece during social gatherings, next to a baby grand bathed in natural light permeating through the windows.
Meanwhile, a pair of LC03 chairs in ochre-beige leather, designed by Maarten Van Severen and Fabian Schwaerzler, breaks the prevailing black-and-white narrative, as a Piet Boon sofa and a Bonaldo chair balances with fabric warmth.
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“I especially love the library area in the living room with its hidden door leading to the office,” remarks Ahmad, in regards to the concealed room with more designer hits: Jean-Marie Massaud, Minotti and Poltrona Frau with lighting fixtures by Contardi hanging overhead.
Above Gorel's colourful artwork from the Uluhanli Gallery is paired with Patricia Urquiola’s Husk chairs in the dining room
Gorel's colourful artwork from the Uluhanli Gallery is paired with Patricia Urquiola’s Husk chairs in the dining room
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Above The sleek kitchen area with gracefully arched windows
Above A seamless flow between the communal spaces
The sleek kitchen area with gracefully arched windows
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“We spent a significant amount of time meticulously designing the lighting to ensure high quality and extensive zoning,” the interior designer shares. “Ultimately, the owners opted for unique models by Jeremy Anderson and Gabriel Hendifar, whose works, both retro-styled and innovative, are displayed throughout the apartment.”
The most expressive ones, according to Ahmad, adorn the dining room, where Patricia Urquiola’s Husk chairs orbit the Mac table by Italian architect and designer Pierluigi Cerri; as Majorettes by Gorel, procured from the Uluhanli Gallery nearby add a touch of vibrancy to the space.
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Above The thematic colours imbue the ensuite bathrooms
Above Shades of grey amidst an interplay of graphic lines
The thematic colours imbue the ensuite bathrooms
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Through a variation of double and sliding doors that can be pulled back for seamless openness between spaces or closed for segregated privacy, the greyscale theme imbues the bedrooms and ensuites.
From the master bedroom with a grey-padded Wings bed by Spanish designer Jaime Hayon, to one of the children’s bedrooms that showcases Russian artist Ilya Mosunov’s linocut artwork–each room, though with minimal furnishing, speaks volumes with every purposeful placement of the decorative items.
Read more: Home tour: A honey-coloured home in Moscow Oblast inspired by Japanese dwellings
Above The home office leads into the adjoining master suite
Above Grey-padded Wings bed by Spanish designer Jaime Hayon
The home office leads into the adjoining master suite
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Above Each room speaks volumes through its minimal but purposeful furnishing choices
Above Russian artist Ilya Mosunov’s linocut artwork decorates one of the children's bedrooms
Each room speaks volumes through its minimal but purposeful furnishing choices
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“I appreciate how expressive accents and graphic lines of furniture stand out against the monochromatic architectural backdrop in this interior,” concludes Ahmad, having achieved what they set out to create for the homeowners.
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Credits
Photography: Mikhail Loskutov
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Celeste Goh is a senior writer covering architecture and design. Based in Malaysia, she reports on emerging architectural and home design trends, as well as insights by local and international architects and interior designers.
Previously, she covered men’s lifestyle, fashion, music and entertainment.
