Houzz Tour: A Clever Layout Transforms a Small Studio Home
Careful planning and some ingenious thinking makes full use of the space in this tiny one-room apartment
Renovating his own apartment in Moscow, Russia, designer Alireza Nemati was determined to turn his ordinary ‘odnushka’, or one-room apartment, into an open space with natural light and lots of storage. His main tasks were the removal of internal walls and the construction of a wooden ‘sleeping box’. It’s this clever sleeping box and its built-in storage that has enabled efficient use of such a small space.
The entrance area is adjacent to the main living space but separated by a curtain. “There’s a lot of storage space here, with a coat cupboard, and three large pull-out cupboards for large items under the sleeping box,” says Nemati.
The small size of the apartment made it difficult to create separate functional areas, but Nemati and his wife decided not to sacrifice their comfort. They set up a space for sleeping on a second level, in a special sleeping box with its own lighting, which can be reached by a wooden staircase.
“The height of the staircase allows a person to stand up straight, and it has built-in drawers for storage,” explains Nemati.
“The height of the staircase allows a person to stand up straight, and it has built-in drawers for storage,” explains Nemati.
The metal frame of the sleeping box is lined with pine boards. The exterior panels are painted in natural brown wax and the interior ones are colourless. Wax is an environmentally-friendly material, while wood gives the simple interior a feeling of warmth.
The upper cupboards next to the sleeping box (see the previous photo) form a handy shelf where they meet the sleeping area, as can be seen here.
The upper cupboards next to the sleeping box (see the previous photo) form a handy shelf where they meet the sleeping area, as can be seen here.
There are also open bookshelves next to the sleeping box. The wall in between is decorated with graphic drawings that Nemati made during his first year at university.
Since the bedroom is located well above the ground level, the entire apartment and both windows are clearly visible from inside.
Since the bedroom is located well above the ground level, the entire apartment and both windows are clearly visible from inside.
The TV is set into a niche framed by white panels, and hidden behind each panel is a storage space. The whole structure, including the sleeping box and staircase, was built based on Nemati’s sketches.
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The living and dining areas are flexible spaces that can be transformed to meet any need. For example, by moving the sofa and extending the dining table, the owners can create a comfortable social area which can accommodate up to 10 guests.
A small area between the kitchen unit and the window is used as a workspace. Open shelves allow books and documents to be stored here without cluttering up the space.
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A small area between the kitchen unit and the window is used as a workspace. Open shelves allow books and documents to be stored here without cluttering up the space.
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The L-shaped kitchen is from Ikea and the worktop is made of laminated MFC. Ornate handmade Iranian tiles create a bright splashback.
“It’s hard to work with a small bathroom, you have to find room for all the necessary fixtures, provide storage space and, of course, hide the pipes,” says Nemati.
However, he managed to not only fit in a bathtub with all the necessary plumbing, but he also hid the washing machine behind the plain facade of the vanity unit.
However, he managed to not only fit in a bathtub with all the necessary plumbing, but he also hid the washing machine behind the plain facade of the vanity unit.
This is a 3D rendering of the apartment. According to Nemati, the most interesting and most difficult stages of this project were the design and construction of the sleeping box. “It is in itself a mini piece of architecture within the apartment,” he says.
Apartment floor plan
What do you think of this cleverly planned apartment? Tell us in the Comments below.
What do you think of this cleverly planned apartment? Tell us in the Comments below.
Who lives here Alireza Nemati and his wife
Location Moscow, Russia
Property A one-room apartment
Size About 35 sq m
Year of renovation 2016
Designer Alireza Nemati of Studio Bazi
Photos by Ilya Ivanov
Like most new-build apartments in Russia, Nemati’s apartment looked like a concrete box before it was renovated, with a wall separating the kitchen from the living room, and just two windows. Its square shape made it difficult to divide into separate zones, and the interior wall sliced the apartment in half. Nemati and his wife decided to get rid of the wall “to create a more open space, full of light”.
To create a sense of breadth and a clean look, Nemati chose finishings in white and wood tones. The walls and ceilings were painted in white latex, and a highly water-resistant class 33 laminate (used in commercial areas with heavy traffic) was used for the flooring – it’s common practice in Russia to have heavy-duty flooring in entrance areas and living rooms.