A designer has done in her 42sqm flat everything her clients refused to do
A designer has completely renovated her 42sqm flat: terracotta walls, wooden fronts, terrazzo and a vintage radio
There are flats where you can sense that the owner has been able to express themselves fully, because it’s their own. That’s exactly what has happened in this 42sqm flat, completely redesigned by the designer Violetta Koltan for herself. She has done everything in it that her clients had refused. The result? A rich, colourful, lived-in interior, a world away from the bland, featureless renovations that flood social media.
The original flat was typical of its era: a tiny kitchen, a tiny hallway, a tiny bathroom. Violetta Koltan demolished almost everything. The partitions came down, and she rebuilt them differently. The floor had a major flaw: a 14 cm drop in level after the parquet flooring was stripped, and one can easily imagine the initial state.
Since the renovation, the kitchen opens onto the living room via a sliding partition. A recess carved out to the left of the entrance houses the fridge on the kitchen side and the laundry unit on the hallway side. Violetta as moved the bedroom entrance, and the walk-in wardrobe is now directly accessible from it.
Keeping the upper kitchen cabinet's fronts in pure white is a brilliant idea. They seem to blend into the walls and the stretch ceiling. They aren’t overly visible, which, in a 42sqm flat space, alters the perception of the room. The lower cupboard fronts in wood veneer add warmth without being overpowering. A small open shelf with potted plants bridges the two.
The floor tiles mimic a terrazzo effect (Pamesa Entis Ceniza). The splashback covers only part of the wall, a decision that avoids a cluttered look. Classic Wishbone Chairs around the round wooden table complement the matching circular pendant light. The black details of the light fittings echo the chair legs. This kind of consistency is the hallmark of professionals
Quick-Step parquet replaces the tiles as soon as you leave the kitchen area. The walls are simply painted white. On the wall in the TV area, the owners installed hard polymer panelling themselves – a way of personalising their home by getting involved in the work.
A restored vintage Radiola catches the eye. It is a beautiful piece that brings real character to this living room. It still works, the legs have been refurbished, and it occupies a key spot in the room. In a contemporary interior, this object from another era avoids that catalogue feel (IKEA or similar...). And even though there are few photos of the living room from the sofa side, you can see that the fairly neutral overall colour scheme is well maintained there.
The designer’s husband’s office area nestles between two walls, creating the impression of a slightly secluded work nook. The lower part of the wall features panelling painted in dark grey. Wall storage system echoes the kitchen’s design. A true continuity of style links the rooms together, creating a sense of visual harmony that is pleasing to the eye in this 42sqm flat.
This is undoubtedly the boldest design choice in the flat. The wall behind the bed is painted in two tones: terracotta at the bottom, white above. Classic-style polymer frames adorn the wall behind the bed. The effect is both graphic and original. The terracotta shade is warm without being overpowering, and it contrasts with the rest of the room, which is more neutral.
This two-tone choice works well on two levels. Visually, the horizontal break draws the eye upwards, which is no small matter in a room with a 2.60-metre-high ceiling. Practically speaking, the colour is confined to the wall behind the bed, without overwhelming the room. One might have feared a stifling effect had the entire wall been painted in this bold colour. In this setting, we particularly appreciate the wooden wardrobe doors, which provide a striking contrast to the white wall.
The bath has been replaced by a walk-in shower, freeing up a square metre that has been used for the laundry area. Its terrazzo floor echoes the tiling in the entrance hall. Part of the walls is tiled, the other part painted green with a water-repellent paint. The combination of the two works better than one might imagine. The shade of green chosen is quite bold, a choice the designer is proud of. After all, it’s her home; she can do as she pleases.
This 42sqm flat demonstrates something quite rare: the coherence of a project designed by someone who actually lives in the space. The beautiful vintage radio, the hand-laid panelling, the bold terracotta in the bedroom, none of it feels like a trend inspired by social media. Here, you can sense a designer who knows exactly what she wants, and who hasn’t had to compromise her choices with a client. Photo: Alexander Yurchik
A radically reconfigured layout
The original flat was typical of its era: a tiny kitchen, a tiny hallway, a tiny bathroom. Violetta Koltan demolished almost everything. The partitions came down, and she rebuilt them differently. The floor had a major flaw: a 14 cm drop in level after the parquet flooring was stripped, and one can easily imagine the initial state.
Since the renovation, the kitchen opens onto the living room via a sliding partition. A recess carved out to the left of the entrance houses the fridge on the kitchen side and the laundry unit on the hallway side. Violetta as moved the bedroom entrance, and the walk-in wardrobe is now directly accessible from it.
The kitchen-living room where two materials interact
Keeping the upper kitchen cabinet's fronts in pure white is a brilliant idea. They seem to blend into the walls and the stretch ceiling. They aren’t overly visible, which, in a 42sqm flat space, alters the perception of the room. The lower cupboard fronts in wood veneer add warmth without being overpowering. A small open shelf with potted plants bridges the two.
The floor tiles mimic a terrazzo effect (Pamesa Entis Ceniza). The splashback covers only part of the wall, a decision that avoids a cluttered look. Classic Wishbone Chairs around the round wooden table complement the matching circular pendant light. The black details of the light fittings echo the chair legs. This kind of consistency is the hallmark of professionals
In the living room: raw materials and a remarkable vintage piece
Quick-Step parquet replaces the tiles as soon as you leave the kitchen area. The walls are simply painted white. On the wall in the TV area, the owners installed hard polymer panelling themselves – a way of personalising their home by getting involved in the work.
A restored vintage Radiola catches the eye. It is a beautiful piece that brings real character to this living room. It still works, the legs have been refurbished, and it occupies a key spot in the room. In a contemporary interior, this object from another era avoids that catalogue feel (IKEA or similar...). And even though there are few photos of the living room from the sofa side, you can see that the fairly neutral overall colour scheme is well maintained there.
The designer’s husband’s office area nestles between two walls, creating the impression of a slightly secluded work nook. The lower part of the wall features panelling painted in dark grey. Wall storage system echoes the kitchen’s design. A true continuity of style links the rooms together, creating a sense of visual harmony that is pleasing to the eye in this 42sqm flat.
The bedroom and its terracotta wall that defines the space
This is undoubtedly the boldest design choice in the flat. The wall behind the bed is painted in two tones: terracotta at the bottom, white above. Classic-style polymer frames adorn the wall behind the bed. The effect is both graphic and original. The terracotta shade is warm without being overpowering, and it contrasts with the rest of the room, which is more neutral.
This two-tone choice works well on two levels. Visually, the horizontal break draws the eye upwards, which is no small matter in a room with a 2.60-metre-high ceiling. Practically speaking, the colour is confined to the wall behind the bed, without overwhelming the room. One might have feared a stifling effect had the entire wall been painted in this bold colour. In this setting, we particularly appreciate the wooden wardrobe doors, which provide a striking contrast to the white wall.
The green and terrazzo bathroom
The bath has been replaced by a walk-in shower, freeing up a square metre that has been used for the laundry area. Its terrazzo floor echoes the tiling in the entrance hall. Part of the walls is tiled, the other part painted green with a water-repellent paint. The combination of the two works better than one might imagine. The shade of green chosen is quite bold, a choice the designer is proud of. After all, it’s her home; she can do as she pleases.
What really stands out
This 42sqm flat demonstrates something quite rare: the coherence of a project designed by someone who actually lives in the space. The beautiful vintage radio, the hand-laid panelling, the bold terracotta in the bedroom, none of it feels like a trend inspired by social media. Here, you can sense a designer who knows exactly what she wants, and who hasn’t had to compromise her choices with a client. Photo: Alexander Yurchik
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