Project name: Warm Minimalism: a Sanctuary to Recharge
Interior design: Alexander Tischler
Team: Karen Karapetian ( Chief Designer), Anna Prokhorova ( Designer), Кonstantin Prokhorov – Oleg Mokrushnikov -Liubov Venertseva ( Engineer), Ekaterina Demkina (Head of Purchasing), Pavel Prokhorov (Head of Finishing), Evgenii Bridnya (Installation Manager), Nastasya Korbut (Stylist), Vera Minchenkova (Copywriting)
Photo: Olga Karapetian
Area: 72 sq. m
Year: 2025
Project description from design firms Alexander Tischler
No load-bearing walls; a small walk-in closet in the master bedroom; no receptacle for the external air conditioner unit; a window in the bathroom.
The clients for this interior, a young couple, asked us to transform their apartment into a warm and calming space where they could rest and recharge. We designed a light-filled interior featuring coffee-colored furniture. The renovation made both the open-plan living room and the master bedroom feel more spacious and comfortable.
Before:
A small open-plan kitchen-living room
A tiny walk-in closet
A standard exit to the loggia with a window unit
Space for the external air conditioning unit was only available on the loggia
A narrow guest bathroom
After:
Expanded the walk-in closet at the expense of the guest bathroom
Expanded the guest bathroom by repositioning the hallway
Removed the window sill and installed a full-height casement window
Set aside a utility block for ventilation equipment
Removed the partition between the open-plan living room and the hallway
We handled both the design and renovation of this interior. We provided a detailed estimate and locked in the cost at the design stage, ensuring that the price remained unchanged throughout the entire renovation process.
We removed the partition between the entryway and the kitchen-living room, separating them only with a shallow cabinet. This made the living area feel much larger and allowed natural light from the window to flow into the entryway.
For the kitchen, we crafted the tall cabinets and upper units from oak veneer, with a custom stain selected specifically for this interior. We also extended the lower units of the kitchen to reach the window, which allowed for a continuous countertop over four meters long.
To create a relaxation spot, we chose a sofa with an ottoman that can also serve as storage for small items and books. The contrasting dining table complements the black elements in the interior, while its upholstered base adds a soft, cozy touch. We hung a movable wall lamp between the table and the sofa.
In the hallway, we painted the large closet to match the wall color, creating a seamless look. One of the closet fronts is mirrored, and behind it are the washer and dryer. To the left, a shallow niche holds an ironing board.
We enhanced the sense of space in the hallway by adding a second mirror, set flush between the wall panels to create a “portal-like” effect. We also raised the base of the beige cabinet off the floor to create a dedicated docking station for a robotic vacuum cleaner, allowing it to come and go without any obstacles.
We slightly reduced the size of the guest bedroom — which could easily become a child’s room in the future — to accommodate the expanded guest bathroom. The loggia is the only location the developer had planned for the external air conditioning unit.
We realized that installing the external AC unit as the developer intended would have made the loggia unusable in the summer, as it would become too noisy and hot. Our solution, which required no changes to the building’s facade, was to create a small, enclosed space on the loggia for both the external AC unit and the supply ventilation. We sealed it off with a sound-insulated door. We also removed the low window unit and installed a full-height casement window to let in even more natural light.
We reduced the size of the children’s room to make the guest bathroom wider. The developer’s original layout was too narrow; by making the room more square, we were able to arrange the plumbing fixtures more comfortably. To the left, above the toilet, there’s a cabinet that extends from the wall, providing deeper shelves. Directly opposite the entrance, we installed a wall-mounted vanity with an integrated sink, and to the right is the shower.
The master bedroom is filled with light and air thanks to its large corner window. We enhanced this feeling with a “floating” bed featuring clear, recessed legs, and added a wall panel behind the headboard. The panel creates a low horizontal line that emphasizes the generous volume of space above.
To the left of the bed, we placed a console vanity table matching the finish of the panels behind the bed. Above it, there is a round, backlit mirror.
Per the client’s request, we placed a minimalist dark desk with a subtle texture in the bedroom, adding a large bookshelf and a round sconce on the wall above.
We removed the partition between the walk-in closet and the bedroom and expanded the closet slightly by taking space from the guest bathroom. Here, we installed closets with a combination of shelves, drawers, and hanging rods. Mirrors were fitted onto two full-height, hinged doors.
The bathroom’s focal point is the window overlooking the modern neighborhood. We chose light bamboo blinds because they are highly resistant to humidity.
To create a seamless transition between the windowsill and the bathtub, we framed the bathtub with a border made from the same travertine-textured porcelain tile used on the walls. The entire frame was sloped to ensure water drains easily back into the tub.
ABOUT ALEXANDER TISCHLER company
Alexander Tischler LLC is a full service interior company. Designers, engineers, mounting and finishing specialists work together that’s why we know how to design the way that the result fully corresponds to the idea.
We work comprehensively: we control all stages of renovation, from the design project to hanging curtains, and our customers do not get immersed in construction issues.
Awards: Japan IDPA Award 2025 winner, un Design Award 2025 winner, MUSE Design Award 2025 winner, Design Discovery Award 2025 winner, Architecture MasterPrize Award 2024 winner, International Architecture & Design Awards, gold winner and silver winner; Global Future Design Awards, golden winner; Built Design Awards honorable mention; Rethinking The Future, 3rd-degree winner.
Contacts
Website: https://atischler.ru/en/
Social media: https://www.youtube.com/@krnkrptn | https://instagram.com/atischler
E-mail: [email protected]
