Rina Lovko and Daryna Shpuryk have devised a luminous apartment for a young fashion insider overlooking a quiet green park in Kiev. With the client’s interest in Paris, the designers looked to capture the flair of a vintage apartment without the obvious tropes of “Parisian chic”.

The apartment is located on the 4th floor of a residential building dating back to 1905. Considering the state of the building, a massive renovation was required. The process of dismantling revealed rotten slabs and large cracks in the walls and flooring that needed to be restored. The walls were replaced and plastered, keeping the rough texture and smoothing out the cornices. Antique oak parquetry was restored by the team and assembled in the herringbone pattern in the apartment, leaving its marks of time and imperfections unaltered.

Lovko and Shpuryk avoided pastiche, instead shifting to natural textures, a combination of softness and determined details to offer an overall airiness, and nuanced sophistication instead. Orchestrated around an enfilade arrangement, a long, functional hallway acts as the utility area containing an entrance wardrobe, guest restroom, and laundry. Bright and roomy, the kitchen and living areas extend off the hallway, their airiness visually extending throughout the apartment. Peeking through the double doors of the living room sits the bedroom and bathroom.

Hinting at a more classic plaster, a hand-crafted gypsum ceiling is a romantic addition to the bedroom. Bringing vintage interiors to mind, the designers reimagined this style as modern minimalism. The private areas are separated by a glass partition and a soft curtain, creating a feeling of one continuous space. In the bathroom, the cabinet is placed directly in front of the window—a special request from the client so they could get ready with a view.