- Project: Lesoparkovy Apartment
- Architect: Starikova Architects
- Location: Russia, Chelyabinsk
- Year: 2025
- Area: 100 m2
- Photography: Liza Gurovskaya
A Warm-Eclectic Interior Infused with Eastern Light
Nestled in the tranquil embrace of pine woods adjacent to the Lesoparkovy residential complex in Chelyabinsk, this 100 m² apartment by Starikova.Architects unfolds as a modern home shaped by meaning and memory. For long-standing clients, the brief was to design a living space that transcends mere function and becomes a sanctuary—a place where family, design and Eastern-inspired warmth converge.
The core of the home is an open-plan kitchen and living zone, conceived as a flexible family stage: a dining area for gatherings, a lounge for repose, and a bar counter by the window framing views into the surrounding forest. Rather than compartmentalise, the design blurs zones, allowing the space to breathe, adapt and support daily rituals of life.
Rich textures and a warm colour palette—soft taupes, terracotta accents, subtle gold tones—merge with Eastern motifs (think carved wood screens, textile patterns inspired by lantern light, quietly referenced geometry) to produce a layered ambience: refined but relaxed, design-forward yet lived-in.
Material Palette & Spatial Flow
Walking into the apartment, the eye is drawn across a gentle horizon of materials: matte plaster walls in sand-tones, oak timber floors with soft under-lay for comfort, and selective brass accents that catch the light in the bar area. The open living/dining area is anchored by a custom modular sofa facing a low media wall; adjacent is a dining table of walnut and brushed steel, offering an elevated yet informal setting.
The bar-counter by the forest-facing window is a quiet delight—a thin brass edge, dark marbled counter top, stools upholstered in deep moss-green velvet that pick up the pine-green outside. Here, morning coffee and sunset reflections alike become moments of pause.
Bedrooms are calibrated for serenity: head-boards upholstered in textured linen, reading-niches with adjustable lighting, and built-in wardrobes concealed behind sliding wood-veneer panels. In the bathroom the design extends: warm stone-look porcelain tiles, back-lit mirror niches, and water-taps in brushed brass that echo the warmth throughout.
Eastern influences are subtle but consistent: a handcrafted wooden screen that slides between lounge and dining for privacy, lantern-style pendant lights above the console by the entry, and carved drawer-fronts in the sideboard that reference Asian motif without over-statement.
Living Experience & Contextual Response
Positioned within Lesoparkovy—a development set on the edge of forested terrain—the apartment privileges view and light. The orientation ensures the living zone looks out onto pine-trunks, giving a sense of calm retreat even though the building is city-based. Starikova.Architects responded by framing that view: large window-openings, minimal mullions, and a bar counter specifically placed to enjoy the woodland vista.
The layout supports modern family life: the kitchen is open yet zoned, the dining zone easily seats extended visits, and the lounge invites informal downtime—all within one panoramic space, so visual connection is maintained. The bedrooms and private spaces are set off with subtle transitions—offset floor levels, change in ceiling height, and material shifts—to allow for intimacy and quiet.
Comfort was clearly central: acoustic separation between zones, soft under-foot surfaces in living areas, and furniture chosen for longevity and low-maintenance. The atmosphere is one of living clarity: no excess, but rich in detail; no shouting gestures, but coherent elegance.
Why This Apartment Stands Out
In a field of residential interiors, this project distinguishes itself by:
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Scale-conscious excellence: At 100 m² the home remains compact, yet the layout yields openness, flexibility and generous feeling—a triumph of design efficiency.
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Cultural layering: The infusion of Eastern motifs into a contemporary eclectic palette is handled with nuance. It never dominates; it enriches.
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Material and tactile richness: From brass detailing to velvet upholstery, from timber floors to carved wood accents—each layer adds depth without clutter.
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Contextual quiet: Set within a forest-adjacent complex, the interior echoes that setting through view, materials and calm spatial flow.
For architecture and interior design professionals, the home offers a refined blueprint of how to make 100 m² live beautifully. For homeowners, it demonstrates how personal narrative, cultural nuance and design discipline can combine to produce a truly memorable residence.
