Self designer: how to repair an apartment without resorting to the help of a professional

How can knowledge of physics help in apartment renovation?How to revive strict minimalism and breathe life into it? How to create an apartment interior where you can relax and work at the same time? Ekaterina's apartment is the answer to all questions Ekaterina graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and is currently working on her PhD thesis. She can talk endlessly about her love for the exact sciences. Ekaterina has put her knowledge into practice. Katya's apartment design is based on clear lines, maximum comfort, and a pleasant combination of colors. Ekaterina Ponomareva is an economist and researcher. She travels a lot in her free time. - Ekaterina, how did your professional activity, which seems far from creativity, help in arranging your apartment? - For me, it's all closely connected. My love for the exact sciences is reflected in the kitchen design - I love right angles, clear lines, good geometry! I designed the kitchen to suit my needs: there is a concept in physics called a "thought experiment", it really helped me when planning the contents of the kitchen and arranging items, and I went to the salon with a ready-made project with dimensions. - What principles did you use to choose the colors and materials? - The colors were chosen based on associations and feelings. My husband and I try to vacation in warm countries, and we both love sea colors. The color of the Caribbean Sea, doors the color of white sand on the beach, and textile wallpaper appeared so easily and simply in the living room and kitchen. The ecru color in the office is not irritating, it helps you get into the mood for work, and the zigzag wall resembles a "knitted scarf", which makes the house even cozier. The bedroom is a spring rain, hence the blurry wallpaper. - What disagreements did you have within your family during the renovation? — There were a lot of disagreements, but we found the perfect scheme for ourselves: I choose several options, and my husband approves the final one. - What is the budget for your renovation?Where did you buy most of the furniture? — We boldly combined budget items with designer ones. Budget laminate. I think that spending significant amounts of money on flooring in a new house is pointless — it will shrink, and over time the floor will have to be replaced. There is furniture from IKEA and Hoff. A significant part of the furniture was custom-made to fit the niches and walls. I am sure that built-in furniture creates a feeling of a single space without gaps. — Your favorite place in the house? — The sofa in the living room: you can work on it, watch a movie, and if necessary, it turns into a full-fledged bed. — What inconveniences were noticed after the renovation was completed? — Mainly, these are the light switches — some of the sconces are turned on and off by a switch on the lamp itself, although it would be correct to implement switching from different places in the room. I also really want to install motion sensors. It is very convenient and practical. — — How would you call your style inapartment design in general? — — Somewhere deep down I love American classics, it’s noticeable in some details of the apartment. My husband and I have a common style, which we “agreed on”, probably minimalism. And since this style is more accepting of black and white, we decided to liven it up a bit and add some details that are not typical for it. There is a lot of air in such an interior and it’s easy to think, which is especially important for us because we often work from home. — — Have you realized all your dreams in your apartment? — — In fact, there are many more things I would like to implement, but this apartment has too many load-bearing walls, which is a significant limitation. I really want a kitchen island where I can have breakfast, industrial-style lamps, a combination of natural materials (stone, wood, metal), but this is probably a story for another renovation. — — What advice do you have for those who have decided to design and renovate without the help of a designer? — — First of all, understand yourself, clearly formulate your desires, then there will be no disappointments. You can start the renovation with the most pleasant thing — with the details. It is the details that sometimes set the mood for the entire renovation. It is important to describe every corner of your apartment first in your thoughts, and then in practice. Ekaterina Ponomareva