Waves of Inspiration: A Baltic-Inspired Urban Retreat by Ilya Gulyants.

Designer Ilya Gulyants has envisioned a serene apartment that channels the poetic essence of the Baltic coast. The project, designed for a young creative couple, transforms two separate apartments into a unified space that serves as an urban sanctuary.

The interior is conceptually rooted in the natural poetry of Baltic landscapes—the gentle undulation of sea waves to the soft hues of sandy dunes have inspired the sophisticated residential environment. At its core, the design eschews superficial minimalism in favour of a more nuanced approach.

“Minimalism is present here as a philosophy, not a style,” explains Gulyants, founder of El Born studio. “It’s a space where the eye should be able to rest. The smooth lines and deep textures invite pleasant reflection: there’s no longer any need to rush.”

The designer’s thoughtful reconstruction dissolved the original narrow rooms and concrete walls, replacing them with a fluid dining-kitchen-living space connected through graceful arched openings. The rooms flow along a single axis, employing the enfilade principle to maximise spatial harmony.

Materiality plays a crucial role in the design narrative. Smoked oak parquet flooring meets Calacatta marble borders, their reddish veins introducing subtle vitality to the scheme. The bathroom features sand-effect decorative plaster, while the guest bathroom showcases Brazilian sky-blue quartzite with patterns reminiscent of Japanese watercolours.

The interior’s furniture, lighting and object collection merges custom-made with vintage pieces and contemporary art. Works by local artists Ilya Fedotov-Fedorov, Kirill Chelushkin, and Alexey Gan provide considered focal points throughout the space. An oval kitchen unit, framed in marble, maintains the apartment’s airy quality while delivering practical functionality.

“The contemplative beauty of the Baltic landscape is something I wanted to preserve in the interior,” Gulyants reflects. This vision materialises in details like the living room rug and dining room triptych, where wave motifs echo the coastal inspiration.

The bedroom, with its vaulted ceiling, offers a particularly tranquil retreat. Natural light filters through a handmade textured glass window in the bathroom, while clever storage solutions maintain the space’s clean lines.

Through this thoughtful renovation, Gulyants has achieved something quite special—a home that captures the meditative quality while delivering sophisticated urban living. It’s a space that invites pause and reflection.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

This project is located in Russia. While we do not condone the war in Ukraine nor agree with the state of Russia’s actions, we do not see any value in punishing individuals for something they have little control over.

Yellowtrace exists to promote good design, new ideas and creative thinking. We believe that good design is for everyone—it comes from all over the world and has the potential to unite us rather than divide us. For this reason, we have decided to continue to share work based on merit rather than location. We will take a similar approach to various global sporting events where Russian and Belarusian athletes can compete while not appearing as representatives of their countries.

While we understand not everyone will agree with our decision, this is what feels right for us. Thank you.

[Images courtesy of Ilya Gulyants/ El Born studio.]