White Above, Black Below: Graphic Apartment in Saint Petersburg by Tim Veresnovsky.

Tim Veresnovsky lends his keen eye to a project on the smaller side in this 49 metre squared apartment for a young yacht enthusiast, appropriately located overlooking the river Neva in St Petersburg, Russia. A studio well versed in solutions – and always up for a challenge, Veresnovsky shifted the focus away from the paltry number of square metres, drawing the eye instead to an optical illusion of space.

Fiercely ambitious and never afraid to be daring, I’m thinking of that Vintage PEDUS bed from 1969, the designer got creative with the interior. Texturally graphic and starkly monochrome, the first glimpse of this apartment may leave you thinking it feels overly contrasting or even cold, yet these carefully considered accents are what yield the project to its startingly roomy appearance.

Related: Historical Apartment Renovation in Saint Petersburg by Tim Veresnovsky.

Objects and furniture seemingly dissolve into the walls and additional space and air is freed up through the explicit distinction between the positive and negative, creating a welcome deception.

White chairs by Eugenio Gerli float against the background of the white walls and ceiling, while a black bench and coffee table lose volume and enter the 2D plane. The reversible monochrome graphics of the upholstery and headboard reflect the black and white checkered carpet, while the curved lines of textiles serve as a bridge to the slopes and skirting boards made from marble slabs. A vintage Italian satellite chandelier and modernist “plump” black vases from the Kyiv brand Fainadesign add playful silhouettes to their crisp surroundings.

Related: Black & White Moscow Apartment of Designer & Artist Sergei Khrabrovsky.

The apartment has a softer side too with honey-amber wood framing cushioning the geometric forms and repetition of circular motifs in rosettes and vases. The warmth of the poplar root kitchen extends to the bathroom with the rare amber Giallo Siena marble trim defining the arched vanity.

Exploring the realms of perceptions this compact apartment has taken an illusory approach to its interiors. Light, playful and witty it’s a design of deception you can feel good about.

Related: Pervaya Liniya Apartment on the Gulf of Finland by Tim Veresnovsky.

[Images courtesy of Tim Veresnovsky. Photography by Dmitrii Tsyrenshchikov.]