Heritage Saint Petersburg Apartment Renovation by Tim Veresnovsky.

Custom-made dining table with marble top. Solid teak original 1960s dining chairs by Kurt Ostervig.

Stainless steel kitchen from IKEA. Made to order striped ottoman seat, upholstered in Casamance fabric.

Made to order coffee table. Original 1960 Goffredo Reggiani floor lamp. Custom birch-veneered bookshelf. IKEA rug.

The sofa is custom made. Vintage Soviet-era floor lamp.

Armchair with Terry upholstery from Zara Home. Rattan chair from Zara Home.

Tim Veresnovsky has brought the spirit of 70’s Soviet Russia back into his own historical apartment in Saint Petersburg. Spaces capture all of the charm and ambience of the original building while maintaining a modern voice, with original elements paired with contemporary pieces. Completed in a very short time frame (just 6 weeks), without sketches, renderings and almost no drawings, this project proves that good design is not limited by size, budgets and time restrictions – reminding us that beautiful homes come in all shapes and sizes.

The compact 71-square-metre apartment sits within the shell of an old building from 1865. The scheme is inspired by the 70’s spirit and aesthetic curated by the previous owners, an atmosphere that originally attracted the designer to the building. A direct reference to the Soviet past can be seen in the timber panels, window slopes, and custom-made furniture pieces paired with a warm and neutral material palette.

The passageway from the living room into the kitchen is marked with a black and white chequerboard pattern. This bold moment acts as a dynamic counterbalance to the otherwise predominantly beige interior.

Light filters through semi-translucent natural woven blinds that frame views of the city in the living room, while deeply stained timber pieces bring a sense of dimension and solidness to the light design. The curving silver shape of a Goffredo Reggiani 1960’s original floor lamp lends an unexpected voice. Along with the custom-built coffee table, the reflective quality of these two pieces stands in contrast to the soft furnishing surrounding them, bringing textual nuance to the project.

Custom made bed. Bedside table lamp from Zara Home. Vittorio Dassi console, original 1950s Italian design sourced from a local gallery.

Veneered oak panels. Vintage Italian mirror from the 1960s. Mosaic made of glass enamel Artens “Shaker” tiles. Shower mixer from Hansgrohe.

Colour has been injected into the bathroom, the only space in the apartment where neutrals give way to a cool-toned blue hue. Coloured mosaic tiles line the shower and a blue tap emerges out of a dark basin. Colour has been successfully used with restraint through the refurbishment, it’s momentary appearance bringing a playful feeling to an otherwise muted scheme.

The apartment unfolds as a series of material pairings that bridge together contemporary pieces and 70’s Soviet design. The interior’s original historical voice begins to blend with new additions, creating a cosy home full of unexpected and intriguing moments.