This project is located in my hometown of Kaunas. The city is rich in interwar modernist architecture. Many buildings have a strong Art Deco style. It is a little gem on the European architecture map. The project’s location is also in the heart of the city on one of the side streets of Liberty Alley, a long pedestrian street surrounded by trees.
The design of the apartment is inspired by the local architecture and design, as well as the verdant surrounding of the city.
The style of the apartment is very architectural and monumental. Many pieces of furniture are integrated in a continuous wall element. Green is a dominant color used as a color blocking element. The warmth comes from the wooden parquet floor and wooden cabinets. The modern design pieces are selected for a unique look and color.
To choose the optimal layout, I went through a number of design options. The biggest challenge was the positioning of the kitchen. Originally, the kitchen was located on the right side of the entrance between two walls. Moving the kitchen to the center of the living room made it more part of the whole space, less cornered. And it divided the room into eating, cooking and lounging.
A narrow entrance leads to the living room where the dining table is located. The open kitchen is easily accessible from there. The high bar table acts as a partition between the cooking and living areas. The living room continues into the sitting area with the TV cabinet. From the back of the room there are entrances to the bathroom and bedroom. The toilet area in the bathroom is separated from the glass wall. The bedroom has a semi-open storage cupboard.
The small hallway leads to the living room. The wall separating the kitchen is half open, making the space less compact. The full height mirror also increases the area.
The perforated cabinet above the mirror continues into the kitchen and is a connecting element of the room.
The kitchen is very compact. The green block-wall is a custom piece that continues into the living room. There is an oven, fridge, storage space and on the living room side there is a cupboard to hide the TV.
The high bar table and the shelving structure above the sink are inspired by the Kaunas Art Deco style. The transparency opens up the space and gives the display the opportunity to create a unique decor.
The full height cabinet is a combination of open and closed shelves to provide the most display options and ample storage space in the living room. The top part connects to the storage element from the hallway. Bright yellow glazing gives edge and catches the eye.
The green corner block is a poetic connection with the outside environment. It’s like remembering the green city outside in the small apartment. The cabinet discreetly hides the TV. And continuous opening to the bathroom in the same color, making the bathroom space less distracting and more continuous.
Art Deco elements inspired by the architecture have been carried through to the design of the cabinet handles, mirrors, custom furniture and shelving.