Bright Duplex

This sunny two-story apartment belongs to a young family. The interior is very personal and reflects the clients’ love of vibrant hues and unconventional decorating solutions. White walls serve as a perfect backdrop for the mix of bold tones, fabric and wallpaper patterns, and whimsical objects. Vintage furniture inherited from clients’ grandparents found a new life in this colorful interior. 

Living room is full of pieces with history, from a vintage Chinese rug to a 1940s Maison Jansen sofa with its original velvet upholstery. The collection of 1970s rattan-framed mirrors came from Paris, while the French 1950s wing chair and ottoman were re-upholstered in a playful, geometric chenille fabric. 

In the dining room, a custom cabinet designed by Istomin and inspired by Matisse’s cut-outs has become a true art object. From her grandmother, the wife inherited the 19th-century Russian sofa and various chairs, all coming from different sets. Istomin suggested assembling them around the large English mahogany dining table and unifying them by covering them in the same modern geometric print. The chandelier is made from porcelain.

A vintage Chinese rug was the starting point for the study’s color scheme. The bespoke sofa bed is decorated with Picasso-inspired pillows. The Indochinese theme is underlined by straw lampshades on the swing-arm sconces and traditional Chinese lacquer coffee table. 

The guest bathroom is a fun example of combining “mismatched” prints. The malachite pattern is juxtaposed with a red polka-dot chintz and the strict graphic pattern of the curtains. The pelmet is made from an antiqued mirror.

Istomin used mirror to visually expand the limits of the primary bedroom. The closet doors, Venetian sconces and baroque-inspired headboard frame are all clad in it. Despite the use of multiple shades of chartreuse and various-sized patterns, the decor looks visually coherent and almost monochromatic.