The designer turned the cell into a cozy apartment for rent — that's how it looks!

This is indeed the former cell of the monastery, closed after the revolution. In Soviet times, there were communal apartments and offices here. And now these are apartments that are rented out. Designer Joseph Brin hopes that future residents will appreciate the ancient vaults and the aura of this place

The kitchen-living room used to be divided by a partition into two rooms. It was installed already in Soviet times. In place of the bedroom there was a kitchen. And there was no bathroom at all.

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

GENERAL PARAMETERSProperty type: apartments in a former monastery building

Where is located: Smolensk, Marshal Zhukov street

Square footage: 65 m2

The main idea of the project is to preserve historical details as much as possible and return authenticity to the place.

Color scheme: light tones, natural textures and color

Contacts: T. +7 (906) 519-82-76, lofyyan@gmail.com

During the renovation, many original finds were made and even a real treasure was found!

The cells are part of the historically formed ensemble of buildings of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Avraamiev Monastery.

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

According to legend, the Smolensk Spaso-Preobrazhensky Avraamiev Monastery was founded in the XIII century. When Smolensk was captured by the Poles in 1611, it was ruined, and almost half a century later it was restored again. Stone buildings appeared in it in the XVIII century — including the small building in which this apartment is located. The monks were evicted from here in 1918, then there were communal apartments and offices, and little remains of the former appearance of the building.

The new owner bought an apartment here because she fell in love with the old stone vaults. The idea to rent it out for daily rent appeared already during the repair work, which was carried out very carefully in relation to the historical walls. The hostess and designer Joseph Brin unanimously decided that it was necessary to return the place to its authentic look.

Table, Skiva Furniture. Ant chairs, Bradex Home. Tulle and curtains, "Orsha Flax Mill".

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

Boldo table lamps, La Redoute. Side tables, Malmi Sotnos

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

"I am very glad that we managed to preserve the vaults with all the flaws and irregularities, although the builders insisted on knocking down and plastering everything anew. It would be easier than restoring, but in the end we would get too perfect a surface," says Joseph.

The arches were left untouched — with all the irregularities, bends and flaws. Only reinforced the plaster where necessary. And all the layers of time were removed.

"The apartment was in terrible condition," the designer recalls. — And it's not even about communications, which we completely had to replace. In the 1990s, there was an office here, from which there were bars on the windows and entrance doors, clapboard on the walls, etc. First of all, we decided to clean everything to the ground. The design project changed on the go, because we, as archaeologists, found something new every time, which forced us to rethink the original ideas."

The doors for the built-in closet next to the bar counter were removed from an old abandoned shed nearby. The designer wanted the wood to be really old, with chips, old nails and wormholes. The idea was that the unevenness of the old plaster of the wall smoothly flowed into the texture of the old wood.

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

And there were a lot of finds. In two rooms, behind the old plaster, the remains of stoves were found — traces of one of them can be seen in the bedroom. In a large room, they found a blocked window, in place of which shelves and storage space were made. And on the next wall there is a walled—up doorway to the front door. On the slope, some child drew a little man about half a century ago and signed "Kolya". And during the repair, a treasure was found — a whole bundle of rubles, someone's stash of the 1990s!

The furniture in the apartments is mostly modern: the interior is built on the contrast between the old and the new.

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

A stool designed by Philip Mainzer was bought by the customer according to an ad.

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

In Soviet times, there were communal apartments and offices here, and little has been preserved from the former appearance

The pendant lamp above the kitchen area is made of metal according to the sketches of the author of the project. Kitchen, individual order. Bar stools, Sheffilton.

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

Falco Ceramic Ceramic Figurine

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

Most of the furniture here is modern, and it was done on purpose. "I wanted to create an interior where the old and the new harmoniously coexist," admits Joseph Brin. — In addition, it was important to create a feeling among the guests that this is an apartment with a history. That is why a hundred-year-old hand-painted chest from Kazan settled here, in which the most valuable things were once stored, as well as an antique mirror, an old table clock that we found right there during the renovation, books, naive trinkets and many other things that create a sense of home."

Bedroom. An antique mirror and a chest in the bedroom were bought according to an ad. The hand-painted chest was brought from Kazan.

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

Bedroom, fragment. Part of the chimney. There used to be a stove in this place

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

Bedroom, fragment. The clock was found during the renovation and now stands in the bedroom on the windowsill.

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

Vaulted ceilings inspired the designer to create an Arc bedside table, which can be seen not only in the bedroom, but also in the hallway. the cabinet is made of metal with a minimum number of connections, it is very strong, although it looks light and fragile, and will soon be put into mass production.

All textiles in the bedroom are natural linen. This is another reference to the past: flax production was the main industry in Smolensk. Flax cultivation, its processing, and weaving have been practiced here since time immemorial.

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

Vintage crystal chandelier bought by ad. Curtains, bed linen and a blanket, everything is "Orsha Flax Mill". An antique mirror and a chest were bought according to an ad. Bed and sconce, IKEA.

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

There was no bathroom in this apartment at all, only a toilet. The bathroom was expanded at the expense of the hallway and a shower was organized in it. A boiler is hidden in a special niche.

Bathroom, fragment. Sconce and pendant lamp, Inspire. Mirror, Mitro Home. Mixer. Remer. The cabinet for the sink is made of metal and plywood according to the sketches of the author of the project.

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

The window in the bathroom is not just a window, but an exit to the future garden. The sashes open completely, the window sill is specially reinforced so that you can walk on it. The house has an L-shaped shape, and the bathroom window opens into a small secluded courtyard of regular square shape. In summer there will be a garden with a terrace and a view of the fortress wall of the XVI century.

Bathroom, fragment. The ladder under the windowsill will be useful in summer, when the window turns into a door, and the garden will turn green outside the window.

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

In the hallway and bathroom, cotto terracotta tiles on the floor are a reference to history. In many Smolensk churches, the floors were made of stone or brick "herringbone". It is likely that the floors were originally the same here.

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

Hallway. Mirror, Mitro Home. Bra, Inspire. The Arc cabinet is made to order from metal according to the sketches of the author of the project.

Photo

Marina Kupriyanova

The plan of the apartment before and after the redevelopment.
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