Russian designer Yulia Babintseva (Yuhome Design Studio) has created a bright,
cozy, yet elegant and deeply meaningful interior. The 75.5 m² apartment offers views
of St. Petersburg, overlooking the lush greenery of Petrovsky Island. The space is
designed to evoke a special atmosphere of relaxation and comfort — reflecting the
fact that the clients, a married couple, plan to visit the apartment only occasionally,
treating it as their own five-star hotel.
Project Name: YUHOME
Studio Name: YUHOME design studio
Photo: Ivan Sorokin
The initial request from the owners was a weekend home with ample storage space.
Beyond that, the designer was given carte blanche. Unlike a primary residence,
where practicality often takes precedence, this hotel-inspired concept embraced
bold, unconventional, and artistic solutions. This is evident both in individual
elements and in the overall concept.
The interior is eclectic, allowing the designer to fully express themselves without
being confined to a particular style. This creative freedom gave Yulia the opportunity
to tell a narrative — a story of a happy life.
The concept began with a single piece: a decorative panel featuring a stork. Like
other aspects of the design, the stork was chosen deliberately — the bird symbolizes
a happy family life, which resonates deeply with the clients. As a parallel to the bright
stork image, black and white colors appear in the interior, while a calm, dusty beige
background serves as the primary color in the overall palette of the home.
As you move through the apartment, the narrative continues to unfold through
thoughtful details that complement the overall picture. The theme of nature develops
gradually, with new meanings arising in different rooms. For instance, above the
bathtub, an original composition of dried flowers echoes the natural habitat of storks,
which live near water with similar vegetation. The bedroom features a
dry-brush-painted fresco of soft, drifting clouds, while the living room showcases a
wooden table with a relief leg, evoking the upward growth of reeds. Through these
elements, Yulia has not only created a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing space
but has also infused it with the essence of the owners’ philosophy and values.
Despite the artistic emphasis, Yulia remained mindful of practical considerations. The
dried flower arrangement, for instance, was designed for easy removal, allowing for
hassle-free cleaning and replacement — a crucial detail for a home used
infrequently.
Since the apartment was a new build, the design team worked with a clean slate,
thus avoiding the dirty work of possible demolition. With all windows facing the same
direction and a balcony featuring panoramic glazing, the advantageous layout
allowed the team to integrate a walk-in closet between the living room and the
bedroom.
The public areas feature an open layout, with the living room and kitchen in full view
from the entrance. A transparent sliding partition subtly separates these spaces,
offering the flexibility to merge or divide them as needed. This thoughtful addition
allows the owners to expand the area for entertaining or create a sense of intimacy
when cooking.
Throughout the decoration process, Yulia navigated various challenges. For
example, a final batch of discontinued Italian powder-toned tiles was ordered for the
bathroom, but upon arrival, the color proved incorrect. Rather than compromising the
design, the tiles were expertly painted on-site to match the intended shade. Similarly,
the ceiling color was adjusted to ensure perfect harmony with the newly customized
tiles.
Completed in just a year, the project exceeded the owners’ expectations. Upon
seeing the finished space, the clients affirmed that it truly felt like a high-end hotel —
a testament to the studio’s dedication to functionality, convenience, and beauty. Most
importantly, every detail was carefully tailored to the owners’ lifestyle, transforming
their vision into a living reality.
