A Modern Minimalist Home for a Culinary Creative

When the designer first met the client, he struck her as someone who moves through life at speed. Young, energetic and recently the founder of his own pastry business, he spoke about his craft with the conviction of an artist rather than a conventional entrepreneur. His desserts, he explained, were “experiments”, and his business partners were “co-authors”.

He had a clear brief: a bright, airy interior that preserved the openness created by the apartment’s floor-to-ceiling windows — effectively a full glass wall — and a space where he and his partners could gather to brainstorm and experiment with new recipes.

Located in a premium four-storey residential complex in the heart of the city’s business district, the two-level, 100m² apartment was delivered in shell-and-core condition. There were no internal partitions — only a raw concrete volume waiting to be shaped from scratch.

The designer approached the project by first responding to the architecture. The strict geometry, clean lines and contemporary language of the building naturally guided the interior towards modern minimalism — but with warmth layered into its restraint. A neutral palette established the foundation, softened by the introduction of natural oak veneer across key custom furniture pieces. The interior gained further depth once the client’s bold artworks, brought from his previous home, were installed. They injected immediate personality into the otherwise pared-back envelope.

Remarkably, the design process unfolded with unusual ease. The concept was approved almost instantly, with virtually no revisions. A shared vision and mutual trust allowed the project to progress seamlessly from idea to execution.

The real complexity lay in the spatial planning. Although 100m² might appear generous, the duplex layout meant the staircase consumed valuable floor area on both levels. Yet the client required a guest bathroom, a full laundry with three types of appliances, a dedicated laptop workspace, and enough room to host friends and colleagues for culinary sessions. He also owned an extensive wardrobe, making a separate walk-in closet desirable — but spatially impractical.

The solution was both strategic and elegant. The kitchen island became the functional heart of the first floor — a surface for cooking, working, experimenting and gathering. The laundry room was discreetly tucked beneath the staircase, compact yet fully equipped. Tall built-in wardrobes line the entryway, while upstairs a G-shaped wardrobe acts as both storage system and spatial divider. On the bedroom side, its back is concealed behind a decorative oak panel, maintaining a clean and cohesive aesthetic.

In the living area, a small reinforced wall was introduced to visually separate the staircase from the lounge while concealing the laundry entrance, avoiding the need for a heavy partition. The wall supports a floating oak veneer TV cabinet custom-made by Sin design studio. Open shelving was added for books and decorative objects — a nod to the client’s love of collecting. The seating includes the iconic Tufty-Time sofa by B&B Italia, designed by Patricia Urquiola, paired with the Le Club armchair by Poliform. A Luminator floor lamp by Flos adds sculptural presence.

The kitchen, also produced by Sin design studio, features MDF fronts finished in Milessi enamel, with Technistone quartz countertops and island. Flat pendant lights by Vibia hang above, complemented by Calligaris Foyer semi-bar stools. A striking painting by Kazakh artist Nurzhan Sautbekov anchors the space, giving the kitchen visual gravitas. In the entryway, a Zara Home bench offers a practical yet considered detail.

The first-floor guest bathroom includes a custom oak veneer vanity and shelving, a Grandex acrylic countertop and an asymmetrical mirror fabricated by Sin design studio. Hansgrohe fittings, Sofia Doors and Berry Alloc herringbone laminate flooring complete the level with quiet consistency.

Upstairs, the bedroom suite is intentionally serene. Here, the atmosphere shifts towards softness and diffused natural light. A Calligaris bed dressed in textiles from Yurta Interiors sits beneath artwork by Azat Tabiev, while a painting by Saken Gumarov defines the reading corner. A Molteni Elain swivel armchair and Hashi floor lamp by Davide Groppi create an intimate relaxation zone.

Custom bedside tables, a decorative oak wall panel and a built-in bookcase were all designed by Sin design studio. The cleverly integrated G-shaped wardrobe opens internally, keeping the bedroom visually uncluttered. Light flows freely through every zone, reinforced by the open, partition-free layout. In the corridor by the stairs hangs a work by artist Beibit Asemkul. The second-floor bathroom continues the bespoke approach with a custom vanity and mirror.

Upon completion, the home achieved a rare balance: modern yet warm, minimalist yet expressive. It mirrors the dynamic rhythm of a young entrepreneur’s life while offering space for reflection, creativity and rest.

This project demonstrates that even 100 square metres, divided by a staircase, can become a place where one breathes easily — a home that inspires, whether developing a new dessert or imagining the next chapter of a growing business.

Credits

Designer: Olga Pak

Stylist: Aigerim Mamyraliyeva

Photographer:  Damir Otegen

PR agency: IFB @ifb.agency