Inside the Almaty Apartment Designed to Feel Like a Permanent Holiday

For the owner of this family apartment in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the dream home wasn't defined by a decorating style. Instead, it was about creating a feeling – one of calm, connection, and escape.

The inspiration came from a transformative experience in Bali, where she swam alongside blue whales. The encounter left a lasting impression of silence, scale and awe – emotions that would eventually shape every corner of her home.

Designed by Kamilya Zhakypova of Alchemia Group, the 240-square-metre apartment feels worlds away from the city outside. Warm plaster walls, sculptural curves, tactile materials, and earthy tones work together to create an atmosphere that feels like the ultimate boutique retreat.

"After living in neoclassical, Provence and minimalist interiors, she wanted something more emotional and immersive," says Zhakypova.

Nature as the Design Language

Throughout the apartment, shades of sand, clay, beige and muted green create a soft, sun-warmed palette. Decorative plaster, natural stone, linen and richly grained timber add texture and depth, while celebrating the imperfections found in nature.

Instead of concealing the knots and irregularities in the wood, the design embraces them. This results in a home that feels organic and occupied, as though it has evolved naturally over time.

Soft Curves and Sculptural Surfaces

One of the home's defining features is its fluid architecture. Arched openings replace hard edges, creating gentle transitions between spaces, while custom-built furniture blends seamlessly into the structure itself.

An uninterrupted layer of handcrafted plaster wraps the interiors, creating what feels like a second skin.

"The use of plaster as a unifying material throughout the space best expresses my design approach," says Zhakypova. "It creates continuity, softness and a tactile quality that connects architecture, light and spatial perception."

Combined with warm, diffused lighting, the effect is cocooning and deeply calming.

Luxury Without Excess

Completed over 12 months, the project proves that luxury doesn't have to be loud. Instead of relying on decorative flourishes, the home achieves richness through texture, proportion, and its atmosphere.

Even the bathrooms reflect this philosophy. Glass partitions were removed in favour of seamless microcement surfaces, creating monolithic spaces that feel sculptural.

The result is a home designed not simply to look beautiful, but to support wellbeing.

"Even within a metropolis, it is possible to create a personal oasis – a space of silence, harmony and inner balance," says Zhakypova.

And that's exactly what this apartment achieves: a permanent holiday state of mind, right in the heart of the city.

Credits

Interior Design: Kamilya Zhakypova, Alchemia.group, Instagram: @kamilya_interiordesign and @alchemia.group

Interior Stylist: Evgeniya Masgutova, @evgenia_mg

Photography: Roman Yakunin and Sofia Klyonova

Production: Karine Monié, @karinemonie