When the homeowners of this vibrant pied-à-terre in Almaty handed the creative reins to Fariz Mamedov, founder of FM Interiors, they gave just one instruction: “Surprise us.”
What followed is a joyful, deeply personal retreat - a 146-square-meter apartment beside a forest-park in the Kazakh foothills - that effortlessly blends Parisian elegance, Nordic restraint, and warm, regional hospitality.
They were after something light, novel and alive - like travel feels, explains Mamedov, who approached the design with confidence, curiosity and a deep respect for his clients’ eclectic interests. The couple, recent empty nesters, envisioned a space for quiet getaways - reading by the fire, listening to music, savoring silence.
Mamedov embraced their desire for escape with flair. There’s a pink bathroom that feels surprisingly serene, and a dining room that pulls hues from Parisian doorways - deep blue, rich emerald, and bursts of red. Throughout, colour is used not as punctuation, but as melody. Bold doesn’t have to mean loud, It can feel like a whisper in the right palette.
At the heart of the living room is a custom-designed biofuel fireplace framed in natural marble - a modern solution with old-world gravitas. Surrounding it is a curated mix of iconic Scandinavian furniture (Verner Panton, Ton, Normann Copenhagen), vintage treasures from Paris markets, and Kazakh artworks that ground the space in its geography.
A painting by Santiago Navarro hangs in the entry, setting the tone with a riot of colour and story.
The materials throughout are as considered as the colour. Oak floors from Canada, French silk curtains, and Spanish tile echo the couple’s international tastes while prioritising natural, sustainable quality. Each piece - be it a restored family banquette or a ceramic vase by a local artisan - adds layers of memory and meaning.
Yet perhaps most remarkable is the spatial choreography. Originally an empty concrete shell, the apartment now flows with ease: a generous entrance hall opens into a sun-drenched living room and kitchen, partitioned by sliding glass doors that vanish when hosting guests. The bedroom wing, serene in dusty pinks and olive-grays, feels like a retreat within a retreat.
This is a home that invites curiosity and rewards attention. A place where every chair has a past, every colour a reason, and every corner offers a new perspective. Unexpected? Certainly. Unforgettable? Absolutely.
Credits
Interior design: Fariz Mamedov, founder of FM Interior, Instagram: @fariz_mamedov and @farizmamedov_interiors
Photography by Damir Otegen, Instagram: @damir_otegen_)
Styling by Aigerim Mamyraliyeva, Instagram @aigerim.interiorstylist and Fariz Mamedov, Instagram: @fariz_mamedov
