When a home sits directly beneath the roofline, it begins to operate by its own rules. Light behaves differently. Walls refuse conventional geometry. Ceilings slope, dip and rise unexpectedly. Yet it is often within these constraints that the most compelling design solutions emerge.
For CV HOME Studio founder Viktoria Chabak, this penthouse renovation presented exactly that challenge: transforming two separate attic-style apartments into a cohesive contemporary home for a young family with two children. What followed was a carefully orchestrated exercise in trust, precision and architectural ingenuity.
A Challenging Penthouse Renovation With Endless Potential
Located on the top floor of a residential complex, the property initially consisted of two disconnected penthouse apartments. Sloping roofs, inconsistent ceiling heights and numerous architectural limitations made the project far from straightforward.
Rather than viewing these constraints as obstacles, Chabak embraced them as opportunities. The goal was to create a home that felt open, calm and filled with natural light, while allowing the unusual geometry of the space to become one of its defining features.
From the outset, the clients and designer shared a remarkably aligned vision. Having discovered the studio through social media, the homeowners immediately connected with Chabak's aesthetic approach, establishing a collaborative relationship built on trust and mutual understanding. The brief was refreshingly clear: create a contemporary family home that prioritised comfort, functionality and atmosphere over display.
Contemporary Minimalist Interiors Designed For Family Living
The resulting interior achieves a sense of warmth through texture, materiality and carefully considered detail.
For Chabak, minimalism is never about removing personality. Instead, it is about creating layers through tactile finishes, nuanced lighting and bespoke elements that reflect the lives of those who inhabit the space.
Throughout the home, custom-designed joinery plays a pivotal role. Nearly every built-in furniture element was developed specifically for the project, responding directly to the complex roof geometry.
Storage systems in the kitchen and dining areas follow the lines of the sloping ceilings, transforming previously awkward corners into highly functional spaces. This bespoke approach maximises every available square metre while maintaining a sense of visual lightness and architectural clarity.
Bespoke Joinery And A Sculptural Kitchen
The kitchen serves as one of the home's defining architectural moments.
Composed of integrated storage, a generous island and layered lighting, the space reads almost as a piece of sculpture rather than a purely functional room. Every element has been carefully considered to maintain visual simplicity while delivering exceptional practicality for daily family life.
The design incorporates a The Cut kitchen alongside Cattelan Italia bar stools and Penta Woody lighting. Nearby, a Cattelan Italia dining table and chairs anchor the dining area beneath the striking Katana chandelier.
These carefully selected pieces complement the bespoke architecture without competing for attention, allowing the overall composition to feel harmonious and cohesive.
The Art Of Light In A Modern Penthouse
One of the most important aspects of the project was lighting.
The homeowners requested a fully dimmable lighting system throughout the key living spaces, enabling the atmosphere of the home to shift throughout the day. Extensive testing and calibration ensured that every lighting scenario contributed to a sense of softness and tranquillity.
During daylight hours, natural light floods the penthouse, reflecting across angled surfaces and emphasising the home's airy openness. By evening, the mood becomes more intimate and contemplative, with subtle illumination highlighting textures, materials and architectural details.
This interplay between natural and artificial light is central to the home's character, reinforcing its sense of calm and quiet sophistication.
Turning Architectural Constraints Into Design Advantages
Behind the project's effortless appearance lies an exceptionally demanding construction process.
Shortly after work began, the design team discovered significant issues with the quality of the developer's building materials. Construction was paused for almost six months while solutions were developed, placing the project's timeline under considerable pressure.
Compounding the challenge, the entire site supervision process was managed remotely. Every partition, engineering detail and construction decision required meticulous oversight, often down to the millimetre.
Yet the additional time ultimately contributed to the precision of the final outcome.
Today, it is difficult to imagine that the home's unusual geometry was once considered problematic. Instead, the sloping ceilings and unconventional proportions have become integral to its identity.
More than a penthouse renovation, this project demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform complexity into beauty. Through bespoke craftsmanship, carefully controlled light and a deeply considered approach to minimalism, CV HOME Studio has created a home that feels calm, sophisticated and profoundly liveable — a place where architecture, family life and atmosphere exist in perfect balance.
Credits
Designer: Victoria Chabak (CV HOME)
Photographer: Ivan Sorokin
Stylist: Irina Gendeleva
PR agency FB @ifb.agency
