Joyful And Comfortable Dwelling With Great Views

Trusting their designer’s vision gave this young family a joyful and comfortable dwelling with great views.

- Yuen Yi Ying

The Brief

From their first meeting, designer Julia Baydyk of Alta Idea Design Studio could see how much the lady of the household, a charismatic theatre professional, cared for the comfort and happiness of her beloved family. Drawing inspiration from this infectious energy, Julia had big plans for this 1,140sq ft apartment located in Kyiv, Ukraine. As a top floor unit with a balcony and sweeping views of lakes, city lights and incredible sunsets, this flat had a lot going for it. Julia wanted to maximise views of the panorama, creating a contemporary and relaxing environment where the family could enjoy the morning rays and end their day with the gentle flickering lights of the city. However, the original floor plan was problematic. The layout was cramped with an “incomprehensible corridor that absorbed the entire space,” the designer reveals.

Convincing her clients to demolish the central walls of the apartment took a long time as the owners had doubts, Julia admits. So to assuage their concerns, Julia’s dogged team presented eight layouts to choose from before finally getting the green light to execute their plans. “We really like the idea of an open and joint kitchen, living room and dining area,” Julia shares. “We are not adherents of the scenario where the hostess prepares food alone in the kitchen while her husband and children rest in another room. By removing all unnecessary walls, we have changed the way the family interacts, and by opening the space for communication, we’ve helped the family embark on a new chapter and fill it with new rituals.”