06 Jul Artists monochrome apartment
For me no home is complete without art. The way art can elevate and dignify any space is truly remarkable and my favorite projects are always the ones that utilize this effect to the fullest. But the truly exceptional ones are those rare occasions when the artist himself is in charge of creating his own space and it is my great pleasure to introduce one such project.
For his own apartment located in Moscow, interior designer and artist Sergei Khrabrovsky was inspired by the geometries of the Russian Avant-garde, more specifically Constructivism, an artistic and architectural movement that reigned in the country during the 1920s. Most of the custom-designed furniture that populates this 74 square meter interior follows a similar aesthetic, sprinkled with a sense of frivolity introduced through his own artwork. Visitors are welcomed into the interior via a geometric, black and white hallway. The light-coloured marble floor is occasionally interrupted with inserted graphic shapes made from a contrasting stone. The resulting surface is more akin to a giant chess board than a typical hallway, bringing visual interest to a space that is too often overlooked.
A series of Khrabrovsky’s own artworks line the walls, undertaken as a project during the self-isolation caused by the COVID pandemic. He adopted a playful approach when creating each piece, from transforming empty coffee cups into art objects to using the infamous logos of iconic fashion houses to comment on the brand worshipping that controls the modern art market.
This creative energy continues elsewhere in the apartment. The black coffee table in the living room sits perfectly alongside the custom-designed shelving unit – the two acting as visual anchors in the predominantly light-toned scheme. Other key pieces include the Ombra Tokyo Chair by Charlotte Perriand and the Zig-zag Chair by Rietveld, both from Cassina. There is a delicate layering of textures and materials overall, as black leather is paired with timber and soft, shaggy materials. The resulting design feels equally elegant and cosy, while bringing a sense of refinement, sophistication and individual personality.
