A Platform Kitchen and Fearless Color Transform This Kazakhstan Apartment Into a Warm, Artful Retreat

PublishedNov 22, 2025 9:16 AM EST

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Tucked into the foothills of the Tian Shan mountain range, the Kazakh city of Almaty is framed by sweeping coniferous forests and snow-dusted ridgelines. Designer Elina Mussakulova, of the studio Sdelaemremont, explains that while summers are spectacular, winters can be unrelenting—extremes that shaped the vision for her latest project, a residence in a new low-rise building with unobstructed views of the peaks.

This marks the designer's second collaboration with the client, who was so enchanted by Mussakulova's deft hand with color and practicality the first time around that she enlisted her for a return engagement.

The original open-plan layout presented a real puzzle—with a structural riser awkwardly positioned right at the threshold, Mussakulova and her team quite literally had to elevate their approach. By raising the kitchen onto a platform, she merged it seamlessly with the living zone and connected it to the main corridor leading to the entrance. The result: improved circulation, cleaner sightlines, and fewer dead zones. The 133-square-meter (roughly 1,400 square feet), three-bedroom apartment now flows with intentionality and mirrors the client's adventurous design sensibility.

Color, unmistakably, commands the narrative: invigorating greens, golden yellows, warm tans, and spirited reds cascade through every room. Textured wallcoverings, bespoke tilework, and mirrored built-ins inject a playful energy—a warm, luminous counterpoint to the long, frosty months beyond the walls. Ahead, Mussakulova shares how she engineered a home of perpetual warmth.

The very first purchase was wallcovering for the primary bedroom—The Sunrise by Nobilis. It features a muted rose tone with delicate golden luminosity. Initially, the client worried it might skew too pink or feel dated, but once installed, it imbued the sleeping quarters with a rich, layered sophistication. The closet followed suit, wrapped in a complementary green wallpaper from the same maker, with a headboard fabric selected to harmonize with the overall palette.

The boldest risk was reimagining the layout of the shared living zones. We chose to merge the kitchen and the living room despite the absence of plumbing where the kitchen needed to be. To resolve that, we elevated the floor slightly and introduced two gentle steps between the zones. This subtle elevation shift created a graceful sense of flow, allowing the spaces to remain connected yet feel distinctly their own.

It also transformed the kitchen into a vibrant, stage-like hub for entertaining and everyday routines while making room for a dishwasher in the island—something that would have been impossible otherwise. One floor-to-ceiling window had to be partially enclosed, but in the end, each zone feels perfectly calibrated and radiates warmth.

The Constanze 3/4 armchair and ottoman by Wittmann in rich tan leather. This single piece immediately elevated the living room with a more contemporary, subtly formal presence while still feeling inviting. I envisioned a compact, refined chair positioned opposite the sofa to create a face-to-face seating conversation, and since the client is an avid reader, it naturally became the perfect reading nook. It claimed a generous share of the budget, but everyone agrees it was worth every penny.

We devoted significant energy to curating and designing the primary bathroom to feel truly immersive. We collaborated closely with our tiler, selecting two complementary shades of beige and designing a large interior window with frosted glass for soft, diffused light. But the element that took the longest—and the one we were absolutely resolved to incorporate—was the India Mahdavi mirror for Ralph Pucci: a breathtaking piece in natural-varnished rattan and glass. We scoured everywhere for it, across Europe and through every retailer we could locate, but it proved impossible to find. Finally, our procurement partner tracked one down in a small shop in a remote corner of Europe and arranged the shipment. I keep a running catalog of design pieces I dream about, and sometimes the project itself tells me which one belongs. In this case, the bathroom—with its Équipe tile—seemed to call for that mirror. It was the moment the entire space clicked into place.

Two storage solutions genuinely transformed daily life for our client. The first: a generous hallway closet with mirrored fronts—a clever maneuver that disguises storage while bouncing light, making the corridor feel brighter and more expansive. The second sits in the primary bedroom: alongside a separate walk-in, we added a built-in wardrobe with glass doors. Since our client delights in planning her outfits for the week, this "display" closet lets her see everything at a glance. That small detail bridges elegance and utility effortlessly.

We had never incorporated wall-to-wall carpet in any of our projects before, but this time we decided to take the leap. In the walk-in closet of the primary suite, we swapped parquet for something softer underfoot—creating a cozy, tactile sensation the moment you step inside.

We started with a color we'd long admired: a dusty lemon with gentle green undertones from Danish paint brand Flügger, shade No. 86. It became the anchor for the entire palette. We applied it in the main living area and designed the kitchen to complement its warmth, while the adjoining hallway adopted a soft, dusty orange. We were intentionally bold—the primary bedroom in a muted red paired with a green walk-in closet, for instance—yet the tones remain refined and quietly confident rather than overwhelming. The children's spaces, by contrast, are softer and lighter, designed to evolve gracefully as they grow into their teenage years.

The kitchen was organized around three tall columns: two concealed refrigerators and a central compartment housing an oven with a microwave and coffee machine. Upper cabinets store items used less frequently, while open metal shelving lends a cohesive industrial edge. One of the cleverest details lies in the counter depth: at 800 millimeters (less than three feet), it allows small appliances to remain on display yet tucked neatly toward the back.

The island, crafted entirely from metal, houses drawers and an integrated dishwasher. To persuade the client to embrace the material, we sent her to a restaurant with a steel island so she could witness firsthand how gracefully it ages with use.

In Almaty, the weather is glorious from March through October—the perfect rationale for our client to create a rooftop terrace above her apartment. From there, panoramic views of the mountains and the city unfold in every direction. We designed a striped fabric canopy in tones of red and beige, then furnished the patio with generous seating and layered textures. It has become her sanctuary—whether she's hosting convivial dinners under the stars or savoring quiet mornings with a book and a view.

Several elements can make a lasting impact: light, flooring, and the color palette above all. When it comes to flooring, clients often hesitate to commit to something dark and expressive, but we're thrilled ours did—it adds warmth, depth, and a quiet sophistication. As for lighting, it's essential to plan a layered scheme of scenes throughout the apartment. Here, technical spotlights line the ceiling, while statement pendants bring softness and personality. We love to use lighting as a bold design gesture—it can create playful contrast and introduce just the right hint of wit, something we always strive to weave into our interiors.

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