Name: Josh
Location: Moscow
Size: 350 sqft, 1 bdrm sublet next door to the British Embassy (great security)
Favorite: The prime location and that the rather small, space-ship shower stall, can still accommodate two people at the same time.
Today's home is meant to remind us of the luxury of self-determination. Let's be grateful for the power to make our own aesthetic mark on our homes. Those who sublet are not as lucky. And those who sublet in Moscow have to be especially creative to find that which to celebrate...
Josh works for an NGO and lives in Moscow. He has a lot of experience living all over the former Soviet Union so he knows that he should be grateful for a number of things about his apartment: that it has white walls that aren't covered with unfortunate wallpaper or hanging carpets, that the floors are wood and not covered in linoleum or culturally specific carpeting, and that there is a minimum of soviet kitsch not including crystal figurines in the wall unit, chandeliers, or angel moulds on the walls.
Although he will never get used to the brown crushed velvet curtains, he appreciates the apartment's high ceilings. As for the couch, Josh writes, "like most sofas in this city, it is upholstered with this hideous chinese velvety pattern. it has been my mission to find something better to cover it with--and so it seems that whenever i see a nice blanket on sale somewhere in the city, I buy it, but then decide that it's too nice to be a cover. So, i'm still looking around for a better solution."
Josh looks forward to further improving the space by hanging two antique Soviet Propoganda posters he found in a vintage shop. He also wants to buy one of the ubiquitous shag carpets on sale in Moscow, and go 'groovy.'
As far as his fellow Muscovites, he has this to say: "I think classical Freudian therapy 4 times a week is only supposed to last for 4 years. If you saw some of the apartments I've seen here in Moscow, I'd say that that they would need about 20 years of apartment therapy, 7 days a week, 365 days a year."
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Comments (13)
you showed this already,,,,,months ago.
I've seen a number of repeated house tours lately. How come?
"Seriously, why is this featured...? There is nothing about this place that is remotely interesting, clever, or well, cool."
_________________
Why? To remind me that my EV walkup (chopped out in a devastating post-war, Soviet-style "renovation") isn't all that bad! But the wood in the Moscow apartment is BEAUTIFUL; contractors tear down houses for trim like that.
To anyone questioning the merits or value of this post, please save your breath and stop wasting our time. If you don't have anything of value to add or good questions to ask then we don't need your negativity. Go start your own blog and post only what you want to see there. But, AT is written for everyone, not just you.
This apartment looks very familiar, as my husband and I have lived overseas part time for the last 5 years. While we are lucky enough to be in Western Europe now, we did spend a year in the former East Germany. And this apartment looks pretty much like 80% of apartments there. You have to make do with what your given, as an expat, and make the best of it, really make it your own. Even if it's just adding fresh flowers, lighting some candles, getting rid of hideous textiles... It looks like Josh has taken advantage of what he he has been given (gorgeous floors), and has done his best to better his place. Getting rid of that huge wall unit will be a big improvement! (What is it about huge wall units over here? And usually in black or white laquer, with brass accents, of course. Ick!) I think it's nice to see places around the world once in a while. Expands our horizons I think...
Wow, I just really don't get it with this one. This is absolutely horrific in every way. So many of the comments above have really fought hard to come up with something positive to say about this disaster when all that really needs to be said is that this sucks and without a doubt not worthy of this kind of exposure... like, it's not even funny how awful it is. The floors?? High-gloss verathaned cheap wood??? All the wood, even... just dreadful. WTF?
well done .
And this is being posted again ... why?
pizdets, nu i hibara.
this is definitely one of the worst apartments i've seen, and i graduated college not to long ago...
i've been to Moscow and many many many other cities in Eastern Europe, none of them look like train car with hard wood floor, even the cheep apartments i've rented for travel.
I wasn't going to comment on this at all. But just kept coming back to this post.
Josh, thanks for sharing your home with us, but I think you are rightfully getting negative posts here. There is nothing valuable in your comments. The way you described crystal filled wall units and ceiling molds (which I gather you don't appreciate), upholstered sofa and walls covered with rugs sounds rather judgmental. You can't expect to see the same decorative styles as you are accustomed to. Now, I don't see you putting in any effort to bring your own style into this apartment. If you really wanted to show the best of your home, you could have taken pictures during the day with more natural light and maybe a couple of DIY projects that you've finished to make this more livable...
I also think that your idea of putting Soviet Propaganda posters on the walls in this particular apartment will not add any "charm" to the place.
Come on, put a little more thought into this. Combine the traditional cultural aspects and your own experiences.
Moscow isn't Eastern Europe.
if Moscow is not in Eastern Europe, then where is it?
Oi, blya... Sovuvstvuyu...
Some of the comments are nasty, but, let's face it, so are the landlords' ideas of decorating. (Josh, this is in no way meant as a slight to you. Ne v obidu ni v koem sluchae, ok?)
See those knotty wood panels/trims/doors? These are sickeningly common in "renovated" Moscow apartments owned by people with a bit of income and zero taste. And the faux marble in the bathroom? Oh my, does this bring back memories!
Bear in mind, these widespread monstrosities have nothing to do with Russians' traditional cultural aspects. They are a result of imitating what some Russians think is modern Western style of decorating. Some of the un-renovated Soviet-era apartments, with their vintage floral wallpaper and traditional wooden bookcases loaded with hardcover classics are so much more charming, in my view.
But decorating in Moscow is tough, tough, tough! The city has a decent array of upscale design and furniture stores, including some familiar western chains/brands. (Did you know there is a Bo Concept in Moscow, for instance?) And I recall a lovely shop with gorgeous fabrics, antiques and modern pieces straight from Japan... But did you also know that prices in Moscow are at least twice as high as those in the U.S.? And often they are three to five times higher. And sales are virtually non-existent.
I lived in Moscow as a kid, and much later I worked there for nearly a decade (late 90's to mid-2000's), and I rented there, and I even owned an apartment there. And I decorated there. And I think I did a passable job. But looking back at it, I know I would never get into such a project again. It's just too much pain.