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A design and renovation knowledge base: search by word or pick a category
Process & ServicesOctober 11, 2026
Apartment Layout Plan: What It Includes, Cost and How to Check It
The layout decides most of how comfortable a home is. What it includes, what it costs, how to check it and which mistakes to avoid.
Complexes & CitiesSeptember 8, 2026
Interior Design in Astana: Climate, New Builds and Our Projects
Frost, wind, a long heating season and fast-growing new districts: how interior design in Astana differs from other cities and what we have already designed in the capital.
RenovationSeptember 4, 2026
Buying Materials: How to Purchase from a Schedule and Not Overpay
Purchasing is a second job during a renovation. A schedule from the project turns it from chaos into logistics.
Furniture & MaterialsSeptember 3, 2026
Wallpaper in a Modern Interior: an Accent, Not a Background — How to Choose and Where to Hang
Wallpaper is back, in a new role: not the background of every wall but a precise accent. Which wallpaper goes where, how to read the label, count rolls and avoid ruining the wall.
Complexes & CitiesSeptember 2, 2026
Apartment Design in Aruna City, Astana: Fitting Everything into 46 m²
A completed 46 m² project in Aruna City: bedroom, living room and workspace in one space, slat zoning and materials that fitted without extra purchases.
StylesAugust 30, 2026
Colour in Interiors: How to Build a Palette for Your Apartment Without Missing
Why a colour from a picture looks different at home, how the 60/30/10 rule works and why to test swatches. Practice without 40 pages of colour theory.
RenovationAugust 27, 2026
Apartment Ventilation: Why Windows “Cry” and How to Breathe in Winter
Plastic windows made apartments airtight and stuffy. Fresh-air solutions from a valve to a breather, what to include in the project and how not to harm neighbours.
Process & ServicesAugust 26, 2026
How to Read Interior Design Drawings: a Client's Guide
Drawings are the language the project uses to talk to the builders. Spend half an hour on this guide and you can check your project yourself instead of trusting blindly.
RoomsAugust 25, 2026
Balcony and Loggia: Turning a Storage Space into a Favorite Spot
The balcony is the only "extra" space you already own. Here is how to turn it into a lounge or a study without breaking the rules or freezing in winter.
RoomsAugust 23, 2026
Hallway Design: Dimensions, Storage, Lighting and Common Mistakes
The hallway is the apartment's first impression and its hardest-working zone. We cover the entry routine, wardrobe sizes, flooring, lighting, mirrors and everyday mistakes.
Process & ServicesAugust 21, 2026
How to Write a Brief for an Interior Designer: What to Share So the Project Fits You
The best brief is not "I want it like this photo" but an honest story of how you live. Here is what actually moves a project forward, plus a checklist.
RoomsAugust 16, 2026
Designing a 40 m² One-Bedroom Apartment: 6 Techniques That Make It Bigger
A bedroom, living room and workspace in 40 square meters is realistic. We show the techniques on our 38 and 46 m² projects in Astana and break down typical mistakes.
Furniture & MaterialsAugust 14, 2026
Curtains and Textiles: a Guide to the Interior's Final Layer
Textiles make an interior lived-in. But wrong curtains can ruin even a perfect project. The rules.
RoomsAugust 13, 2026
Storage Systems: How to Design an Apartment That Stays Tidy
Tidiness is not discipline, it is design. We work out how much storage a family needs and look at invisible wardrobes in a real project.
Light & DecorAugust 12, 2026
Light in the Apartment: Lighting Scenarios Instead of One Chandelier
Light is half the interior. Three layers of lighting, warm vs cold light and the mistakes that make beautiful apartments look flat.
RenovationAugust 10, 2026
How to Accept Work from Builders: a Checklist for Every Renovation Stage
Renovation must be accepted stage by stage, not at the end. What to check after each stage, which tolerances count as normal and how to tie acceptance to payment.
RenovationAugust 5, 2026
Winter Renovation in Kazakhstan: What Works, What Doesn't and How to Plan
Winter renovation is surrounded by myths. Inside a heated apartment nearly all work goes fine — what matters is knowing the real limits and dealing with dry air.
Light & DecorAugust 1, 2026
Hidden Lighting: Making "Floating" Light Without Regrets
A soft glow from nowhere is the signature of modern interiors. But a strip without a profile and proper calculation dies fast. Where it works, how to choose it and the most common mistakes.
RenovationJuly 29, 2026
Apartment Electrics: the Socket and Circuit Map Drawn Before Renovation
An extension cord admits the electrics were designed poorly. Room by room: how many sockets, at what height, which circuits are separate and what goes into the panel.
Light & DecorJuly 25, 2026
What Coziness Is Made Of: the Anatomy of "I Want to Go Home"
Coziness seems like magic but breaks down into measurable parts. Six components you can design.
StylesJuly 22, 2026
Interior Trends 2027: What Will Actually Take Root in Kazakhstan
What the 2026 design fairs showed and which 2027 colours brands have already announced. We separate decade-long trends from one-season fashion.
RenovationJuly 18, 2026
The Renovation Budget: Planning So the Money Lasts to the End
Many renovations stall at "the money ran out before the apartment was done". What a full budget includes, how to calculate it and how to stay within it.
Process & ServicesJuly 10, 2026
How Much Does an Interior Design Project Cost in Kazakhstan in 2026: Prices per m² and Examples
Design project from 10,000 ₸/m², working drawings from 3,300 ₸/m². Prices by area, timelines by stage and an honest calculation of the share a project takes in a renovation budget.
StylesJuly 7, 2026
Art Deco in an Apartment Interior: Geometry, Brass and Deep Colours Without Theatrics
Art Deco, the style of the Great Gatsby era, is back in a calm modern dose. Where it came from, what it is made of and how to borrow its glamour without building a stage set.
Furniture & MaterialsJuly 3, 2026
How to Choose a Sofa: Size, Filling, Fabric — and Why Sitting on It Is Mandatory
The sofa is the most used piece of furniture and the most common bought-by-photo mistake. Step by step: size, seat, filling, fabric, mechanism.
Furniture & MaterialsJuly 2, 2026
The Bed and Mattress: How to Choose What You Spend a Third of Your Life On
A third of life passes on the mattress, yet it is chosen in ten minutes. Sizes, clearances, firmness, mattress types and where not to save.
Complexes & CitiesJuly 1, 2026
Apartment Design in Arena City Life (Almaty): a Breakdown of Our 67 m² Project
A breakdown of our completed 67 m² project in Arena City Life: what worked, what neighbours in the complex should consider, and what a design project for such an apartment costs.
RenovationJune 30, 2026
Rough Works: What the Quality of Your Whole Renovation Rests On
Everything you will admire stands on what will never be seen. The rough stage explained: order, inspection, common mistakes and a checklist before walls are closed.
Furniture & MaterialsJune 29, 2026
Finishing Materials: What to Choose for Floors, Walls and the Bathroom — a No-Ads Guide
Parquet or LVT, paint or wallpaper, tile or porcelain — an honest comparison of what works where.
Complexes & CitiesJune 21, 2026
Interior Design in Almaty: What to Consider and How to Choose a Studio
Seismics, sun and mountains in the windows: what to know about Almaty apartments before renovating, what a project costs and how to choose a studio.
RenovationJune 20, 2026
Apartment Replanning in Kazakhstan: What Is Allowed, What Is Not, and How to Legalize It
Removing a non-load-bearing partition is possible; touching a load-bearing wall or a ventilation shaft is not. Replanning vs re-equipment, which works need a project, and how to update the technical passport.
RenovationJune 19, 2026
Renovation With a Designer vs Without: the Real Math in Tenge
A design project for 800K ₸ — an expense or insurance? We calculate the typical losses of an “as we go” renovation and honestly say when a designer is unnecessary.
Process & ServicesJune 15, 2026
How to Choose an Interior Designer: an 8-Point Checklist
A renovation built from a good project runs faster and cheaper than one done "as you go". How to spot a professional before signing, and what to ask at the first meeting.
Light & DecorJune 14, 2026
Plants in the Interior: Living Decor That Survives Our Climate
One large plant does more for an interior than ten souvenirs. Species, planters, light and compositions, adjusted for the heating season.
RenovationJune 12, 2026
How to Choose a Renovation Crew: a Checklist from Design Supervision Practice
A good crew is half the renovation. Filters from our supervision practice: questions, checks, a tender based on drawings, the contract and stage payments.
Process & ServicesJune 11, 2026
Project Procurement: How Drawings Turn Into Materials and Furniture
Between "project approved" and "everything delivered" lie hundreds of items, invoices and lead times. How to organise procurement without stopping the renovation.
Process & ServicesJune 10, 2026
Renovating an Apartment for Rent: Design That Pays Back in Rent
A well-planned apartment rents faster and for more. But rental renovation follows its own logic: we count what pays back and what does not.
RenovationJune 9, 2026
Renovating a Resale Apartment: What to Demolish, Keep, and Where Surprises Wait
A resale apartment means a renovation with a research phase: surprises live under the old finishes. What to prepare for and in what order to act.
Complexes & CitiesJune 8, 2026
Apartment Design in Bukhar Zhyrau Towers: a 115 m² Project with a 3D Tour
Our largest apartment project: 115 m² in mid-century, a kitchen-diner with marble and a burgundy table. The decisions behind it and tips for neighbours in the complex.
RoomsJune 7, 2026
The Long Corridor: Turning a "Tube" into an Asset of Your Apartment
The long corridor is unfairly blamed: with the right light, rhythm and built-ins it becomes a gallery and the main storage reserve of the home.
Furniture & MaterialsJune 5, 2026
Kitchen Worktops: Quartz, Acrylic, Compact or Laminate — the Big Comparison
The worktop takes the knife, boiling water, wine and turmeric. Five materials compared for durability, repair and price, with advice on what to pick.
RenovationJune 4, 2026
Apartment Renovation in Almaty: a Complete Stage-by-Stage Guide
Renovation is not chaos but a sequence. We lay out the whole process: what follows what, how long it takes, what it costs in Almaty in 2026 and where money is lost.
StylesMay 31, 2026
Mouldings, Cornices and Panels: a Practical Neoclassic Guide
Mouldings are the most accessible way to give walls architecture. But the layout has rules, or the result looks cheap.
Process & ServicesMay 29, 2026
Contract with an Interior Designer: Nine Points to Check Before Signing
A good contract protects both sides and prevents most disputes before they start. Nine points to check before signing, plus red flags.
RenovationMay 25, 2026
Underfloor Heating: Where It Is Needed, Where Not, and How Not to Ruin Furniture
Underfloor heating is the best comfort investment for a Kazakhstan winter. But laying it everywhere is costly and harmful. Where it is needed.
RoomsMay 24, 2026
Bath or Shower: an Honest Comparison for Bathrooms
The bath-or-shower question is decided not by fashion but by area, family habits and your horizon in the apartment.
RenovationMay 21, 2026
Apartment Soundproofing: What Really Works and What Is Marketing
You cannot defeat the neighbor's drill, but hearing conversations through the wall is not the norm either. What works in soundproofing, and what does not.
Light & DecorMay 16, 2026
Mirrors in the Interior: a Tool of Light and Space, Not Just Reflection
A mirror is the most accessible way to "add" a window and square meters. Where to hang it and which mistakes to avoid.
StylesMay 13, 2026
Scandinavian Style: Why It Is Perfect for Kazakhstan
A style invented for the long northern winter seems made for Kazakhstan. Scandi: light, wood, colours, furniture and cosiness without pathos.
RenovationMay 12, 2026
The Renovation Estimate: How to Read It and Where "Extras" Hide
An estimate is not a fine-print verdict but a document you can and should verify. Learn to read it in an evening.
RoomsMay 11, 2026
The Laundry Zone: Where to Hide Washing, Drying and the Ironing Board
A drying rack in the living room is the most common design failure of beautiful apartments. We design laundry as a system.
Complexes & CitiesMay 10, 2026
Apartment Design in the Mereke Complex (Almaty): 65 m² of Warm Minimalism, Now in Construction
A fresh studio project: 65 m² of warm minimalism in Mereke, now under construction. We break down the decisions, the building's specifics and the project cost.
RenovationMay 9, 2026
Developer Finish: Live With It, Upgrade or Redo?
A developer finish means a home right away at the price of compromises. How to accept it, what to upgrade first and when to redo it after all.
Process & ServicesMay 4, 2026
A Smart Home Without Fanaticism: What Is Actually Useful in an Apartment
A smart home is not a voice-controlled kettle. The functions people actually use for years, and what to lay in before finishing.
RoomsMay 3, 2026
The Kitchen-Living Room: a Complete Merger Guide — Zoning, Ventilation, Light
The kitchen-living room is the most common replanning request. Who it suits, how to zone it, which hood to choose and what people regret most often.
Furniture & MaterialsMay 2, 2026
Kitchen Fronts: Paint, PVC Film, HPL, Veneer or Acrylic — What to Choose
Fronts are the most visible and one of the most expensive parts of a kitchen. An honest comparison of materials, their weak spots and when to choose each.
RoomsMay 1, 2026
A Walk-in Closet in an Apartment: from 1.5 m² — Sizes, Layouts and Fittings
A walk-in closet is not a luxury for big apartments: even 1.5–2 m² holds more than a row of wardrobes. Sizes, layouts, fittings and common mistakes.
RoomsApril 30, 2026
Small Kitchen Design: How to Fit Everything into 6–9 m²
A small kitchen is not a sentence but a task in precision: a unit planned to the centimetre holds more than you think. Layouts, dimensions, appliances and tricks.
Furniture & MaterialsApril 29, 2026
Custom or Ready-Made Furniture: What, Where and Why
There is a universal answer: built-in is custom, freestanding is ready-made. The logic, the exceptions, materials and the ordering process.
Process & ServicesApril 24, 2026
What a Design Project Includes: 14 Working Drawing Sheets and What Comes on Top
A design project is not an album of pretty pictures but a set of documents to build by. We walk through the 14 sheets of the working project and what the full design project adds.
RoomsApril 23, 2026
Children's Room Design: a Room That Grows with Your Child
A room made for a three-year-old is out of date by school age. We design for growth: a calm base, changeable accents, three zones and uncompromising safety.
Furniture & MaterialsApril 21, 2026
Wall Paint: Sheen, Washability, Tint Bases — Choosing Without Brands
All paints are "white in the can" but behave differently on walls. The parameters that matter more than the brand, and how to get color, preparation and coverage right.
Process & ServicesApril 19, 2026
How Long Does an Apartment Design Project Take: Stages and Timelines by Week
From the brief to a complete set of drawings — usually 2–4 weeks. We break down each stage, show what slows a project down and give a checklist for getting through it faster.
Light & DecorApril 18, 2026
Decor Without Chaos: the Rule of Three, Compositions and Emptiness as a Tool
The line between cozy and cluttered is composition. How to style decor with a stylist's hand, from a single shelf to the wall above the sofa.
Furniture & MaterialsApril 15, 2026
Interior Doors: Flush Frames, Floor-to-Ceiling Doors and How to Choose Without Mistakes
A door is not just "a hole with a leaf" but an architectural element. Sizes, frame types, sliding systems, finishes, hardware and when doors need to be decided.
StylesApril 13, 2026
Ethnic Style in a Modern Interior: Kazakh Motifs Without a Yurt in the Living Room
Ethnic style works as an accent, not a costume. Three levels of ethnic design, palette, craft and mistakes, using the Oshak Coffee café as an example.
Complexes & CitiesApril 12, 2026
Apartment Design in Kamenka Park: Our Two Projects — 78 and 93 m²
We have completed two apartments in Kamenka Park — 78 and 93 m². Solutions that will suit your apartment in this complex too, and what matters when renovating from a shell finish.
Process & ServicesApril 10, 2026
Designer Supervision: What It Includes and Why Projects Break Without It
Between a beautiful project and a beautiful apartment lie months of construction. Designer supervision keeps them from drifting apart.
RoomsApril 8, 2026
Living Room Design: One Room's Scenarios — from Movie Night to Hosting
The living room hosts more scenarios than any other room: films, guests, work, rest. Dimensions, layout and lighting so they all fit.
RoomsApril 7, 2026
The Guest Bathroom: 2 m² Where You Can Afford Everything
The guest bathroom is the one place where boldness risks nothing: nobody lives here, people come in for three minutes. Dimensions, fixtures and design moves.
StylesApril 6, 2026
Loft in a Regular Apartment: Taking the Character Without Getting a Garage
True loft was born in factories, but its character transfers to a 60 m² apartment, if you take the essence and not the props.
RoomsApril 4, 2026
The Dining Zone: a Table, Light and a Dinner Scenario Worth Gathering For
A shared dinner is the best “smart home”. Designing the dining zone: the right table, clearances, light at 75–90 cm and a place for everyone.
Light & DecorApril 1, 2026
Art in the Interior: How to Choose, Hang and Light a Painting
A painting turns a wall into a focal point. How to choose a piece, at what height to hang it, how to build a gallery wall and light it without glare.
RoomsMarch 27, 2026
The Home Office: How to Create a Workplace Where Work Actually Happens
Remote work is the norm; a workplace "at the kitchen table" is not. How to build a study into the apartment — from the loggia to a bedroom niche — with sizes, light and sockets.
RoomsMarch 26, 2026
Bedroom Design: How to Plan a Room Where You Actually Sleep Well
A bedroom is designed for sleep, not photos. Proper clearances, light that does not wake you, quiet, coolness and a calming palette.
RoomsMarch 25, 2026
Small Bathroom Design, 3–5 m²: Techniques That Really Work
In typical apartments the bathroom is 3–5 m² and has to hold everything. Sizes, layout, storage, lighting and colour, illustrated with our own bathrooms.
StylesMarch 24, 2026
Eclectic Interior Design: How to Mix Styles Without a Hodgepodge
The best interiors today are mixed. But eclecticism has a grammar: palette, repetition, proportion and one hero piece. Without it, a mix of styles turns into a flea market.
Complexes & CitiesMarch 23, 2026
Apartment Design in Europe City (Astana): a Family 110 m² from Drawings to Decor
A completed 110 m² apartment in Europe City: a family home with rooms that grow with the children, which we ran from working drawings to final styling.
Light & DecorMarch 22, 2026
Track and Magnetic Systems: Light You Can Move
Track is the most flexible light: fixtures move and change without renovation. Systems, beam angles and planning rules.
Complexes & CitiesMarch 21, 2026
Apartment Design on Seifullin, Almaty: 100 m² of Quiet Luxury
Completed 100 m² on Seifullin: how an interior looks expensive through materials, not decor — marble, fluted fronts and precise brass.
Process & ServicesMarch 16, 2026
An Online Design Project: Working With a Designer From Another City
How an online design project works: who measures, how approvals go, what the crew receives and how to control renovation when the designer is in another city.
