Elena Weinstein’s apartment in Zamoskvorechye has hardly changed in a decade, but it has grown on the second floor.
Small living room on the second floor. Armchairs designed by Pierre Jeanneret, 1956; Stilnovo floor lamps, 1950s; bronze table, Maison Jansen, 1955; sofa made to order in France. Paintings by Boris Zhutovsky, 1970s; on the table is a bronze sculpture by an unknown author.Photo: Mikhail Loskutov; stylist: Natalia Onufreychuk
Elena Weinstein in the office of her Moscow apartment. There are engravings and lithographs of the XVII-XIX centuries on the wall.
Photo: Mikhail Loskutov; stylist: Natalia Onufreychuk
When we first published this interior in the March 2012 issue, we wrote that Elena Weinstein made it for a friend. Since then, probably half of Moscow has been here, and there is no point in hiding the truth — this is the decorator’s own apartment. However, ten years ago, Elena had not yet considered herself in this capacity and agreed to show the interior to the magazine solely at the insistence of a friend who rightly felt that it was impossible to hide such a wonderful work from the world. It is quite natural that according to the results of the publication, our heroine joined the professional community. “Why did this apartment shoot out like that then? – she reasons. “Everyone likes the French interior, but then there was almost no French interior in Russia””
The living room is on the ground floor. Sofa and armchairs designed by Maurice Dufresne, 1923; antique mirror and fireplace in the style of Louis XVI from France.
Photo: Mikhail Loskutov; stylist: Natalia Onufreychuk
In the hallway is a 1940s console designed by Baptistin Spada.
Photo: Mikhail Loskutov; stylist: Natalia Onufreychuk
In recent years, dozens of projects inspired by the image of Parisian apartments have already been printed in the Russian AD, but this apartment remains exemplary – not a copy, but the original. In ten years, it has not changed at all – except that there are even more art and books. “I like to move into an apartment when it is completely finished,” says the hostess. —Everything is here and I don’t want to change anything, because everything is harmonious.” But Elena dreamed of increasing the space at the expense of the attic for a long time, but she always lived between Moscow and Paris, and then also professionally engaged in design, so there was not enough time to improve her own house. “During the pandemic, we lived in the country for six months — and in those six months everything was done”” she says. Forced settlement allowed us to control the construction site on a daily basis and get a job of perfect quality — for a complex space on the second floor, this is not a luxury, but a necessity.
In the dining room there is a chandelier designed by Herve Guimard, 1910s; a sideboard designed by Raphael of the 1950s; above it a Japanese screen of the XIX century; mirrors designed by Joe Ponti, 1960s.
Photo: Mikhail Loskutov; stylist: Natalia Onufreychuk
The architecture in the project was handled by Anton Atlas from the bureau “Acant” — he proposed an image of the interior-a casket covered with wood interspersed (so that it was not too dark) with panels that are covered with silk wallpaper. A colleague and friend of the hostess, Albina Nazimova, also had a hand in the project — thanks to her, the space opens with a mirrored niche with bookshelves on the sides. Books generally occupy all the space available to them — this apartment is not only a real Parisian, but also a real intellectual one. Being flawless in execution, it also looks very lively, and this is a rare combination.
Mirror niche at the entrance to the second floor. Chinese ritual bronze, III-IV centuries, and a painting by Vadim Sidur, 1971.
Photo: Mikhail Loskutov; stylist: Natalia Onufreychuk
The stair railings were made in Moscow according to Elena’s sketches.
Photo: Mikhail Loskutov; stylist: Natalia Onufreychuk
The smooth transition from the airy ground floor to the compact attic provides filling – vintage furniture from the Saint-Ouen flea market, which Elena calls “puce” in the French manner. “Living in Paris, how not to go to the pus!” she exclaims. Along with the additional space, the apartment received a new logic. The lower level is predominantly secular. ”You can seat twenty—three people here, although the pandemic has taught us that eight guests is already gorgeous,” says Elena. The attic with the master bedroom, bathroom and dressing rooms, cut no less carefully than the outfits filling them, turned out to be much more intimate. But not to say that it is hidden from outsiders. On the contrary, almost any evening visiting Elena begins in the small living room on the second floor. The door to the next bedroom is always ajar, so the arched windows, from which half of the city is visible, will definitely not escape your attention. And for Elena, this is almost more valuable than all her rarities combined: “Why an apartment if there are no views?”
Small living room on the second floor. Armchairs designed by Pierre Jeanneret, 1956; Stilnovo floor lamps, 1950s; bronze table, Maison Jansen, 1955; sofa made to order in France. Paintings by Boris Zhutovsky, 1970s; on the table is a bronze sculpture by an unknown author.
Photo: Mikhail Loskutov; stylist: Natalia Onufreychuk
Fragment of the living room on the second floor. Under a vintage mirror designed by Herve van der Straten, a French bench from 1960.
Photo: Mikhail Loskutov; stylist: Natalia Onufreychuk
The bed and banquette are made to order in France; bed linen and bedspreads, Frette in collaboration with AtelierTati; sconces designed by Herve van der Straten; above the marble fireplace is the work of Georges Braque.
Photo: Mikhail Loskutov; stylist: Natalia Onufreychuk
There is a sculpture of Ernst the Unknown on the windowsill in the bedroom. Bedside table from Galerie Glustin.
Photo: Mikhail Loskutov; stylist: Natalia Onufreychuk
The bathroom is lined with white Italian marble. Console and sofa, Galerie Glustin.
Photo: Mikhail Loskutov; stylist: Natalia Onufreychuk
The bathroom is lined with white Italian marble.
Photo: Mikhail Loskutov; stylist: Natalia Onufreychuk
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