Mane Design: Creating a Bold and Magical Apartment 15th January 2025 | IN PROJECT OF THE WEEK | BY SBID

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a bold and magical apartment design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Mane Design.

Bright colours and pied-de-poule prints, interesting architecture and the design of the duplex apartment immediately evoke memories of the heroine of the book by Lewis Carroll. The height of the ceilings in some places reaches 6 metres, the huge windows in the kitchen/living room area let in a lot of light. And of course, a spacious dressing room in the master area with a window in the ceiling, makes you fantasise… The second floor is allocated for a child’s room. It is made in a discreet style, in the spirit of classic English cabinet interiors.

SBID Awards Category: Residential Budget Up To £50,000

Practice: Mane Design

Project: Alice in Wonderland

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

Mane Design, Mane Design: Creating a Bold and Magical Apartment
Mane Design - Alice in Wonderland
Mane Design, Mane Design: Creating a Bold and Magical Apartment
Mane Design - Alice in Wonderland

What was the client’s brief? 

The apartment belongs to the designer of our studio. Since the designer had seen many different apartments thanks to her work, she chose an apartment with interesting and unusual planning for herself, but the most interesting thing is that it was difficult to understand what the designer would like for herself in terms of design, as we always work with a client and enter mentally into his project, she never thought about what she would like for herself. As a result, it turned out that many details of designs that we previously had done for clients came together and created such a non-standard interior.

Mane Design, Mane Design: Creating a Bold and Magical Apartment
Mane Design - Alice in Wonderland

What inspired the design of the project?

We were inspired by the apartment itself and, of course, complete freedom of action. Here we could unleash our creative potential without restrictions and let ourselves to have fun. It was only necessary to remember about the limited budget. The interior became so unusual and cozy that an association with the book Alice in Wonderland was soon born. We are sure that Alice would live in such a magical and bold interior.

Mane Design, Mane Design: Creating a Bold and Magical Apartment
Mane Design - Alice in Wonderland
Mane Design, Mane Design: Creating a Bold and Magical Apartment
Mane Design - Alice in Wonderland

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The designer wanted not only unique and unusual combinations in the interior, but also unique sanitary ware, wallpaper, door handles etc that were not used in other projects.

Mane Design, Mane Design: Creating a Bold and Magical Apartment
Mane Design - Alice in Wonderland

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Main highlights I have already described above, and of course also it was to find a balance in mixing bright colours, prints, styles.

Mane Design, Mane Design: Creating a Bold and Magical Apartment
Mane Design - Alice in Wonderland

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

Our interior design studio has been participating in the SBID Awards for the fourth year and we reach the final every year. It is important for our studio to see the view to our projects from the outside and we are very happy receive high reviews. Last year, our sport club project was awarded the Grand Prix.

Mane Design, Mane Design: Creating a Bold and Magical Apartment
Mane Design - Alice in Wonderland

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Of course international recognition expands the possibilities of the studio. We proudly announce our achievements to the World.

Mane Design, Mane Design: Creating a Bold and Magical Apartment
Mane Mehrabyan, Founder of Mane Design

Questions answered by Mane Mehrabyan, Founder of Mane Design.

We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an interactive and nostalgic public space design by Tinker imagineers, click here to read it.