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Normally I would say a gallery such as this doesn't deserve mention, but I thought many of our friends might be interested in how we (and most Russians) live. Rustem received this one bedroom apartment from the government after more than a year of haggling with Russian State Television for reimbursement of our expenses in connection with him being shot in 1993. They couldn't come up with the money, but gave us this flat instead.

Previously, we always lived in the center of Moscow in either corporate or rented apartments, while we rented this one out. I was in total shock the 1st time I visited here. The "before" pictures really don't capture the horror of it. We renovated the apartment from floor to ceiling using two Ukrainian guys who didn't even have a ladder. Everything is imported - from the door hinges & knobs, to the paint.

Technically in Moscow, it's a hell of a long way from the center in a relatively newly developed area of the city that's already more than 170,000 strong. It's tiny - about 600 sq. ft. with 330 livable sq. ft., and still difficult for me (Susan) to adjust to, but by Russian standards we're fortunate.
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Corridor. Doors are to bathroom & toilet, respectively.
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Corridor. Doors are to bathroom & toilet, respectively.

  • Toilet - revolting.
  • Renovation begins.
  • New radiator waiting to be installed in the kitchen.
  • In the livingroom after the new radiator was installed.
  • Valera in the bathroom, stripped to the bones.
  • Bathroom renovation begins.
  • The bathroom's finished!
  • Finished bathroom - with faucets!
  • Bathroom entrance.
  • Toilet's finished.
  • Bedroom's done.
  • Front hall.
  • Livingroom. This room is a bit dysfunctional as it serves as the living room, dining room, & office, and is too small to divide into defined areas.
  • Living room with sofa bed, waiting for you!  The lamp belonged to Rustem's mother & he refused to get rid of it. After a 3.5 year search, I finally found a new shade - at Pottery Barn this past April 2009. Pictured is the old one :-)
  • TV armoire.
  • Corridor. Doors are to bathroom & toilet, respectively.
  • Corridor leading into kitchen. No built-in closets here. Ikea closets take up a lot of space in these small apartments.
  • Glass panel above kitchen door.
  • We lived for almost a year without a kitchen after the renovation was completed as it was an expensive project. Finally it got done.
  • Kitchen - we even have a disposal - an InSinkErator, of course.
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