Alexey Zhidkovsky's $666,700 Hotel-Inspired Apartment

Alexey Zhidkovsky has long been synonymous with the word «shock value.» The blogger has never hidden his love of luxury, most often expressed in flashy outfits with shiny jackets and leopard-print fur coats. But, as it turns out, the author of the catchphrase «You get what you pay for» wants simplicity and comfort when he comes home. In his home, he tried to do away with anything flashy, though he didn«t entirely succeed.

For a long time, Zhidkovsky lived in a rented 200-square-meter apartment, but by age 30 he wanted his own. It is smaller, at 90 square meters (about 969 sq ft), but here he could arrange everything to his own taste.

As the blogger admits, when the designer asked what he envisioned for his apartment, he sent photos of hotels as references.

«My entire apartment is in a modern English classic style. In Moscow, I get enough burlesque and bright colors at events. I want to come home and immerse myself in my best mental state. My references are the Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental hotels in Paris,» the blogger said on the channel «Olga Manukyan on Real Estate.»

The craftsmen took all his wishes into account and indeed made the home minimalist and visually neutral. The only thing Alexey added to the white monochrome walls is moldings. But even then, there is very little of it in the interior: a small decorative piece in the guest toilet, on the cabinet doors of the kitchen set, and under the ceiling in the bathroom.

«I»ve always lived with moldings. We St. Petersburg people are used to having moldings, old buildings. It«s so familiar to me that I incorporated it all. I have a little St. Petersburg in big Moscow here,» Zhidkovsky said with a smile, showing off the decorations.

When decorating his apartment, two things were important to Alexey: light and mirrors. He wanted to be able to see himself and take a good photo from any part of the apartment.

«I have mirrors everywhere. I think any psychologist seeing this will understand that I have a narcissistic streak,» Alexey admits.

As soon as you step through the door, there is a huge mirror in the hallway, and in the guest toilet there are two directly opposite each other. According to Zhidkovsky, many advised him against creating such a «mirror maze,» as superstition says negative energy can enter through it. The blogger listened, nodded, thought for a second, but left it as is. After all, it«s a toilet he hardly ever enters himself.

The most expensive part of the home is the kitchen. It shares the same space with the living room. On the right is a huge plasma TV that the blogger got for free using points, and on the left is a massive white kitchen unit. Alexey had it custom-made and waited three months. Each cabinet is made of oak coated with enamel. The doors have no buttons or handles, only soft-close hinges.

«It cost about $70,000–80,000. About as much as a Li Auto L8 SUV. It»s expensive, but it«s built to last,» Alexey explains.

The kitchen and living room are separated by a small stone island where the blogger cooks. While Zhidkovsky is chopping salad or marinating meat, he likes to watch something simultaneously, so this small table is indispensable. To save space, the oven and microwave are combined into one. And to save space in the refrigerator, he has a separate one for drinks.

Alexey does not hide that he had impulses to make the home «rich and lavish,» but he restrained himself and added only touches of brass and gold. For example, on floor lamps, candlesticks, and dishes. Also in the kitchen sink.

«I want to wash in gold. So that while I wash, I feel like I»m at a party. The sink is Japanese. It cannot be cleaned with any cleaning agents,« the blogger boasted about the sink.

From all rooms, the blogger has access to a small terrace. Initially, he needed it to walk his dogs without leaving the house. But over time, Zhidkovsky realized how pleasant it is to sit in the evenings, sipping his favorite drink, and watch the Moscow River with its little boats hurrying along.

«I wanted a house with its own little street within Moscow. When I moved in, I didn»t go out at all for five days. I sat here and can«t say I felt disconnected from the world and life,» the blogger said, admiring the view.

The holy of holies of Zhidkovsky«s apartment is the walk-in closet. Along the perimeter of the walls hang clothes, with handbags and shoes. It all looks like an expensive boutique: pleasant lighting, identical hangers, each item in a designated place — jackets in one spot, sweaters in another.

To achieve complete harmony, Alexey had to hire a special person during the move, an «order manager,» to whom he paid about 100,000 rubles ($1,100 at current rates) for organizing the space.

Another room in the home is the bedroom. It also has several wardrobes with loungewear, a table with a large mirror, and a double bed. The only decoration is a small vintage lamp made of brass.

In addition to the guest toilet, Zhidkovsky has his own bathroom that no one else enters. It fully follows the home«s style, with no visual noise or clutter. The blogger chose a clear glass partition instead of a shower curtain, again as is done in hotels.

Zhidkovsky also revealed how to achieve a Pinterest-worthy apartment with minimal visual noise: almost no beauty bottles, kitchen utensils, extra clothes, shoes, or accessories. It turns out that everything the blogger is not currently using is hidden in a storage room on the basement level.

«I come here like I»m going to the store,« the blogger jokes.

According to Zhidkovsky, the apartment cost him about 60 million rubles (around $666,700 at current rates). Another 30 million went into renovations.

«I always say, in some strange way, renovations always end up being 50% of the apartment»s cost,« the blogger stated.