Zhidkovsky's 60 Million Ruble Hotel-Style Apartment
Alexei 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 fur coats. But, as it turns out, the author of the catchphrase «What»s paid for is swallowed,« when entering his home, wants simplicity and convenience. In his dwelling, he tried to give up everything flashy, though he didn»t quite succeed.
For a long time, Zhidkovsky lived in a rented apartment of 200 square meters, but by age 30 he wanted his own. It is smaller in size, 90 square meters, but here he was able to furnish everything to his own taste.
As the blogger admits, when the designer asked him how he saw his apartment, he sent photos of hotels as examples.
«My whole apartment is in a modern English classic style. In Moscow, I get enough of all that burlesque and bright colors at events. I want to come home and sink into my best psychological state. My references are the Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental hotels in Paris,» the blogger told the channel «Olga Manukyan on Real Estate.»
The craftsmen took all wishes into account and indeed made the home minimalist and visually neutral. The only thing Alexei decorated the snow-white plain walls with was molding. But even then, there is very little of it in the interior: a small decor in the guest toilet, on the kitchen cabinet doors, and under the ceiling in the bathroom.
«I»ve always lived with molding. We St. Petersburgers are used to having molding and old building stock. It«s so native to me that I incorporated it all. I have a little St. Petersburg here in big Moscow,» Zhidkovsky said with a smile, showing the decorations.
When designing his apartment, two things were important to Alexei: light and mirrors. He wanted to be able to see himself and take a good photo in any part of the apartment.
«I have mirrors everywhere. I think psychologists who see this will perfectly understand that I have a narcissistic disposition,» Alexei admits.
As soon as you cross the threshold, there is a huge mirror in the hallway, and in the guest toilet there are two immediately — opposite each other. According to Zhidkovsky, many dissuaded him from making such a «mirror labyrinth» because, according to beliefs, negative energy can penetrate through it. The blogger listened, nodded, thought for a second, but left everything as is. After all, it«s still a toilet that he himself hardly ever enters.
The most expensive part of the home is the kitchen. It is in one space together with the living room. On the right is a huge plasma TV, which the blogger got for free by paying with points, and on the left is a huge snow-white kitchen set. Alexei had it custom-made and waited three months. Each cabinet is made of oak covered with enamel. There are no buttons or handles on the doors, only soft-close mechanisms.
«It cost around $70,000–80,000. Roughly like a Li Auto L8 SUV. It»s expensive, but it«s built to last,» Alexei explains.
The kitchen and living room are separated by a small stone island on which the blogger cooks. While Zhidkovsky chops salad or marinates meat, he likes to watch something simultaneously, so he can«t do without this small table. To save space, Zhidkovsky»s oven and microwave are combined into one. And to save space in the refrigerator, he has a separate one for drinks.
Alexei does not hide that he had impulses to make the home «rich and luxurious,» but he stopped them and added only touches of brass and gold to the interior. For example, on floor lamps, candlesticks, and dishes. And also in the kitchen sink.
«I want to wash in gold. So that while I wash, there»s a celebration in my head. The sink is Japanese. It cannot be cleaned with any products,« 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 home. But over time, Zhidkovsky realized how pleasant it is to sit in the evenings, sipping his favorite drink, and watch the Moscow River, along which small boats scurry.
«I wanted a house with its own street in Moscow. When I moved, I didn»t leave here at all for five days. I sat here and I can«t say I felt like I was separate from the world and life,» the blogger said while admiring the views.
The holy of holies of Zhidkovsky«s apartment is the walk-in closet. Clothes are hung around the perimeter, handbags and shoes are placed. It all looks like an expensive boutique: pleasant lighting, identical hangers, each item in a specific place: jackets in one, sweaters in another.
To achieve complete harmony, Alexei had to hire a special person, an «order manager,» whom he paid about 100,000 rubles (about $1,000 at current rates) for organizing the space.
Another room in the house is designated as the bedroom. It also has several closets with loungewear, a table with a large mirror, and a double bed. The only decoration here is a small vintage brass lamp.
In addition to the guest toilet, Zhidkovsky has his own bathroom, which no one else enters. It fully maintains the home«s style, with no visual noise or clutter. The blogger gave up shower curtains in favor of a transparent partition, again as is usually done in hotels.
Zhidkovsky also revealed how to make a Pinterest-style apartment with minimal visual noise: there are 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 it»s a store,« the blogger jokes.
According to Zhidkovsky, the apartment cost him approximately 60 million rubles (about $600,000 at current rates). Another 30 million rubles (about $300,000) went into renovations.
«I always say, in some very strange way, renovations always end up being 50% of the apartment»s cost,« the blogger stated.
