A warm, inviting color palette defines the different areas of this compact apartment while flexible solutions make the most of its limited space

A 322-square-foot apartment gets a traditional-yet-modern renovation. Photo Nick Rudenko. Stylist: Irina Temnova

Some gifts are best kept a surprise until the moment they’re handed over to their recipient. That was the case with this small 322-square-foot apartment located in the Vidny Gorod residential complex, about four miles from Moscow , which the owner, Lara, received as a gift from her daughter, Marta, and her son-in-law. “The couple personally oversaw the renovation, keeping the project a secret until the very end,” says interior designer Polina Chumakova, founder of Lagolga Buro , who oversaw the design. “Lara knew nothing about it and didn’t see the space that they were going to give her until it was completed and she first set foot in her new home.”

In the living room, the custom cabinet by Avantiz complements a vintage table and chairs by Tok.…