Like a mantra I keep repeating that the home is one of the crucial keys to our happiness. Coming back to a home that speaks to you, that tells your story and that makes you ?feel at home? is something we should all strive for. Now I understand that this can be somewhat tricky when we rent a space. If we add the fact that the home is maybe just a temporary one, then things get even more challenging. Something that people who worked as expats can relate to. During one of my recent Moscow trips, a friend of mine asked me to help restyle his home ? a rented, furnished city apartment. I was more than happy to take over the challenge.

To start with I have to admit that this friend has already an impeccable taste when it comes to design and interiors. But I was happy to chip in and share a few ideas, sources, bits and pieces to create a home that not only looks nice (at least much nicer than before) but also shows the tenant?s personality to some extent. Unfortunately I was not quick enough to snap proper ?before pics? but let me reassure you: there were some chunky wooden furniture pieces randomly added over time. However, the apartment has great potential: nice wooden parquet, spacious, flooded with daylight.
One of the first things was to get rid of the questionable furniture ? which happened before I arrived so no pictures here. Afterwards some new practical and nice pieces moved in. Now when you design a rented space (especially one for a specific period) you d...