MOSCOW RENOVATION STYLES
Western Renovation – This term is broadly used to describe home interior decoration designed in accordance with modern Western European or American standards. Though there are many interpretations of the term, most Russians associate it with a recent remodeling project using quality, imported materials and equipment such as bathroom fixtures, new windows, modern kitchen cabinetry and appliances. The apartments, however, vary in style; some have white or pastel painted walls, light color materials and neutral fixtures, and others have bright colors, wallpaper, darker tiles and loud fittings that are more traditional to the local design tastes.
Semi-Western Renovation – This is a renovation that only partially meets Western renovation standards. This may imply that lower quality materials were used for the renovation, or a smaller range of work was completed (e.g. the renovation was limited to mounting white wallpaper or remodeling only the kitchen or the bathrooms).
Premium Western Renovation – This term illustrates a type of Western style interior where the quality and the range of work performed is higher than the standard Western renovation. These projects typically include the demolition of old interior walls and the construction of a new layout with open and spacious living and dining areas, several bathrooms, and convenient storage and service facilities. You should expect higher quality materials and fixtures, and additional equipment such as air-conditioning, heated floors, hydro-massage bathtubs and showers, a sauna, etc.
Designer Interiors This is a type of Premium Western renovation that is completed with the professional help of an architect or an interior designer. These custom-designed projects make use of a unique combination of materials, colors and textures, interesting layout decisions, intricate lighting systems, and custom furniture and fittings. These properties may even sometimes be featured in home interior design magazines.
Russian Renovation Russian tastes in interior decor differ from the simplicity and neutrality, which characterize the Western style. The term Russian Renovation usually refers to a property refurbished around ten or more years ago according to the tastes of that particular period. You may often hear a Russian landlord say that white walls are reminiscent of hospitals or impersonal hotels, which is why there are many warm colors and dark fixtures used in the average Russian home. You will encounter wallpaper with elaborate designs and textures, bright oriental carpets on the floors and walls, oak or other dark woods used as a decorative accent, and colorful bathroom fixtures and tiles.
Needs Renovation Renting an apartment in need of renovation offers an opportunity to realize great value for your money. Both rental and sales prices for an un-renovated apartment in Moscow are usually half to a third of the rent for a renovated one. Renovation projects take from several weeks to a couple of months to complete, and as a result, you will receive a home that perfectly fits your needs and taste. Besides, you can sell, rent or sublet the property for a full price. For those who don’t have a corporate housing allowance, we recommend considering such development projects when making your property choice in Moscow.
MOSCOW APARTMENT FEATURES
Intercom (Domophon) Many Moscow entrances are now equipped with a steel door locked with this security device. The domophon allows your guests to get in by buzzing-in to your apartment from downstairs. You and your family will use a key or a special code to open the door.
Code – A simpler version of a security lock on the entrance door with a digital code.
Video Intercom – Security device on the front door with cameras that enable you to survey the hallway outside your apartment and sometimes the building entrance.
Floor – In Russia, there is no notion of a ground floor. The floor count starts at one with the first floor.
Rooms – As opposed to the more customary European or American emphasis on the number of bedrooms, the Russians always refer to the total number of rooms in a residential property. This includes bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, studies and dens, but not kitchens, storage rooms, laundry or other service facilities. However, in cases of an open floor plan with homes in which old walls were removed, there may be disparities between the actual and the perceived number of rooms.
Phone line – Most apartments in Moscow have a preinstalled designated pulse Moscow City Telephone Company phone line. In most cases, local calls are included in a nominal monthly fee. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about the installation hassle and costs. On the other hand, you don’t have the freedom of choosing a provider or keeping your home phone number when you move. In some cases, you might be able to add an additional digital line to your apartment with an alternative telecom provider.
Internet – This can involve an ISDN, ADSL or Broadband line installed in the property. There are a growing number of companies providing high speed Internet access at home. If the line is not already installed it is in most cases possible and relatively easy to do so. Ask your neighbors for the local high speed Internet provider or check with major telecom companies. For a dial-up connection, you can buy pre-paid Internet cards everywhere around the city.
Air-conditioning – You can rarely find central air-conditioning in an average Moscow apartment building. In Moscow, we use so-called split air-conditioning systems, which are installed individually both on the building façade and in each room. It is a matter of days to install air-conditioning to your home or office. There are, however, some city restrictions on mounting AC units on facades.
Washing machine/Dishwasher – In case a washing machine or a dishwasher is not marked on the apartment’s description, the chances are that the landlord simply forgot to mention it. However, if one of the major appliances is, in fact, missing, it is one of the easiest things to be negotiated and installed. One piece of advice: many European washing machines are equipped with a dryer, so make sure that your washing machine is, too.
PVC windows – These are new double-glazed plastic windows, which provide good insulation against dust, noise and draft.
Parking – In Moscow, one can park almost anywhere in streets or backyards without any special permissions or fees. However, many choose guarded parking at night for security reasons. Usually, it is not difficult to find a secure parking place within a walking distance from any building in the center. However, this can get pricey. In neighborhoods full of embassies such as Arbat, Patryarshy Ponds and Chystye Prudy, it might be easier to leave your car with an embassy guard for a small fee per night.
Satellite TV – There are three major cable companies with a good choice of foreign language programs in Moscow: Stream TV, Kosmos TV, NTV Plus. All have English-speaking customer service and accept major credit cards. Their equipment allows for cable installation almost everywhere in the city. We suggest comparing the list of available channels as well as installation and monthly fees.
Price range – On our website, we often chose to indicate a price range rather than a single quote, because we believe that it is more informative for you. The higher price is the initial price, at which landlords have originally listed the property. The other number means the price that may be negotiated under certain circumstances or sometimes the price that we feel better reflects the market value of the property.
