May 2025 | DESIGN & INTERIORS
A RIVER,
A REFLECTION,
A RETREAT
IDA Design Mates reimagines family living in a sun-drenched Astana apartment where ornamental heritage meets sculptural calm.
words Karine Monie
photos Damir Otegen
interior design IDA Design Mates
styling Aisha Adilshiyeva / Moldir Samat / Zhanbota Aitaliyeva
Bathed in light and mirrored by water, this elegant riverside apartment in Astana is more than a home—it’s a quiet celebration of harmony, detail, and personal story. Designed by Aisha Adilshiyeva, founder of IDA Design Mates, the project is a poetic response to place: its flowing arches, shimmering surfaces, and rich craftsmanship echo both the movement of the nearby river and the cultural rhythms of Kazakhstan.
The journey began before the space even existed. “We started talking nearly a year before the family found the apartment,” recalls Adilshiyeva. “Our conversations began on Instagram—warm, easy, and filled with trust.” When the right home finally appeared, the vision clicked into place: a space for a young family with three energetic sons, designed to be serene, layered, and full of light.
WHERE THE RIVER MEETS THE ROOM
Located within one of the city’s most coveted complexes, the apartment offers sweeping views of the Ishim River. The proximity to water became both inspiration and guiding principle. “We wanted the river to reflect inside,” says Adilshiyeva, who used mirrored surfaces in the living room and kitchen to echo the light and flow beyond the glass. The effect is atmospheric—a sense of calm that moves through the home like a quiet current.
ORNAMENT, REWRITTEN
At first glance, the interiors feel restrained and modern—but look closer and a deeper design language unfolds. Custom asymmetrical moldings and stylized floral motifs pay homage to traditional Kazakh ornamentation. “We spent two months just designing the patterns for the ceilings and walls,” notes Adilshiyeva. “They’re unique, geometric, and softly expressive—never strictly classical.”
A PALETTE IN BALANCE
White walls serve as a clean canvas, allowing pastel tones and bold accents to emerge through carefully curated furniture—such as the sculptural Etcetera lounge chair, the arched mosaic fireplace with red detailing by artist Art Oskolok, and the Wiggle Chair by Frank Gehry near the entrance. “We were working with a large load-bearing column and used it to introduce twin arches,” says Adilshiyeva. “To me, rhythmic arches offer softness and depth—they bring order, without rigidity.”
CRAFT & CURVE
Throughout the space, craftsmanship takes center stage. Local artisans were commissioned to produce custom shelving, while the fireplace—featuring blue buntings and blooming poppies—required over 100 hours of handcrafting. Natural materials were layered throughout: wood for warmth, marble for refinement, metal and mirror for lightness and dimension.
Even lighting became a sculptural element. In the living room, Roche Bobois’s Flou suspension floats like a glowing cloud. Over the dining table, a parabolic chandelier, also by Roche Bobois, creates a dynamic gesture in space—bridging design and geometry. Other pieces by Visual Comfort, Ingo Maurer, and New Works punctuate the apartment with a refined rhythm.
