on Instagram<\/a>. I always knew that if we ever started a renovation from scratch, it would be with her.\u201d (Baimakhan is originally from Kazakhstan and maintains a team in Almaty.) Years before purchasing their current home, the clients lived in a move-in-ready apartment that they later found out was designed by Baimakhan. \u201cWe lived there for three years, and it was incredibly comfortable,\u201d the wife says. \u201cThat experience confirmed it for us. Assel was the one to bring our dream home to life.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Assel](\"https:\/\/robbreport.com\/wp-content\/themes\/pmc-robbreport-2017-v2\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\")
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\t\t\t\t\tThe lounge, a family-favorite hangout, features work by Kazakh artists and multiple seating areas.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDamir Otegen<\/p>\n
\n\tAccording to both designer and homeowner, mutual trust was the bedrock of the project\u2014and a major factor in its success. Aside from a few upfront requests regarding the number of rooms and layout, the couple left the aesthetics up to Baimakhan. \u201cWe gave her the creative lead,\u201d says the client. \u201cThe result was beyond our expectations.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tFull of sophisticated details\u2014custom furnishings and cabinetry, swaths of unique and rare marble, and handcrafted moldings\u2014the home, which Baimakhan describes as a modern chalet, balances old-world refinement with contemporary usability. \u201cThe look is elegant, cozy, and timeless,\u201d the designer says. \u201cPerfect for a home in the mountains.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tThe project\u2019s starting point was a painting by Kazakh artist Malik Mukanov. Featuring a soft palette of pale pink and cream, the work struck a chord with the clients and set the tone for the first floor, where it hangs over a custom 11-foot-long dining table that can be extended to 16 feet. \u201cA must-have feature in Kazakhstan,\u201d notes Baimakhan, \u201cwhere large gatherings are a cherished part of the culture.\u201d Behind the table sits a bespoke cabinet, designed by Baimakhan and featuring brass handles from her hardware collection, while a trio of chandeliers by Eichholtz echoes the leaflike shapes in the Mukanov painting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tThe adjoining living room is complementary, with brass-accented tables and chairs, a sofa upholstered in a soothing dove-gray fabric, and a two-tone rug from the Italian brand Meridiani. \u201cI wanted the space to feel peaceful and relaxing,\u201d the designer explains. The entire room features natural-gypsum ceiling moldings handmade by local artisans and a custom wall finished with Italian Pietra Viva marble.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tMarble plays a starring role throughout the home, appearing in multiple bathrooms as well as the kitchen, where the countertops, backsplash, and flooring are crafted from Italian Panda marble. Its dramatic black-and-white veining is a striking contrast to the American-walnut-veneer cabinetry. The 215-square-foot space is compact but efficient, much like the galley of a yacht.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\t\tIn a bedroom shared by two of the boys, Baimakhan designed built-ins two tones darker than the wall to add depth to the space.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDamir Otegen<\/p>\n
\n\tTwo of the children\u2019s bedrooms are on the first floor, while a third child\u2019s room and the primary suite are upstairs. The kids\u2019 rooms were designed to grow with them: Furniture is modern, and colors are reflective of their personalities, with playful touches like Lego-inspired art on the wall in one boy\u2019s room. As with the dining area, the primary suite features a Malik Mukanov piece\u2014a tapestry with earthy colors that influenced the room\u2019s palette, including a custom-made bed with a dusty-pink-velvet headboard. His and her walk-in closets with hand-built glass-fronted cabinetry give the impression of a high-end department store.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tTwo private areas\u2014a small breakfast room on the first floor and a secondary living room upstairs\u2014were designed exclusively for the family to start and end their days together. The lounge\u2019s views are striking, and Baimakhan outfitted the area with curved Eichholtz sofas and a sideboard of her own design, all in shades of cream and white to let the surrounding nature command attention. \u201cThe detail on the front [of the sideboard] was done using a very delicate carving technique, and the final result turned out just stunning,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tThe client says the room is the favorite gathering place for the family. \u201cIt\u2019s spacious and filled with natural light, with a breathtaking panoramic view of the mountains,\u201d she explains. \u201cThere\u2019s a special warmth in that room. Once you\u2019re there, you don\u2019t want to leave. It\u2019s our quiet family center.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n