A Car Enthusiast’s Workspace in Russia

Name: Dmitriy Laptiyov

Location: Voronezh, Russia

Room size: 16 m² (172 ft²)

Cost of setup: $3K — desk setup / $2K — sim setup

Social media: Instagram, YouTube

Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself

Hi, my name is Dmitriy, and I have always had many hobbies.

I’ve dreamed of having my own cosy corner since school.

I didn’t have the chance to set up a dedicated space, but after getting my own apartment, I finally gave free rein to my imagination and started building my dream setup.

I used to work as a delivery driver in an IT company for a long time. Now, I plan to become a system administrator.

I love cars, electronic music, travelling, and recently, I got into sim racing.

Take us through your setup

I have been building my workspace for about three years.

It’s evolved through many iterations — I’ve experimented with different monitors, desks, and gear.

The hardest part was sourcing some components, like a tabletop, and getting the cable management just right.

Seriously, I must have redone it five times, if not more — rerouting and adjusting cables and wires.

Over time, I improved it, upgraded my gear, and arrived at what I have now.

It’s incredibly satisfying to build something yourself and see the results.

But I don’t think perfection exists — you always want to tweak or upgrade something.

My setup is universal — you can use it as a workstation, connect a console to the monitor and play games, or just enjoy videos on YouTube.

It’s practical yet visually appealing.

My mother is a big plant lover.

I asked her for a few to make my setup feel cosier and more alive.

I think plants should be in every setup.

My apartment has only one room. It is not big, but I feel comfortable in it.

Of course, I’d love to have more space in the future, but for now, I like everything except that I wish I had more natural light.

Since I live in Russia, natural light is scarce in winter, but in the warmer months, it’s enough.

At some point, I’d love to get a glossy-screen monitor because the colours look amazing on it.

I’d also like to buy a PlayStation 5 and a PC.

On PlayStation, I want to try Gran Turismo 7, and I need a PC for serious sim racing — the community there is much larger than on consoles.

What’s your favourite item on your desk?

My favourite item on the desk is my Edifier speakers because I listen to music all the time and love discovering new tracks.

I like their minimalist design and powerful sound quality.

I bought them on Ozon Market for $80.

What apps or tools do you use to get things done?

I really like the Things app — it’s convenient and beautifully designed.

It helps me stay organised, plan purchases, and manage projects.

Final Cut Pro is an intuitive video editor I’ve been using for years.

It’s easy to learn and helps me create videos for Instagram and YouTube.

Pixelmator is a solid alternative to Photoshop. I use it mainly for creating thumbnails for my Reels and other design tweaks.

A friend from the UK put me onto Currency, and I’ve been using it ever since — it’s hands down the best currency converter.

What books, blogs, or podcasts recently caught your attention?

My favourite books are Wasted: The Infinite History of GTA and Show Your Work by Austin Kleon.

I like listening to podcasts on Mixcloud’s Channel Mode London. I also enjoy English music.

My latest source of inspiration is musicians Skeler, Sage, and MrJay.

I just fell in love with their work — they are shaping the future of the wavephonk genre.

Since I’m closely connected with electronic music and cars, I discovered them on YouTube.

Their style features a video series with expensive and beautiful cars set to their own music. These videos are usually dominated by green and purple tones.

I appreciate their work and look forward to their new releases.

Any tips for other makers who want to improve their workspaces?

Definitely add some plants to your setup. They make a real difference.

Keeping things minimal and organised really helps with focus.

What does your typical day look like?

I get up at 9 am and go to bed at about midnight.

The first thing I do is make breakfast, but sometimes I end up scrolling through social media instead. Then, I look at new job opportunities.

I take a shower, and afterward, I listen to music and sometimes get inspired by other desk setups.

If there’s nothing else to do, I register for a race on SimGrid and train in virtual reality (Assetto Corsa Competizione).

I spend a lot of time watching videos on YouTube, especially GT World broadcasts.

I’m constantly reading new articles about gadgets and technology.

When I want to take a break from racing, I play games on my Xbox, like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Mafia.

I spend most of my time at my desk, and I’m very happy with my setup.

I have mostly worked outside the home, so COVID-19 hasn’t affected my activities much.

If I have a project, I usually give it as much time and effort as possible, pushing my main tasks to later.

Your tips for working from home?

I usually handle my tasks well.

Sometimes, music helps me a lot; other times, staying calm and fully focused on the task is best.

I take breaks every hour.

A morning cup of mint tea helps me ease into the day.

I recommend making your workspace unique and cosy.

Don’t put off organising your setup — it does help with focus, and it’s also aesthetically satisfying.

Get inspired by others, try new things, and never be afraid to experiment.

Trust your gut, follow your heart, and you’ll make the space your own.

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