In Warsaw, on the right bank of the Vistula River, the district of Praga is enjoying a moment of trendiness and this 350-square-foot apartment is right in the middle of it all. “This area is one of the cool neighborhoods attracting investors as new restaurants open close to the river,” says architect Dawid Konieczny, who was commissioned to transform the 100-year-old former workshop into a studio apartment. The owners are a couple based in Paris and both work as fashion photographers. They regularly travel to and from Warsaw and needed a comfortable, peaceful place to base themselves in Poland’s capital. They are big fans of vintage design, whether it’s clothes, furniture, or art, and this sensibility no doubt drew them to the old building. The structure is characterized by its industrial architecture of solid bricks, lime mortar, and beamed ceilings reaching 11-and-a-half-feet-high, partly supported by cast-iron columns. As the building was being refurbished, the owners of the unit and Dawid Konieczny Interiors took advantage of the opportunity to update the small space.
Creating adequate storage space is a tricky problem, and one that owners of small apartments often face. Dawid solved this challenge in a stunning fashion by creating an entrance foyer paneled entirely in wood that incorporates the main door and full-height cupboards on one side, and the bathroom, additional storage spaces, and kitchen units on the other, in the form of two rounded boxes in stained oak. In addition to their decorative function, they create an abundance of storage space. This demarcation of the space clearly defines the remaining surface area, which houses the living and sleeping spaces. Taking his inspiration from the chic modern atmosphere of sophisticated midcentury hotel rooms, the architect chose to place the sleeping area in front of the high windows, with a large dark oak claustra cabinet that he designed to act as a divider. “The undeniable challenge of this project was the production of the wood panels. The stain reacted differently to the light, especially on the curved surfaces. My millworker, Robert, had to apply several coats of wood stain in certain places to achieve a uniform effect across the entire surface.”
Majestic wood is the main decorative feature of this studio, which was designed as a tribute to the 1960s and 1970s. The kitchen is in two parts, with its storage units concealed in large wooden panels while a Palomino quartzite worktop sits atop a caramel-colored cabinet with rounded corners, creating an elegant, sophisticated flow. The space is open to the dining room, which features a table designed by Dawid, ’70s Casala chairs, and a suspension lamp, also from the ’70s, by Danish designer Lyskaer Belysning. “It was another challenge to find all the vintage pieces at flea markets. It takes time and a lot of patience. Sometimes you leave with nothing, and other times with a lamp that you’ve literally had to beg for,” Dawid says with a laugh. In any case, he has created a modern studio, a subtle combination of elegant and chic touches thanks to the use of quality materials. The warm colors of rich oak, lighter parquet, and quartzite; the retro softness of the bathroom tiles; the tones of the fabrics; and the selection of vintage furniture give this small flat a timeless character that is sure to outlast every passing trend.
This 350-square foot apartment was first published by AD France.
