An apartment has been created in Mokotów that demonstrates how thoughtful design can combine modernist rigour with the softness of natural materials. Katarzyna Millo and Sylwia Kowalczyk-Gajda have created a 60 m² space for a young client that serves as a contemporary sanctuary – ergonomic, distinctive, yet free from repetitive patterns. It is an interior in which every element has been refined with the precision characteristic of fine craftsmanship, whilst original artwork lends the whole space a unique character.
The main compositional axis of the living area is the combination of deep burgundy with a cobalt accent. The designers built this palette on the principle of deliberate contrast, which organises the space and lends it distinctiveness. The wall above the kitchen worktop has been finished with small, vertical tiles, creating a textural backdrop for the light-coloured fitted units. This calm base is punctuated by cobalt-blue lines recessed into the oak-veneered fronts and hanging shelves in the same shade. The geometric arrangement of the cupboards has been given a sense of lightness thanks to the rounded corners, which soften the form and emphasise the modernist influences.
The interior’s identity
The flooring in the kitchen and hallway pays homage to classic design. Iconic ‘gorseciki’ tiles have been used there, arranged in a precise, two-tone pattern. Their fine texture flows seamlessly into elegant herringbone parquet, defining the natural functional division of the flat. The client paid particular attention to the quality of the finishes – minimalist furniture handles, quartzite worktops with a sculpted surface, and carefully selected textures. In the evenings, pendant lamps with coloured glass shades filter the light, casting vivid shadows on the wooden surfaces of the fitted furniture.
Original art
The interior is complemented by original art. The walls feature prints by the owner of a design studio, as well as prints from a Polish furniture manufacturer, which blend perfectly with the flat’s colour scheme. Thanks to these, the living room has taken on a personal, gallery-like character. Multi-zone lighting and the play of light and shadow filtering through the wooden blinds bring out the three-dimensionality of the space, emphasising both the interior architecture and the subtle details.
An interior for an active occupant
The design by Millo and Kowalczyk-Gajda is an example of how 60 square metres can become a space offering high functionality and refined aesthetics. The flat in Mokotów was designed with a young, active person in mind, who needed an ergonomic layout and an inspiring oasis. This project is based on the authenticity of the materials, a conscious use of colour and uncompromising attention to detail – modern, harmonious and entirely original.
design: Katarzyna Millo, Sylwia Kowalczyk-Gajda
photography: Mateusz Kowalik
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