An ambitious yet challenging project has been completed in the historic Saska Kępa district. The transformation of a 31-metre studio flat has turned it into a functional flat with a separate bedroom, walk-in wardrobe and laundry room. The owner of the property and the creator of the concept, based on the idea of ‘Impossible Transformations’, is Maciej Zawadzki from the ZAWADZKI.DESIGN studio. The designer has proven that even a seemingly hopeless layout can result in an interesting and functional living space.
The transformation of a studio flat with a challenging layout
As Maciej Zawadzki explains, at first glance the flat seemed unattractive, almost devoid of potential. A cul-de-sac kitchen, a small storage cupboard with a fridge inside, and ‘non-movable’ load-bearing walls effectively put him off buying it, which is why the flat was initially ruled out during the initial screening of listings. Another limiting factor was the inability to simply open up the interior. It was only during a personal visit to Saska Kępa that the designer realised the potential hidden within the two smallest and, on the face of it, most problematic rooms.
“It wasn’t about decorating the flat, but about completely changing the way this space functions and is perceived,” emphasises Maciej Zawadzki.
31 square metres transformed into a functional flat
Let’s take a look at the result. Within an area of just 31 square metres, the designer managed to create a separate bedroom, a walk-in wardrobe and a utility room serving as a laundry. Rather than fighting against the original layout of the walls and interiors, the designer used its unusual features as the foundation for a new composition. The cosy flat has been enhanced with the level of comfort usually found in much larger properties.
“This is precisely what best captures the idea of ‘Impossible Transformations’, which forms the basis of my work: where others see limitations above all else, I look for untapped potential,” says the designer.
A cosy studio flat in Saska Kępa
What do the interiors look like now? From the outset, the design was intended to be eye-catching, whilst remaining practical and free from visual excess or exaggeration. The credit for the whole ‘job’ here goes primarily to well-chosen furnishings, such as the table by Górna Półka, Bocco taps and the low-profile Smeg fridge. It is around these that a calm, cosy composition has been created, based on colour, light, art and carefully crafted details. In turn, each piece of furniture has been given a specific function – here, aesthetics go hand in hand with practicality.
The studio flat’s makeover went viral
Maciej Zawadzki shared the makeover of his flat on social media. The response to his work quickly caught the attention of internet users and was very well received. This impressive interest isn’t solely down to the striking appearance and beautiful photographs. What makes the biggest impression is the thoughtful use of the limited space and the bold approach to the flat’s seemingly problematic layout. The result? The formerly non-functional studio flat now offers much more than its size would suggest.
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About the designer:
Maciej Zawadzki is an interior designer and the founder of the ZAWADZKI.DESIGN brand. He specialises in transforming small and challenging flats, developing his original concept of ‘Impossible Transformations’. In his work, he draws on his experience in interior design, aesthetics and visual communication, focusing on function, detail and the emotions evoked by a space. The result is projects that completely transform the way interiors are used and unlock the potential of spaces previously considered impossible to arrange sensibly.
design: ZAWADZKI.DESIGN
photographs: Mateusz Kowalik
See also: Studio flat | Flat|Interiors|Makeover|Recommended|whiteMAD on Instagram
The flat before and after the makeover:
