The flat at Madalińskiego Street was designed by Justyna Ciurzyńska of the Taka Pracownia studio. This 67-square-metre flat is located in a secluded tenement in Mokotów. The owner was keen to create a calm interiorthatwould soothe not only the senses, but also the nerves. At the same time, the neighbourhood was obliging, so the interior could not lack accentsalluding to the beautiful modernist architecture of Mokotów.
“Always when designing interiors, my first step is to research the history not only of the building itself, but also of the surrounding architecture,” – says the designer, Justyna Ciurzyńska from such a studio. ” And since Warsaw’s Mokotowis famous for its pearls of modernism, there was really a lot of interesting inspiration.” – she adds.
Before the renovation, the flat was completely devoid of character; the previous owners had modernised it without retaining much of the original fabric. The owner was keen to add historical character to the interior in a fairly minimalist way. The interior was intended to provide a pleasant backdrop to the daily hustle and bustle, and to soothe tired senses after working hours.
One of the first inspirations was the façade of the tenement house at 40 Kielecka Street. The slanted bay windows became an interesting solution for the kitchen,whichcould not maintain its standard depth due to its distance from the window. The owner wanted quality materialsthatwould last for years. Therefore, timeless walnut fronts accompanied by a stone worktopwerechosen. In order to give the interior a light touch, the wall cabinets were given mirror fronts. In springtime, you can admire the trees reflected in them behind the window opposite. Raw steel hockersbalance outthe warm tones of the wood.
The living roomis dominatedby a comfortable sofa together with an original red carpet by Nordic Knots. The window behind the sofa is another moving landscape,whichin summer delights with an abundance of lush greenery. On a simple wooden bookcase made of acacia was the classic Gubi lamp,whichin the evenings provides an unusually soft light conducive to resting the eyes. The slope of one of the walls is subtly bevelled, another reference to modernist architecture.
Feasting in this flat has its own special place and, of course, with another picturesque landscape visible outside the window. Here, an old radiator and pipe work became the pretext for creating a wooden seatthat doublesas a chair. The beige fringed mattress is accompanied by Japanese cushions in a luscious green colour from the Italian fabric brand Dedar.
The bathroom is the perfect place to relax in the evening.Thefine mosaic tiling on the walls is another reference to the local architecture; the same format is often found on the floors of tenement houses, for example on Narbutta Street. The floor was laid with Sant’ Agostino stoneware, a loose variation on the terrazzo theme. High-quality natural materials also play a leading role here. A simple walnut cabinet conceals the washing machine and washbasin, and a stone worktop crowns the whole. The mosaic is complementedby a wooden stripthatbalancesthe entirecomposition.
In the study, a mid-century-style wooden deskwasplaced in the centre. It works well not only for working, but also for doing puzzles in the evening. The bedroom has an idyllic atmosphere conducive to relaxation. Softlightstreams through the curtainsand the largeupholstered bed invites you to relax.
“Warsaw’s Mokotówhas always delighted me with the richness of its modernist architecture,” says the designer – says the designer. “This is a very interesting period in the history of architecture, when it was decided to move away from the exuberant ornamentation left over from the 19th century and take a bold turn towards the future. The designs of thistimeare characterised not only by extremely thoughtful detailing, but also by the excellent quality of the materials,” – justyna Ciurzyńska adds. “We wanted to bring a touch of this charm and pre-war chic to this flat as well. There are now many interiors in the minimalist or japanese style, but I am very keen to adapt the client’s wishes with what we can draw from the local history andthe buildingsthemselves,” – he adds. “Especiallyif that architecture is as excellent as thisgem ofWarsaw’s Mokotow,” – he concludes.
Design: Taka Pracownia / https://takapracownia.com
Styling: Karolina Pałkiewicz
Photography: Almond Studio / https://migdalstudio.com/
About the studio:
Taka Pracownia – “My name is Justyna Ciurzyńska and I am the founder of Taka Pracownia. I studied at the Faculty of Interior Design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and at the School of Form in Poznan. I am a graduate of the Faculty of History of Art at the University of Warsaw. I started my adventure with design at Beza Studio, under the supervision of Anna Łoskiewicz and Zofia Strumiłło-Sukiennik, then I worked for four years at Colombe studio in Warsaw. It was then that my love for vintage interiors and unique details blossomed, which I was able to learn from the wonderful Marta Chrapka. Designing is not just a job for me, but a way of life. I love beauty and unusual solutions. I look for objects for my projects in unobvious sources, and I am not afraid of eclectic combinations. I love old townhouses and their unique atmosphere. I have a special love for pre-war modernism, which for me is still one of the most perfect periods in the history of architecture. I draw my inspiration mainly from history and from walks in many European cities. History is a great guide for me for the future. I have a great respect for historical details and always try to save them or, if that is not possible, offer exact replicas.” – reads the studio’s website(https://takapracownia.com)
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