In a modern building in Warsaw’s Powiśle district, an interior has been created that defies simple categorisation. The designers at Colombe Design Studio treated it as a canvas for experimentation – a space where the lightness and organic quality of Josef Frank’s designs intertwine with the bold, graphic aesthetic of Ettore Sottsass. The clash of two seemingly distant worlds proved to be the impetus for creating an apartment with a distinctive character, full of colour, textures and unexpected combinations.
Work began with the kitchen, which has long formed the foundation of the entire composition in Colombe’s designs. This time, the inspiration from Frank was particularly evident. The base is formed by characteristic grooves, simple divisions and inlays, which lend the fittings softness and decorative depth. Colour has become one of the key tools here – the combination of classic, bright white with a creamy yellow shade, provisionally dubbed ‘butter’, evokes associations with historical oil paints that have gently yellowed over time.
The kitchen also features elements typical of Swedish design under the Svenskt Tenn brand. A leather-wrapped railing, made to special order, introduces a subtle artisanal touch. A section of the wall clad in tiles warms the space and evokes associations with traditional tiled stoves, reinterpreting them in a modern context.
Living area
In the spacious living room, the designers have allowed themselves even greater freedom of expression. Geometric furniture with a contemporary character is paired with fabrics featuring intense, organic motifs – a deliberate nod to Frankowska’s philosophy of ‘anti-modernism’, in which pattern and colour play an equal role to function. Olive greens, warm yellows and contrasting details create a composition full of energy, yet free from excess.
The walls feature ceramic accents, wooden structures and graphic forms that evoke the language of the Memphis Group. It is here that the spirit of Sottsass is most palpable – his passion for playing with scale, colour and material, as well as for breaking with established conventions.
A bathroom with character
In the bathrooms, the designers continue the architectural narrative of colour and form. The main bathroom is dominated by a warm yellow hue combined with geometric shapes and veneers inspired by Sottsass’s work. Raw, unfinished metal introduces an industrial touch that balances the decorative nature of the other elements.
The children’s bathroom, on the other hand, is a more energetic space – blue surfaces and dynamic patterns create an atmosphere of freedom and joy, whilst remaining a coherent part of the overall design.
A controlled mix
The architects emphasise that working on this interior was a process full of creative exchange. Combining the owners’ pastel, floral inspirations with modernist references to wood and leather seemed difficult to reconcile at first. However, when the names of Frank and Sottsass began to crop up in conversations, the direction became clear. The clash of these two aesthetics proved not to be a limitation, but an impulse to create a design that combines the functionality of contemporary architecture with the expressive spirit of 20th-century design.
The result is a flat in Powiśle that thrives on colour, texture and bold combinations, whilst remaining a comfortable and welcoming space. An interior that is not afraid of emotion and which demonstrates that creativity begins where obvious solutions end.
_
About the studio:
About the studio: Colombe Studio is an interior design studio offering clients comprehensive solutions from concept through to the final realisation of the space. The studio works with trusted renovation teams, supervising every stage of the project, which guarantees consistency and the quality of the finish. Its specialist services include the selection of carefully chosen finishing materials, such as paints, flooring, kitchen units, wardrobes and doors, as well as the production of unique interior elements in dedicated carpentry, upholstery and metalwork workshops.
design: Colombe Design Studio
photos: Mood Authors
Read also: Flat | Interiors | Warsaw | Eclecticism | Furniture | Detail | whiteMAD on Instagram
