In Bydgoszcz, right on the Brda River, a showpiece flat has been created: a 42sqm flat, designed for short-term rental, which has one task – to stand out and hold the eye. It’s a project where functionality meets theatrical but thoughtful colour; where local identity manifests itself in the details, and where every piece of furniture plays several roles at once. The result is a space that is bold and welcoming, inviting people to stay and relax after a day spent exploring the city. The interior was designed by Jakub Żurawicki and Joanna Kubiak of the Żurawicki Design studio.
The investors set three clear objectives: maximum comfort and usability for guests; subtle, unpretentious references to the motifs of Bydgoszcz; and a distinctive colour palette that will make the interior recognisable against other rental offers. The location – a bustling estate on the Brda River, close to the city’s main attractions – became a natural starting point for the design narrative: the river, the canals and the urban history of industrial transformation were translated into the language of materials, shapes and colours.
The original plan of the flat was not conducive to creating an open, multifunctional living area. The key solution turned out to be a high, custom-made furniture wall, running from the hall through the living room to the kitchen. This was no ordinary wall – it is a flowing system that hides the wardrobe, washing machine and utensils on the entrance side, accommodates the fridge and built-in appliances on the kitchen side, and becomes a mirrored bookcase on the living room side, optically enlarging the space. Thanks to this simple, but clever trick, it was possible to separate the entrance, kitchen, dining and lounge areas, while maintaining the impression of cohesion and spaciousness.
River motif
The Brda became the leitmotif. The undulating forms of the furniture, rounded edges of the worktops, delicate fretwork and patterns reminiscent of the movement of water create an impression of dynamism and lightness. The blue wave wallpaper and ceramic tiles imitating the surface of the water were chosen as the first accent – they set the colour and formal tone for the entire arrangement. The organic lines of the furniture and the soft silhouettes of the lighting complete the narrative: the flat is meant to flow, not stand rigidly.
Colour palette
Colour is the narrator here. Blue in various shades forms the base, counterpointed by the deep burgundy of the cabinets and bathroom elements. Broken pink and red tones introduce warmth and intimacy. The walls and ceilings are kept in a warm, broken white – a neutral background that allows the strong colours to resonate without overwhelming. In the bedroom, the proportions are reversed: it is a cosier space, where the red dominates and creates a calming atmosphere.
The first step
The hallway is a bold start: graphic blue wallpaper juxtaposed with pink and black flooring reminiscent of cobblestones, a subtle quotation of Bydgoszcz’s ‘cat’s head’. A piece of furniture, whose solidity organises the space, sets the tone for the entire flat – it is in the hallway that the project shows that functionality can also be decoration.
The open-plan living area consists of three interconnected fields: the kitchen, hidden behind the built-in furniture, the dining area and the lounge area. The lower kitchen fronts in burgundy harmonise with the pink floor tiles; the upper, curved cabinets in beige and the countertop in a soft shade blend with the rest of the interior. The lobby wallpaper and the reddish wavy wall motif add a light touch. The table furniture comes from Polish brands – a simple Tabell table, light MDD chairs and wavy Desiva shelves – their form harmonises with the rest of the arrangement, while Formakami paper lamps hang above the table to introduce warm, soft light and visual lightness. A centrally positioned sofa creates a lounge axis; the sofa’s fold-out function makes the flat easily transformed into a comfortable sleeping space for guests.
Water underfoot
The bathroom is a small aquarium of design: water imitation tiles add character to the walls, the rounded lines of the shower tray and washbasin top and milled details create a consistent repertoire of forms. The maroon washbasin cabinet contrasts with the distinctive floor, while the rest is kept in muted beiges and whites so as not to compete with the main accent.
The bedroom has been designed as the opposite of the energetic living area: warmth and focus dominate here. The red colour appears on the ceiling, the curtains and the wallpaper behind the headboard, while burgundy slats add depth. The headboard from Happy Barok and the honey-coloured Flowerpot lamp create an elegant, slightly retro accent that calms and warms the space.
The lighting distributes a soft, pleasant light that acts as a neutral base for the colours. A few accents in intense colours – the orange Bonbon wall sconce in the living room and the Artemide ceiling lamp in the hall – bring joy and punctuated tension. Small elements, such as the Hvyt brand handles, act as the jewellery of the interior: small but noticeable details that enhance the impression of quality.
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About the studio:
Żurawicki Design is an interior design studio from Bydgoszcz, operating for over 7 years. It is co-founded by Jakub Żurawicki and Joanna Kubiak. “We design private and commercial interiors, throughout the country and abroad, offering comprehensive services: from concept and design, through supervision, to final implementation. We accompany our clients at every stage, helping them to realise their vision of their dream space. We want the designed interiors to be a result of our and the client’s ideas, a combination of functionality and aesthetics, but also a response to the needs of the residents and a story about people, their lifestyles and passions. We manage to create personalised interiors by using carefully selected materials, non-standard solutions, courage in choosing colours, textures, patterns and attention to details. All these elements allow us to create unique, harmonious, coherent, full of character and dynamics interiors.” – reads the zurawickidesign.pl website.
design: Żurawicki Design
photography: Hanna Połczyńska – Chronicles
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Bydgoszcz | Apartment | whiteMAD on Instagram | Interiors | Polish designers
