In Warsaw’s Mokotow district, a pre-war tenement from 1912 reveals an unusual story of harmony between history and modernity. The building, which survived the destruction of the Second World War thanks to its close proximity to German barracks, still houses the descendants of the original inhabitants. This rich past gives the interiors a unique character, providing a backdrop for the contemporary arrangements. The new interior design was created by architect Wojciech Nowak of NOWW Studio.
The designed flat is located on the top, fifth floor – just below the spacious attic – and occupies an area of 60 square metres. The original interior layout included two separate rooms, a kitchen and separate sanitary facilities. In the new concept, the bedroom has been moved into the former kitchen, while the spacious, integrated kitchen and living room form an open, functional layout. The load-bearing walls were retained, only gently moving the door leading to the main bathroom, which made it possible to create a uniform kitchen arrangement in the living area.
Historic details
The interior has been extensively renovated. The original architectural fabric, stripped of its former decorative details, was given new life – the only surviving elements from the past are two pairs of carefully restored oak doors. All other surfaces – walls, ceilings and floors – have been renovated, resulting in new oak parquet flooring laid in a classic herringbone pattern and new installations. Of particular note is the unusual bathroom solution: a shower wall set at a 30° angle to the entrance wall and a charming circular window that illuminates the space.
The designer opted for a bold juxtaposition of different plans, textures, colours and materials to create a memorable interior. The arrangement freely combines elements of contemporary design with details reminiscent of 20th-century aesthetics – from subtly finished kitchen fronts, synthetically interpreting traditional marquetry furniture, to deliberate combinations of stone, wood and enamelled tiles from the 1960s. The focal point of the composition is the round window located in the wall between the kitchen and bathroom, which shines like a miniature sun in the living room.
The arrangement is dominated by contrasts and carefully chosen colour accents. The background is a uniform, slightly rubbed, light beige wall, which emphasises the distinctiveness of the individual zones. In the living room, orange accents meet the red eaves housing and the olive velvet sofa, while a raster of oak slats provides a dynamic accent. The adjoining study, designed as a wooden box with a distinctive cornice, and the bedroom in baroque purple with sand-coloured carpet and chequered walls, form a cohesive whole full of individual stories.
Art in Mokotow
The decorative detail is art. A Norman Leto painting hangs in the living room, while the study is decorated with works by Magda Karpinska and Tomek Baran. Each artistic touch emphasises the uniqueness of the space, giving it an extra emotional dimension and making the flat both a functional place and a gallery of living inspiration.
It is impossible not to mention the kitchen façade, which creates a kind of interior landscape. The circular window between the kitchen and the bathroom not only lets in natural light, but also creates a unique optical illusion in the bathroom. This is complemented by a brass lamp – an element that illuminates and exposes the beauty of the kitchen worktop.
Beautiful furniture
It is also worth noting the carefully selected furniture, which is an integral part of the arrangement. Most of the elements were made to order, which guarantees their uniqueness. Worth mentioning are the chairs (original models by Bruno Rey and Dietiker, emphasising the elegance of the space), the HAY table, the Calligaris Ginza sofa, the lamp above the table (Pani Jurek), the armchairs (Model MIM – Mobili Italiani Moderni), or the Fontana Arte bedside lamps. Much of the furniture and accessories come from vintage auctions, including on the Catawiki platform, which emphasises their historical value and unique design. A Krakow carpenter is responsible for the wooden furnishings.
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About the studio:
Wojciech Nowak is the founder of NOWW Studio. A graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at the Cracow University of Technology and a scholarship holder at the Münster University of Applied Sciences, he has been an active member of the Malopolska Regional Chamber of Architects since 2013. He gained experience working in renowned studios and during the implementation of the Fika Kraków café and Body Espresso Bar projects. In his projects, he looks for eclectic combinations of contemporary trends with the aesthetics of the 20th century – from Art Deco, through Bauhaus, to modernism. He values the authenticity of materials, drawing inspiration from both nature and various fields of art and culture.
design: NOWW Studio
photography: Mood Authors
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