In a 68 sq m flat in Warsaw, designer Vera Proharava decided to tackle the limitations typical of buildings from the 1970s – low ceilings and a lack of natural light. Instead of trying to mask them, she used them as a starting point to create a space that pulsates with colour and energy. In this way, Mondrian found his way into this small space.
The clients dreamed of intense colours, which, as the designer emphasises, is extremely rare in Poland. It was this openness to bold solutions that allowed her to draw inspiration from Piet Mondrian’s work and translate it into the language of contemporary interior design.
The most striking example of this inspiration is the kitchen, where one of the walls has been treated like a canvas. The designer painted abstract compositions in the spirit of Mondrian, using simple lines and blocks of colour. The characteristic palette (yellows, reds, blues and black) was complemented by salmon-coloured kitchen cabinets. The same colour appears in the hall cupboards, which allows both areas to be visually merged and gives the flat a consistent visual rhythm.
Mondrian-inspired geometry in everyday life
The common basis for the entire space is the chequerboard pattern floor. This is a nod to the aesthetics of the 1970s, but also a practical measure – the geometric flooring enhances the effect of “breaking up” the space, so that the flat no longer resembles a cramped box. Combined with the painted walls, this creates a composition that not only decorates but also shapes the perception of the interior.
Private colours and a neutral background
In the private areas, the designer continues to work with colour, albeit in a more subdued manner. The bedroom is decorated in olive tones, which introduce calm and softness. The children’s room, on the other hand, has muted coral walls – warm but not overdone, conducive to both play and tranquillity.
The living room, which serves as a common space and a place to work, has been given a neutral, light background. Thanks to this, the blue and light blue upholstered furniture and colourful decorative accents stand out more strongly here, and the whole remains harmonious despite the intense palette. It is in this balance that the greatest strength of the design can be seen.
Although the budget was small and the time frame short, Proharava created an interior that not only meets the needs of the residents but also boldly interprets Mondrian’s modernist ideas. As a result, the flat becomes not so much a collection of rooms as a colourful composition.
design: VeraProharava
photos: EgorPiaskovsky
Read also: Flat | Interiors | Bauhaus | Eclecticism | Warsaw | whiteMAD on Instagram
