Small spaces throw up a lot of challenges, but perhaps the biggest one is to divide the apartment in such a way that it can accommodate everything the future occupant might need. Another challenge is certainly to achieve a spacious effect, despite the small space. With the help of old furniture and bright walls, this has been done successfully in Muranów.
Katarzyna Schudy of Schudy Studio was inspired by the old furniture of the apartment owners lying in the basement. One can suspect that this is not an isolated case, and that our attics, storage rooms and basements still hide many treasures preserved from post-war Polish design. Showcases, display cabinets, consoles and chairs that may have once aroused discouragement in us, today turn out to be worth their weight in gold. Combined with white, wooden floors and colorful elements - in the Muranów apartment it's a SMEG refrigerator - they create a cozy, slightly eclectic interior.
Basia Hyjek: What was the main inspiration for the project?
Katarzyna Schudy: We found a beautiful old display case in the owners' basement and immediately knew we had to use it in the project! It was the same with the table and chairs, which, upholstered anew, got a second life. We wanted to show this old furniture in a new light, in a fresh edition, and I think we succeeded.
We found beautiful floor tiles, a refrigerator of a well-known brand in an outlet, then it was time for kitchen fronts
photo by Martyna Rudnicka
Basia: Where did the idea for such a selection of colors and materials come from?
Catherine: The starting point was a range of pastels and greens. We found beautiful floor tiles, a refrigerator of a well-known brand in an outlet, then it was time for the kitchen fronts. There is a lot of greenery in the apartment, and we knew that these different shades of it would blend beautifully.
Basia: How did you come up with the idea to divide the space?
Catherine: During the project, the wall between the kitchen and the living room was demolished. This made the apartment much brighter. A large closet was hidden behind a partition wall with a table. The premise was to create a comfortable studio apartment for one person, and I think we achieved the effect.
During the project, the wall between the kitchen and living room was demolished. This made the apartment much brighter
photo by Martyna Rudnicka
Basia: What was the biggest challenge in creating this place, and what gave you the most satisfaction?
Katarzyna: It is always a challenge when designing small spaces to find enough storage space, but at the same time you have to be careful not to clutter the apartment. We are certainly very happy with the choice of colors, because even though the project was created several years ago, it still looks fresh!
