Paris fascinates and inspires not since today. The distinctive architecture, which is difficult to confuse with any other, is memorable. It is also what everyone who leaves the French capital longs for. It was no different in the case of Agata Kasprzyk-Olszewska, owner of LOFT Factory office, who brought an idea for an apartment design from her trip to Paris.
The idea of the architect from the LOFT Factory office is the design of an original two-level apartment located in a historic part of Warsaw. The classic architecture of the old tenement in which the apartment is located and the fine wrought-iron balustrades, which are its undoubted decoration, became the starting point for the whole concept - an eclectic combination of French style, loft character and native design traditions.
in an old warsaw tenement house
The investor dreamed of a space full of artistic spirit, comfortable and bright, where she could happily indulge her passions - literature and music. The 6-meter high apartment, located in an old tenement from the 1930s, seemed made for this. The new dwelling was to combine the charming atmosphere of a French garret with raw, industrial elements, and at the same time retain the unique genius loci of classic pre-war architecture. Such a stylistic mishmash could have been a simple recipe for an interior design disaster, but it wasn't.
The new dwelling was to combine the charming atmosphere of a French garret with raw, industrial elements
photo by Piotr Gęsicki
For Agata Kasprzyk-Olszewskahas created interiors that are unexpectedly harmonious and cozy, in which the history of vibrant old Warsaw meets the expressive power of the modern metropolis. This arrangement puzzle was appreciated not only by the investor, but also by the jury of the international competition Europen Property Awards, awarding the LOFT Factory studio the prize for the best apartment design.
eclectic interior
Numerous references to classical design appeared naturally in the architect's design. This was influenced both by the location of the apartment, located at Unii Lubelskiej Square, and the investor's preferences. She wanted to reflect the spirit of Warsaw's bohemia, and wanted the apartment to include antique furniture and family heirlooms, but also elements of interior design created by local artists and craftsmen. This is how a spectacular cast-iron staircase connecting the first floor of the apartment with the mezzanine floor found its way into the nearly 120-square-meter space. Made by local blacksmith Piotr Karpiuk, they have a light, openwork structure, and their wrought iron elements are a kind of continuation of the original balcony balustrade and a nod to the architectural traditions of the building.
To ensure that what is "old" does not dominate the contemporary character of the rooms, a suitable base was needed - not overwhelming, subtle in expression, but timeless and in good correspondence with the other elements of the apartment. This role was played by a light parquet laid in a French herringbone pattern, a subdued palette of whites and grays, simple forms of furniture and - quite unexpectedly - industrial accents. One of them became custom-made lamps with a gentle, crane-like cut, made by a Warsaw-based set designer. Visible in the living room, dining room and kitchen, they are not only an eye-pleasing buckle connecting the arrangement of the open living area, but also (in the case of the dining room lighting) a solution perfectly tailored to the non-standard height of the interior.
The terrace has been decorated in Parisian style, with a cast-iron pergola and round tables, looking as if taken out of a French cafe
photo by Piotr Gęsicki
loft style
Subtle references to the industrial style also consistently appeared in other parts of the apartment - the bedroom, bathroom or mezzanine. However, there is no doubt that they are most visible in the kitchen area. The gray, minimalist cabinetry was juxtaposed here with cast-iron fronts of glazed cabinets, a stone countertop and cement tiles, while exposing the cast-iron structural column. Quite minimalist in its expression, the kitchen corresponds well with the rest of the apartment, and its cool simplicity of forms is warmed by a nearby fireplace and a cozy dining area. Equipped with a table straight out of the French countryside, designed by the architect, it perfectly matches the bucket chairs and black-and-white photographs - creating an elegant interior, but with character. And from here it's only a step to a comfortable seat located right next to the fireplace, where wood crackles joyfully when the hostess indulges in one of the most pleasant activities invented by mankind - reading. And if it becomes necessary to reach for another book, all she has to do is climb the spiral staircase to the mezzanine.
a place to relax
On the first floor is the hostess's private area. It is a combination of a music room and the holy grail of every bibliophile. Here you will find an industrial bookcase, sunk in the wall, on which are piled classics of Polish and world literature, and right next to it old instruments mark their presence.
This is a combination of a music room and the holy grail of every bibliophile
photo by Piotr Gęsicki
The terrace has been decorated in a Parisian style, with a cast-iron pergola and round tables that look like they were taken out of a French café. Although it looks as if it was created without the slightest effort, it has been worked out to the smallest detail - from the choice of the boards that form its base to the matching of the species of flowers that decorate the striking whole.
