Thanks to the recently completed meticulous restoration of the 19th-century townhouses at 13 and 15 Foksal Street, the buildings, which were already called architectural pearls in their heyday, have regained their former splendor and become a luxurious place on the map of Warsaw.
The townhouses house a total of fifty-five apartments, in the design of the interior of one of them(with an area of 90 square meters) Katja Sadziak, an architect from Warsaw's ID Studio, opted for subdued colors, ornate stucco and modern accents taking care to ensure that the apartment retains the unique spirit of the belle époque.The interior consists of an open living space full of minimalist, modern forms juxtaposed with decorative stucco and wooden floor coffers, a bedroom decorated with wallpaper with a floral motif, and a bright bathroom, dominated by marble, glass and brass accessories complementing the interior.
Ola Kloc: What was the priority for investors?
Katja Sadziak: The investors were charmed by the history of the place and the beautiful architecture. They wanted to infuse modern solutions into the interiors. We were given a free hand to subject their guidelines to our interpretation.
The 
living room
© ID Studio
Ola: The interior is realized in a 19th century tenement, how did the architecture of the building influence the design of the apartment?
Katja: The author of the design of the tenement at 13/15 Foksal Street was Artur Otton Spitzbarth. In our daily work, context is key, and this was also the case here. We became familiar with the documentation of the project, and had the opportunity to see a good portion of the remaining apartments and common areas. The architecture and history of the building had a strong influence on our design process, in which we were inspired by the interiors of townhouses from the period. We decorated our interior with stucco and wall coverings so that it regained its former luster and character. We also decided on wooden coffers reproduced on the model of the original floors. The doors were also designed along the lines of the original ones.
Stucco and wall cladding refers to the original decorations
© ID Studio
Ola: The whole room is kept in subdued colors, which are occasionally broken by patterned wallpaper, ornate stu cco and modern accessories. What influenced such a choice of colors, materials and textures?
Katja: Some of the colors used in the interior subtly relate to the palette seen in other parts of the building - in the common areas or on the ceilings of other apartments. The basic color palette we chose is very pleasant and functional, yet warm and timeless. In the bedroom, we opted for wallpaper from the William Morris collection, it provides the perfect backdrop for contemporary furniture and accessories. It introduces additional color and pattern - one new shade can change the whole. Carefully selected modern furniture and accessories create a certain dynamic and expose the details - stucco from 1890 complements design icons from the 1960s or the author's kitchen of our design. As in many of our projects, for Foksal interior we also designed some of the furniture. This gives us great pleasure and influences the effect, which becomes more original and unique.
Wallpaper from the William Morris collection on one of the walls in the bedroom
© ID Studio
Ola: What was the most difficult part of this project, and what are you most satisfied with?
Katja: The most difficult task was to incorporate contemporary solutions characteristic of a "smart home" or even air conditioning, while trying to minimize interference with the interior. However, we are very pleased with the aesthetics we managed to achieve, while taking care of every last detail. During a recent visit to a client's home, while handing over carpentry work, we were greeted with smiles, fragrant coffee and music that transported us for a moment to another era of Parisian salons... It was one of those memorable moments. Moments later, of course, we got down to checking out the carpentry work.
Ola: Thank you for the interview!
