In the Katowice district of Koszutka, in an apartment of just over forty meters in a building from the 1960s.20th century, Magdalena Bajor, an architect from Keokeo Studio, created a bright, minimalist, functional, yet colorful, surprising and playful space, where next to thean intensely yellow kitchen and a bedroom full of soft pink materials, one can find neon lights, gold mirrors, a lamp in a "butterfly net" and a vase-astronaut by Italian brand Seletti.
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KEO colorful coffee tables designed by Magdalena Bajor
photo: Ewa Kania
Ola Kloc: The project was carried out in a building from the 1960s, did the existing functional layout require changes?
Magdalena Bajor: Yes. The existing layout of the rooms was cramped and overwhelming. The space of the apartment seemed smaller than it actually was. Removing the old divisions, I introduced new ones so as to separate the entrance area smoothly passing into the kitchen, the living area with the dining room. Hidden behind a glass wall is a bedroom with plenty of storage space, and a much larger bathroom than before. The revised functional layout brought out the apartment's potential. The entire interior became much better lit and more comfortable.
left: yellow kitchen; right: bedroom
Photo: Ewa Kania
Ola: Against the background of bright walls and floors, a monochromatic, intense yellow kitchen makes an unusual impression, where did you get the idea for such a solution?
Magdalena: I came up with a minimalist, simple, white interior with surprising, intense elements. Such a dominance of color. The first idea was a pink bed headboard in the shape of a quarter circle, which, reflected in the mirror, duplicates its volume, creating a semicircle. In this project I was keen to use large, uncompromising patches of color. And so, following this idea, the yellow kitchen appeared. The combination of different planes and materials in virtually identical color extremely appeals to me. At first I thought about continuing with the color pink, but quickly came to the conclusion that I was not satisfied with this concept. Then the color yellow came to my mind. This combination seemed interesting to me. I like the energetic effect of this color on the space. The layout of the apartment makes it so that when the user of the space is in the living area, the yellow spot of the kitchen seems like a painting hung on the wall. I also replicated this color in the bathroom, where both the wall and the furniture adjacent to it are an intense, compact dominant. Although these monolithic accents are very intense, they are not overwhelming, and their distribution in the space provides a kind of color bracket.
monochromatic, intense yellow kitchen
photo: Ewa Kania
Ola: The colorful KEO coffee tables are also by you, tell us about this project.
Magdalena: I needed a few patches of specific colors in the central point of the apartment. That's how the KEO coffee tables were created. The use of painted steel resulted in visually light objects with an informal form. I often design furniture, accessories. Fulfillment for me would be to create an interior from start to finish. Not based on ready-made, available pieces of equipment, but consisting of completely original objects.
left: KEO tables; right: golden mirror discs
photo: Ewa Kania
Ola: What influenced such a selection of colors, materials, textures and accessories?
Magdalena: The colors, textures and forms chosen, but also the proportions in which they were used, were to create an interior filled with light, spacious, surprising and playful. Completely cutting off from what it was found. The materials complement each other, creating a cohesive, unique composition. The soft headboard, as well as the whole form of the bed, is a very feminine element of this interior. Accessories... First came the gold mirrored discs, some of which act as wall lamps. I decided on a lamp over the table after entering the almost finished interior. Seemingly an ordinary glass sphere, but placing it in a grid makes it completely change its character. It is somewhat associated with a butterfly net in which something unexpected was caught. It seemed to me an extremely interesting and very fitting element. This choice was complemented by placing an astronaut vase in close proximity to it. In my opinion, a very comic combination was created between these elements.
view of the living room
photo: Ewa Kania
Ola: What was the most difficult part of arranging this interior, and what are you most pleased with?
Magdalena: The only difficulty was the installation of the CO in the bathroom. As a result of the impossibility of certain alterations, the floor in half of the room was raised, dividing the space into two parts. This was a different solution from the original concept, but ultimately gave a satisfactory visual effect.
I am satisfied with the final result obtained. In such realizations, the key to success is always the investor. I am pleased with the trust he has placed in me. If from the whole realization I had to choose my favorite part of it, it would be the bedroom. I like the detail of the combination of neon and the headboard, as well as the feeling of softness of this space.
Ola: Thank you for the interview!
