The interior project in Warsaw's Praga district undoubtedly performed under the code name "Challenge." Starting with a severely limited budget, through the hassle of finding professionals who would take on work on the top floor of a building without an elevator, to creating a functional space devoid of cramped and bizarre solutions. The result? See for yourself!
According to the architect herself, Malgorzata Seta of Silke studio - "Sometimes I myself find it hard to believe that with such a budget we managed to do anything!" About the challenges of designing and living in patchwork style.
Patchwork combinations of furnishings on a black and white background - this was our design direction
Photo by Alicja Kozak, Przemyslaw Kucinski
Basia Hyjek: What was the main inspiration for this project? What needs did the investor have?
Malgorzata Seta: The investor was keen on preserving as many original elements in the apartment as possible, which meant that she had a really limited budget for finishing. Most of the budget was consumed by the strictly construction part - replacement of all plaster and installations (electrical, plumbing), restoration of the antique parquet floor and window and door woodwork. For all the rest there was a really small amount left, hence the eclectic style seemed to us the best solution. Patchwork juxtapositions of furnishings on a black and white background - this was our design direction.
Basia: What was the biggest challenge, and what was the most rewarding part of the whole process?
Margaret: The biggest challenge was finding a plastering contractor for a top floor apartment in a tenement building without an elevator and with a very narrow staircase. No company wanted to take on the job. In the end, the plastering was done by an older gentleman (already retired) using the traditional method, that is, by hand. I don't think anyone does it this way anymore, I dare say we were the last case ever!
almost zero budget forces combinations, which in retrospect I consider a really nice and valuable experience
photo Alicja Kozak, Przemysław Kuciński
It was quite a challenge to "combine" furniture found on the Internet, bought at IKEA with refurbished trash finds so as to avoid the impression of randomness. Almost zero budget forces combinations, which in retrospect I consider a really nice and valuable experience.
Basia: Where did you get the idea for such a combination of patterns, colors and styles?
Malgorzata: As I said above - the budget we had at our disposal played a key role here. Since the differently styled furniture created a patchwork design element - depending on what we happened to get at online auctions - we opted for a safe black and white background. The rest was bought and matched on the fly.
Sometimes I myself find it hard to believe that with such a budget we managed to get anything done
Photo: Alicja Kozak, Przemysław Kuciński
Basia: Has the interior undergone a very big transformation since you first entered it? Was the division changed?
Margaret: Totally! Sometimes I myself find it hard to believe that with such a budget we managed to do anything. The apartment had a very irregular shape and a transitional bathroom (the result of the apartment's divisions from the communist period), so it was a big challenge to create a functional layout with a separate bathing area.
