Minimalist, masculine, yet warm atmosphere - these are the main guidelines that Balicka Design studio received from the investor. The project was to be for an apartment in Warsaw's Wola district with less than fifty square meters of space. The owner, who lives in London on a daily basis, wasn't quite sure whether the apartment would be strictly for him or for an investment. The result was a subdued and austere interior with plenty of light.
The apartment in Warsaw's Wola district is less than fifty square meters, so the architect Agnieszka Balicka faced a considerable challenge - designing not only a place to work or a closet, but also taking into account a specific L-shaped entrance. To optically enlarge the passage, the entire wall, including the flush door to the bathroom, was covered with a mirror.
The bright interior of the apartment is broken by dark accents in the form of a kitchen countertop and lamps
© Balicka Design
"masculine" minimalism and wood
The aesthetic requirements were clearly defined - it is to be minimalist, "masculine", in muted colors. In the course of the design work, the investor was persuaded that it was worth using some warmer accents that would add coziness to the apartment. Therefore, the designer opted for fabrics, which turned out to be warm in perception, made the interiors more homely without losing their main character - a subdued and austere atmosphere. She managed to sustain it with dark accents and interesting lighting (designer black lamps and leds, all managed by a smart home system). Key in the apartment is wood, which took the form of raw and aged. The architect used two colors, with oak on the floor, and walnut in the bed furniture and in the kitchen, among others. An interesting accent is created by the bathroom cabinet, made of 100-year-old reclaimed wood.
A sizable dilemma was the functional layout of the apartment and the unusual L-shaped passage.
© Balicka Design
A neat break from the bright whole is the darkened bathroom. Stoneware tiles resembling stone and similar in color to wood promote relaxation. There is also plenty of storage space - capacious cabinets are hidden behind the mirrors. The stoneware in the bathroom is alluded to by the laminated countertop in the kitchen, which resembles stone in texture. Some of the kitchen furniture fronts are white, and some are laminated. In the bedroom, as in the living room, elements of simple stucco appeared. 3D laths located by the desk and by the sofa were highlighted from above, giving coziness to the space. The only decoration in the bedroom is a minimalist Japanese-style graphic.
For Agnieszka Balicka, minimalism means no form over substance
© Balicka Design
Dobrawa Bies: What does minimalism mean to you?
Agnieszka Balicka: Minimalism is nothing but the absence of form over substance. Nothing in the room is superfluous - we see a natural composition in which nothing is too much. Every thing is thought out aesthetically and functionally.
Dobrawa Bies: What were the investor's requirements?
Agnieszka Balicka: The owner of the apartment wanted austere minimalism broken, however, by the warm atmosphere of the interior. It was also important that the whole cooperation was carried out remotely - the investor lives permanently in London. Distance was not a problem. Thanks to modern technology and online meetings, the creation and consultation of the project proceeded smoothly, seamlessly and, importantly these days, safely.
Breaking the bright overall design is the dark bathroom
© Balicka Design
Dobrawa Bies: The interior is very bright and spacious. What elements and design decisions influenced this effect?
Agnieszka Balicka: A very defined color palette based on natural colors and a large number of white planes were of great importance. Not without significance are also mirrors, optically enlarging the space, and a clear division of zones (kitchen, dining table, lounge area, etc.) while maintaining an open layout of rooms without the effect of clutter. We wanted to make sure that each designed or selected element was not accidental. Therefore, the furniture is not only very functional, but also extremely aesthetic and designer. The apartment will be taken back from the developer only next year. We wanted to make significant tenant changes as early as possible. Then the developer will perform them for a fee, and the acceptance of the apartment itself will then be just a formality.
A subdued and austere interior with lots of light was created
© Balicka Design
Dobrawa Bies: What guided you in the selection of furniture and accessories ?
Agnieszka Balicka: We wanted the interior to be minimalistic and warm at the same time. The investor wanted a lot of raw wood in the interiors, hence the century-old cabinet or accessories in the form of stumps.
Dobrawa Bies: Did you encounter any design difficulties?
Agnieszka Balicka: We had quite a dilemma related to the functional layout. The goal was to have a place to work, a functional kitchen (with a comfortable worktop), a relaxation area, a sofa bed for guests and a closet (not just a large closet). This was achieved without feeling overwhelmed.
Dobrawa Bies: Thank you for the interview!
Dobrawa Bies
