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Interior design: collector’s apartment

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WARSAW
Inspiration with mature modernism in the arrangement of this apartment in Zoliborz has contributed to the creation of a modern and timelessly-elegant interiors. However, it is the collection of works of art carefully composed for years that plays the main role here. 

photos: Hanna Dlugosz
styling: Urszula Niemiro
text: Konrad Ziolek

MODERN SUITE
Instead of rooms lined one after another, separated by doors, we have one space with clearly-separated functional zones – a carefully-designed kitchen – dining room – living room arrangement (a total of 70 sq. m.). The floor made of solid oiled oak boards, identical in the whole apartment, additionally emphasizes the lack of divisions. Considering a need of preventing the penetration of smells and the chaos which occurs in the kitchen when preparing and serving meals, the room is half-open and, if necessary, can be completely closed with a double door. Large-format glazing (all windows in the apartment are French windows) provide excellent lighting and a possibility of integrating the interior with a terrace running along the apartment. Between the kitchen and the dining room, there is a picture of the Czech artist, Roman Bret, from early 1990s.

The non-standard height of the apartment – over three meters – helps to maintain the proportions of large, open rooms. Such space offers an opportunity of presenting even large format pictures in all their beauty.

As often happens, it all started with passion.
This time, it was passion for art. The collection was being born for years. Next elements, together with the growing experience of a collector, were better matching and complemented the previous ones.
The more works were collected, the greater the desire to present the collections in the best possible way. And that required space. But mere space was not enough, the height of the rooms also had to be right. The Żoliborz apartment, with 165 square meters of space and the height of 3.1 metres, on the top floor of a new building, met all those criteria. It was only necessary to eliminate a few walls – and in this way, in this six-room apartment, there remained two bedrooms and a large living space full of natural light.
Piotr Ficenes undertook to take care of the interior design.
As we have already mentioned, the main idea was to display the collections. The geometric abstract painting gave the first clue. The next was the owner’s passion for natural materials – mainly marble – and solutions which do not limit the space. The designer, following the main principle that one has to feel good at home, clearly separated the functional zones – with colours, furniture, height differences – and made sure that the interior was varied and unpredictable – fully alive. Thanks to many mirrors, almost every step of the way one falls into illusive multiplications bringing dynamism to the space and creating tension. It was also important to see as much as possible from every point in space. That is why there are very few divisions, and the axes are modelled on palace designs. According the owner’s suggestions, pure and natural materials were used – for instance eight different types of marble, from Nero Marquina to Gris du Marais quarried only in one French quarry, or the Sardinian Crema Veneziana, as well as oak wood which took possession of both floors and walls. A need for aesthetic timelessness, forming a reference to the modernist traditions, led to the creation of an elegant and functional interior which embraces the art collections like a frame.

MARBLE ON THE HORIZON
The “Codex” table, the “Glove” chairs designed by Patricia Urquiola for Molteni, and the brass Gallotti & Radice lamp settled in the dining area. From here, it’s just one step to the sitting area, where a comfortable sofa designed by Vincent Van Duysen, Molteni, surrounds coffee tables with Nero Tunezi marble countertops, also from Molteni (all the fittings and furniture were purchased at 3F Studio). The Limited Edition shaded grey carpet adds cosiness. The wall with custom-made shelves and cabinets finished with oak veneer is covered with Crema Veneziana marble. A TV set is hidden in the picture-like frame (“The Frame”, Samsung) on the same wall. However, the whole set-up is dominated by real works of art: above the sofa, the untitled painting by Stefan Słocki and “Person in the Pyramid” by Koji Kamoji.

WITH GLAZING
The Valcucine fitted kitchen furniture on aluminium profiles has glass, matte grey fronts which perfectly match the warm colour of the oak floor. The counter is also made of glass – it is just one, 4.2-metre long pane. The wall between the upper and lower cabinets is covered with impregnated Gris du Marais, Salvatori marble. Household appliances are of the Smeg make, and the fittings of Grohe Blue.

GOLDEN GLOW
In the entrance area, the wood also breaks into the walls, not only in the form of smooth boards, but also grooved oak boards, which bring dynamism and diversification to the surface of the panels. Above the table with a Emperador, Porada marble top, a picture by Stefan Słocki. The lamp and wall lights by Cattelani & Smith.

A CUBOID SIDEBOARD
Molteni wardrobe in the bedroom with the fronts made of semi-translucent glass, illuminated inside, lined with the same wooden panels which are used in the other parts of the apartment. It is accompanied by a custom-made wooden module with a leather top which can be used to put the clothes on. It also functions as a bookcase, a cupboard for a HiFi audio system and a dresser.

BEDROOM AND BATHROOM STORIES
Sitting in the free-standing oval bathtub, you can enjoy the view of the custom-designed Nero Marquina marble countertop supporting black undercounter washbasins. The top merges with the surrounding glass panes, on one side separating the shower and on the other separating the bedroom. The wall behind the washbasins is finished with oak panels on its full height. Fittings – Grohe. In the bedroom, above the large bed with upholstered headboard, there are two golden paintings by Mariusz Mikołaj Szydło.

PIOTR FICENES,
Interior Designer.