Czech Mate: An Apartment in Warsaw by Colombe.

In Pilsen, Czech Republic, are four apartments, open to the public, that hold a mirror to celebrated late architect Adolf Loos’s storied modernist style. A fifth hides in Warsaw. But unlike the original four, this one isn’t open to the public, nor is it a work of Loos. Designed by modernist architect Stanisław Rotberg in 1936, the 60-square-metre space, located in the southern part of Warsaw’s Powiśle district, acquired its Loos-esque sheen fairly recently, thanks to a revitalisation by Marta Chrapka of Warsaw-based interior design studio Colombe.

The southern orientation and high windows meant that Marta could embrace darker materials without worrying about the natural light. So followed a series of Stygian choices: dark wood herringbone flooring, deep matte walls and teak wood carpentry, to name a few. “We chose teak wood for both practical and aesthetic reasons: it is resistant to harmful substances and humidity, so it can be used in all rooms, while its warm hue emphasises the modernist character of the place,” says Marta. To add some sparkle to the setting, she elevated the shell with copper and brass details, as well as deep jewel tones like coral and ultramarine.

The living room serves as an anchor to the home’s enfilade layout, acting as a gateway to the bedroom, kitchen and hall. An &Tradition carpet underpins the seating arrangement, defined by a classical deep blue sofa, a vintage coffee table by K. Kozelka and A. Kropáček and a thick corduroy armchair from the owners’ personal collection. A rattan Gubi floor lamp and a silk Oisoioi ceiling lamp round off the space.

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As Marta recalls, the kitchen was the point of departure for the overarching aesthetic. In a bid to maximise storage, she minimised luxuries, thereby making room for a bookshelf, a hidden washing machine and bonus shelving units. “A crucial decision in terms of carpentry was to round all the corners to highlight the modernist inspiration,” she explains. With the wooden geometric table and chrome chairs chosen by the owners themselves, she was left to contemplate only the art and lighting. Her top selections included a classic black pendant by Gubi above the table and a vintage poster of an exhibition by Danish sculptor Rudolph Tegner by the sink.

Sometimes open, sometimes shut, the glass doors to the bedroom afford an open-concept environment. Marta created a cocoon of teak wood, with inbuilt storage everywhere (behind the bed are wardrobes, while open shelving elsewhere plays host to books and other novelties). She gave the bed pride of place inside a perfectly sized alcove, upholstering the headboard in Etro fabric and enlivening the wall above with an abstract painting by Henryk Płóciennik and two Flowerpot sconces by Verner Panton.

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From the very outset, designer and homeowners agreed that the bathroom had to be the colourful crowning glory. “We were passionate about introducing both colour and geometric patterns, to break the elevated character of the apartment,” says Marta, who opted for a glossy white mosaic backsplash for the shower area and scarlet tiles by Nathalie du Pasquier for Mutina for the surrounding walls. And while she restrained the cabinetry to teak wood, she added pops of cool blue with Azul Macaubas Imperiale pulls.

Throughout the apartment, vintage curiosities appear here and there. Examples include brass handles à la Wilhelm Wagenfeld, ornamental skirting, classical lamps with mirror bulbs and oval bakelite sockets. “Through the whole design process, we shared a mutual trust and understanding with the owners. Although we thought the design assumptions to be quite simple, the result exceeded our expectations,” Marta finishes.

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[Images courtesy of Colombe. Photography by Mood Authors.]