Compact Vintage Apartment in Katowice by Mistovia.

While sometimes things may not go according to plan, they can present some wonderful hidden opportunities for us to take advantage of. In the case of Mistovia’s latest client, a change in living arrangements allowed them to transform her apartment into a delightful nook ready to welcome new tenants. With the Polish practice’s magic in transforming rental spaces, this Italian-Silesian vintage apartment demonstrates what a powerful collaboration can do to a tiny space.

Located in Katowice, and measuring a modest 45 square metres, the Italian-aesthetic-inspired apartment was originally two tiny homes merged into one. With the former floor plan being inflexible and the bathroom located within the living area, a reconfiguration led to the wet area being relocated more appropriately into the bedroom space. The modification also created a new separation of the two areas with frosted glass panels framed in peachy coral, offering lightness within the small footprint.

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Located in an apartment block famous for its light pink concrete facade and distinct dark-red window frames, the studio has extended the same colour code to the modestly sized 57sqm interior.

Besides the bathroom is a storage unit fronted with tri-coloured mirrors that subtly enlarges the space, with its volume discreetly encroaching into the living and kitchen quarters—adding illusion and oomph to the atmosphere. Additional storage includes a set of simple white shelves which are mounted opposite the bed, creating a personal gallery to display peculiar knick-knacks.

The colour palette and interior arrangement makes the apartment feel like a whimsical collage. It begins with the striking shade of navy blue painted on the heightened main entrance to mimic a simple wall mural. As the bathroom’s walls are framed in pink, a similar yet dustier shade of pink coral lines the kitchen wall, complimenting the adjacent copper orange curtains and the couch sitting opposite. Hues of comforting sky blues are found in the kitchen counter and the bathroom’s splashback. To break the predictability of the colours, the shower and toilet area are lined with stone in contrasting shades of brown.

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Perhaps it is because of the remaining top segment of a classic credenza left in the centre of the kitchen (could it be that the kitchen was once an L-Shaped configuration within?), vintage became the deliberate dressing for the apartment’s character. With the project working within the constraints of a tighter budget, the client enthusiastically thrifted vintage pieces that would sing in harmony with the remnants of the past. Some pieces include a retired brown leather IKEA couch sitting in conversation with the ZEUS modernist sleek black chairs and chrome and black glass table ensemble. The assortment of thrifted furniture gracefully amalgamates with the herringbone oak hardwood floor lovingly made by the client’s father.

A sprinkle of decisiveness, lots of enthusiasm and a heaped teaspoon of optimism has rewarded this project with a charming outcome. Through a thorough collaboration and a determined eye, Mistovia has stitched together another exciting gem.

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[Images courtesy of Mistovia. Photography by Oni Studio.]