“Just do what you usually do” was the request from designer and Colombe Studio founder Marta Chrapka’s clients, a pair of lawyers who were looking to overhaul their small flat in the trendy Powisle district of Warsaw. “We didn’t have any specific guidelines; rather, there was complete trust and a lot of fun,” shares Marta. “Since they’re my friends, we understood each other very well.”
That creative freedom led to a complete transformation of the small apartment, which is in a modernist townhouse from the 1930s. The space had formerly functioned as the office of a small newspaper. “It was divided into tiny little rooms, and there were piles of photocopiers, ’90s-era folders and desks everywhere, and the walls were purple,” says Marta.
Not one to disappoint clients, Marta dutifully followed their orders and did what she usually did: create flow, welcome in natural light, add classic herringbone wood floors, design elevated millwork details (including her signature design feature—a cozy bed nook), and decorate with refined, trend-proof pieces.
Let’s have a look.
Photography by Mood Authors, courtesy of Colombe.
- Nothing Trendy Allowed: Designer Marta Chrapka’ Timeless, Fanciful Apartment
- Creative Flow: A Novelist’s Elegant Pied-a-Terre by Colombe Studio
- A Glamorous Pre-War Flat in Poland, Courtesy of Colombe Design (and eBay)
Have a Question or Comment About This Post?
Join the conversation