A Polish-Italian couple’s love of Italian design and attachment to Warsaw’s architecture informed this flat in the city’s Ochota district. Beata Sobiech of Beso Architects combined an orange SMEG fridge with pre-war tile patterns and fish wallpaper that greets visitors at the entrance. The interior balances visual appeal with a playful character. It was photographed by Paweł Biedrzycki of Kąty Proste.
An orange fridge in the open living area
The kitchen, dining room and sitting room flow together at the centre of the flat. A retro SMEG fridge in vivid orange is an immediate focal point. The owners had long wanted this design, along with the Fornasetti wallpapers that feature prominently throughout the interior.
In the dining area, a sculptural solid-wood table stands beside mirrored joinery that makes the room feel larger. A mustard-coloured sofa dominates the sitting area, paired with a glass coffee table in a warm tea-coloured shade. Minimal shelving displays souvenirs from the owners’ travels, adding a personal element to the carefully composed room. Deep-green tiles and textiles balance the warmth of veneered furniture fronts, while orange and yellow accents introduce a freshness associated with Italian exuberance.
Bathroom mosaics with Warsaw roots
Sobiech designed the bathroom floor patterns using Warsaw’s distinctive corset-shaped mosaic tiles, a type dating from the 1930s that can still be seen in the city’s apartment buildings. A collaboration between DAV-Import and the Italian factory CE.SI recreated the mosaic exactly as it had been produced by the pre-war manufacturer Dziewulski & Lange. Italian ceramics in earth tones complement timber accessories, with a terracotta-coloured ceramic washbasin providing a stronger accent. The historical references and contemporary design approach make the bathrooms practical while giving them character and a local identity. They also bring together the owners’ attachment to Warsaw architecture and Italian elegance.
Fornasetti patterns and marine imagery
The fish wallpaper at the entrance had been on the wife’s wish list for years. These recognisable patterns by Italian brand Fornasetti give the flat an individual character through unexpected colours and a touch of extravagance. Prints of sea creatures in the bedroom and study provide a subtler reference to the same theme.
Sobiech, a graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at Warsaw University of Technology, designed the home to meet the owners’ needs, from their love of retro interiors to their desire for immaculate order and visual balance. Geometric divisions are combined with organic motifs. Strong colours sit alongside natural materials in a practical, carefully composed interior with a sense of humour.
Products used in the project
- Refrigerator: SMEG
- Wallpaper: Fornasetti
- Recreated corset-shaped mosaic tiles: CE.SI, in collaboration with DAV-Import
You can see more of the photographer’s work on his PLNDesign profile and get in touch in whichever way suits you best: by email, phone, website or social media.
See also:
- Craftspeople restore timber joinery and parquet in a Warsaw flat
- Vintage furniture fills a renovated flat in a 1920s building
