Sculpted figures in Kraków and highlander dress look towards Italian design from the Rodryg Mroczkowski building, overlooking the windows of the newly opened Poliform showroom at Mokotowska 57, Warsaw. The iconic brand’s showroom is the work of an international team that includes Piotr Łucyan, owner of Art’Up Interiors. The interiors were photographed by Ivan Avdieienko.
Poliform’s approach to contemporary interiors
Poliform stands out among Italian design brands for its contemporary understanding of beauty, refinement and elegance. High-quality materials, skilled workmanship, a harmonious palette and varied textures create a sense of luxury without ostentation. The extensive catalogue covers freestanding furniture, including sofas, armchairs, chairs, occasional tables, dining tables and sideboards, as well as built-in shelving and dressing rooms. More recently, it has expanded into architectural elements such as concealed doors, glass and timber walls, and upholstered wall panels. A consistent visual language brings interior architecture and furnishings together into a carefully considered setting that reflects a way of life.
An international collaboration
The opening of Poliform’s Warsaw showroom marks a significant moment for Poland’s luxury market and is the result of many people’s involvement. Central to the project is Julia Danilova, the showroom’s owner and co-founder of the Domio group. For many years, the group has run a multibrand luxury showroom in Kyiv representing brands including Poliform, Gessi and Loro Piana Interiors. It also publishes Elle, Elle Decoration, Harper’s Bazaar and Cosmopolitan in Ukraine.
Danilova invited Łucyan to help create the showroom at Mokotowska 57. The owner of Art’Up Interiors is a Polish designer working internationally on luxury flats, houses and offices. Here, his role combined design with the demands of renovating a historic interior.
“I had the pleasure of creating this space with Poliform’s designers, led by Serena Petta, bringing together their clear vision for presenting the furniture and accessories with the requirements of a historic setting. As the premises needed a thorough renovation, creative work was closely intertwined with major challenges during construction,” says Łucyan. “My tasks included liaising with the conservation authority and supplying hundreds of working drawings. On the other hand, I could enjoy designing the lighting, overseeing many important details and allowing myself a little extravagance in the small guest bathroom.”
Contemporary design against historic brickwork
The Lexington shelving unit greets visitors as they enter, introducing the refined simplicity of Poliform’s furniture. Its open form and pale colour give it a sense of lightness. Discreet integrated lighting contributes to the effect.
A seating area on the right is accented by geometric Lee Broom lights. Contemporary sofas and armchairs and a table topped with Verde Lepanto marble sit against exposed brickwork that arches over the windows. Fabric wall panels, a new addition to Poliform’s range, contrast with the texture of the historic masonry. “We discussed at length with the Italian designers which wall would look best without plaster. We chose the window wall, and I think that was the right decision,” recalls Łucyan.
To the left of the entrance, beyond the glass balustrade beside a short flight of steps, stands a dining table topped with Sahara Noir marble. “This is a place for meetings, working with clients and presentations, with a monitor provided for that purpose,” the designer explains. A small reception counter is nearby. Above it hangs a gold-and-white light by Atelier Aretti, one of Łucyan’s favourite brands.
Warm materials around a fire
A portal lined in black lacquered steel leads to the next part of the showroom. Warm beige shades on the walls, floors and upholstery, timber wall cladding and a live flame in a bioethanol fireplace keep the metal from feeling cold. The fireplace offers a safe way to introduce an open flame into the setting.
“The windows in the rooms beyond are finished in the same way. The radiators are concealed in units flush with the walls so that the technical elements do not compete with the furnishings,” explains Łucyan.
The atmospheric setting draws attention to the range of materials. Textiles with pronounced but inviting textures play a particularly important role, alongside the leathers for which Italy is known. Patterned veneers and natural stones also feature, including Zečevo marble with black veins on a beige background, used for the table in front of the sofa.
A kitchen and dining display occupies the other part of the room. Its centrepiece is a walnut island with a stone worktop and an additional timber counter for meals. Minimal built-in units, enlivened by a small glazed cabinet, conceal an attractive, practical storage system for kitchen utensils. “The only way to appreciate its advantages is in person,” says Łucyan.
A bedroom and a dark guest bathroom
The bedroom and dressing room share Poliform’s relaxed, calming elegance. Internally lit wardrobes protect clothes while displaying them like objects in a cabinet, contributing to the room’s atmosphere. Loro Piana wool fabrics make the bedroom feel cosy, and an extensive range of the brand’s upholstery textiles is also available at Mokotowska 57. Pinetti leather accessories complete the setting.
Nearby, the small guest bathroom is predominantly black. Łucyan used hand-applied textured stucco by Krakoll, also available in the showroom, on both the walls and the door to the WC compartment. A graphite-tinted mirror makes the room feel larger and reflects a golden Atelier Aretti light. These elements create a theatrical effect within an otherwise minimalist bathroom.
The main decorative feature is Falper’s sculptural Eccentrico basin with a freestanding tap. “In my work, I favour natural materials even where they are rarely used. That is why I chose a basin with a grey-pink Saint-Laurent marble bowl on a walnut-veneered pedestal,” the designer explains.
Products used in the project
- Lexington shelving and showroom furniture – Poliform
- Fabric wall panels – Poliform
- Geometric lights – Lee Broom
- Reception and guest bathroom lights – Atelier Aretti
- Wool and upholstery fabrics – Loro Piana
- Leather accessories – Pinetti
- Hand-applied textured stucco – Krakoll
- Eccentrico basin – Falper
- Verde Lepanto, Sahara Noir, Zečevo and Saint-Laurent marble
Designing a showroom in a historic building calls for close attention to both the setting and the objects on display. Explore more projects by Piotr Łucyan of Art’Up Interiors on his PLNDesign profile and get in touch by email, phone, website or social media, whichever suits you best.
See also:
- Former Poznań grocery shop converted into Hartmann showroom
- A showroom in Poland lets Kontakt-Simon customers test smart home technology
