On the border between the city and the countryside, in a small one-story house, Malgorzata and Andrzej Bacik from {tag:Studio} created a space that combines the rustic charm of farmhouse style with the functionality of contemporary design. Adapting a ready-made design resulted in an interior full of light, natural materials and carefully selected details.
The living room with a high ceiling is an open space, where wooden beams and bright light invite you to relax in an idyllic setting
Photo by Anna Bacik
Architecture open to space
The project envisioned the house as part of a suburban landscape, where rural simplicity meets urban comfort. The owners dreamed of a spacious living room that would become the heart of the house. Andrzej Bacik, in charge of the architecture, redesigned the finished plan, introducing a living room nearly six meters high, open all the way to the roof. Two skylight windows let abundant light into the interior, and visible wooden mayflies - elements of the roof structure - give it a rustic feel. This treatment not only increased the sense of space, but also created the perfect backdrop for Małgorzata Bacik's arrangement, which gave the interior a unique style.
Interior design by MM Architects
photo by Anna Bacik
Solidity and naturalness: finishing materials
A limited budget forced a strategic approach to the choice of materials. Malgorzata Bacik opted for durable elements that were to form the backbone of the arrangement for years to come. The key choice was a wooden floor, whose natural grain, full of knots and warm wood tones, brings a country atmosphere to the interior, being one of the owner's favorite elements. White doors and skirting boards added elegance, and their protective coating provides resistance to moisture, which is especially important in a house located at the intersection of city and country.
The kitchen is dominated by light olive green - the owner's favorite color
Photo: Anna Bacik
Kitchen: tradition in a modern edition
The kitchen is a space where the farmhouse style gets its expression. Margaret designed an oak veneered built-in in an "L" layout with a peninsula, making optimal use of the small space. Light olive green - the owner's favorite color - appears on cabinet fronts and the cornice, giving the interior a subtle freshness. The architect took care of the details: the frames of the fronts and the layout of the veneers (horizontal grain on horizontal pieces, vertical grain on vertical pieces) were carefully designed to maintain proportion and harmony. The wider panel at the top of the peninsula received proportionally larger frames, highlighting the attention to aesthetics.
The kitchen walls are decorated with tiles inspired by traditional azulejos. Their delicate pattern introduces a rural atmosphere without dominating the space. The floor in the kitchen, lobby and bathroom is tiled with gray tiles for consistency and practicality. Modern touches, such as black hood tubes, lamps over the island and a stylized oven, balance the traditional character of the kitchen. Hockers with black-painted legs, found at an antique dealer in Minsk Mazowiecki, and French engravings of the Versailles garden in olive passe-partout add personality to the interior.
Interior design by MM Architects - view of the kitchen in the house
Photo by Anna Bacik
Dining room and living room: light and details with history
The dining and living room area is where light and details play first fiddle. Above an art-deco table from an antique store in Chorzow hang spherical lamps with a brass finish, which correspond with the handles of the kitchen cabinets. Their installation to the wooden maypoles required a non-standard approach, which emphasizes the uniqueness of the design. In the living room, attention is drawn to the lamp-rings, whose brass shades subtly reflect the light, creating a warm atmosphere.
The living room arrangement was inspired by two oil paintings by Tarnów painter Stanislaw Westwalewicz. Their palette - green, brown, amethyst purple - was repeated in fabrics and accessories, creating a consistent color scheme. The furniture included family heirlooms: an antique cabinet, a candelabra and a clock on the mantelpiece. Margaret complemented them with a table with a glass top and a white fireplace surround. Biedermeier dining chairs, with upholstery changed to a warm gray, harmonize with the rural character of the house, avoiding palatial splendor. When choosing these elements, Margaret made sure to strike a balance between history and modernity.
The living room arrangement was inspired by two oil paintings by Tarnów painter Stanislaw Westwalewicz
photo by Anna Bacik
Private oasis: eclecticism with soul
The private area of the house - three rooms and a bathroom - is a space where eclecticism meets coziness. The bedroom is dominated by wallpaper with a floral motif, which gives the interior a traditional feel. Velvet pillows, an embroidered bedspread and linen bedding create an atmosphere of calm and softness. A bookcase, paintings and trinkets from an antique shop add an individual character to the interior.
Interior design by MM Architects - the owners' bedroom.
photo by Anna Bacik
The study is distinguished by an art-deco desk, carefully restored by an antiquarian who was looking for a suitable home for it. The white library, designed by Margaret, occupies an entire wall, blending into the architecture of the interior. The bathroom, despite its small size, gained functionality by moving the wall at the expense of the study, allowing for a shower cubicle. The sink wall with large-format tiles is an eye-catcher, contrasting with gray Tubądzin tiles on the other surfaces.
Cabinet with art-deco desk
photo by Anna Bacik
A house in harmony with its context
The biggest success of the project, as Malgorzata Bacik points out, is the creation of a house that fits perfectly into the suburban landscape. The owners, lovers of antiques, wanted a space that would be a rural retreat, not a grand residence. The architects succeeded in achieving this by combining solid materials, carefully selected details and elements with history. Every aspect - from the wooden flooring to the lamps - was designed with durability and the comfort of the residents in mind.
