Stare Bielany is one of those Warsaw neighborhoods that are gaining in value not only in the eyes of investors, but especially in the eyes of families looking for everyday comfort. Full of greenery, with good infrastructure and the soul of the place - it attracts people who are looking not only for square meters, but also for atmosphere. It is here, in a block of large slabs, that a unique project was created by jlw studio - an 86-square-meter apartment, designed from scratch to meet the needs of a family of four. A personal project, comprehensive, and at the same time experimental. Because when an architect designs for herself, there is no room for compromise.
The open living area is the heart of the apartment
© jlw studio
A hovel with potential - a decision with heart and experience
Not every renovation story begins with admiration for a beautiful interior. Here it started with. paneling on the ceiling, PVC tiles on the floor and furniture from a bygone era. The apartment was not inviting. The ad didn't even include photos - only the floor plan and the view from the balcony. And yet - something sparked. Joanna Lemka-Wójcik, an architect at jlw studio, known for her work on difficult secondary market spaces, immediately felt that this could be their place for the next few years. Her experience in designing apartments for general renovation allowed her to see potential where others saw only problems.
The interior is certainly not a "life's work" or any kind of "architectural manifesto," nor is it, I hope, a "destination" apartment (I exceptionally dislike that term, by the way). It is rather a stopover for a few years on the way to living in a dream house in the Żoliborz Oficerski district
- emphasizes Joanna Lemka-Wójcik,
founder of jaw studio.
View of the apartment before and after the renovation
© jlw studio
Functionality first: space for a 2+2 family
The original layout was typical of the 1970s: separate, cramped, narrow kitchen, separate toilet and bathroom, no storage space.
We bought an apartment for general renovation from an elderly grandmother, with PVC tiles on the floor and paneling on the ceiling, full of wall units and chandeliers of questionable beauty. Seeing the ad for sale, which didn't even insert photos of the interiors, but only the view from the balcony and the apartment plan, I immediately felt that this could be it
- adds Joanna Lemka-Wójcik.
View of the apartment before the renovation and just after
© jlw studio
The architect went to work with clear priorities:
- enlarging the bedroom and adding a private bathroom,
- a comfortable study for work,
- a large children's room,
- a separate laundry room with a walk-in closet,
- a functional kitchen with space for a pantry,
- maximum use of storage space.
The result? The kitchen was placed in the living area, and its original place was converted into a study. The vestibule was turned into a dressing room with a laundry room. The former recess after the toilet was used as a micro-bathroom - with a shower, sink and toilet, fit in an area of just 2 square meters. Thoughtful adaptation of the functional layout made the apartment a space suited for a family of four.
View of the apartment's living room
© jlw studio
Color scheme inspired by the sea - interior with Gdynia in the background
As a native of Gdynia, the designer opted for colors close to nature and the sea. Subtle blues, beiges, shades of sand and natural wood build an atmosphere of calm and light. The inspiration came from a trip to Gozo - the rocky coastline and salt panes there inspired the choice of stoneware and the characteristic gray-blue (NCS), which appears on the built-ins, doors and walls. The color palette in the interior is remarkably consistent - reminiscent of the beach in the morning, when the light softly rests against the horizon line. It's not an interior for showing - it's an interior for living.
The kitchen island separates the annex from the dining room and living room. Light wood, beige accessories and blues inspired by the coastal landscape give the interior a cozy and light feel.
© jlw studio
Details that make a difference
Care and attention to detail are evident throughout the apartment. The roundness of the cabinets and edges of the furniture, the vertical dividers between the kitchen units, the conscious handling of light that travels through the textures - all this builds a space in which you can feel the hand of the designer, but also the heart of the homeowner.
Classic, comfortable solid wood chairs are a conscious choice for a family with children. Subtle details add character, and the whole harmoniously fits into the atmosphere of the apartment.
© jlw studio
The finishes are elegant and durable:
- wooden parquet in a classic herringbone pattern,
- terazzo in shades of beige - a nod to Italian detail,
- countertop and window sills made of quartz sinter - a durable, resistant and beautiful material.
There were also references to Gdynia modernism - visible, for example, in the soft lines of the cabinets or subtle combinations of materials.
The rest area was kept in muted beiges, with an accent in the form of a headrest made of natural braid.
© jlw studio
With children in mind - a practical interior without sacrificing aesthetics
When designing an apartment for herself and her two young children, the architect opted for practical but original solutions. She gave up the fashionable but impractical plaid chairs - the choice fell on comfortable, stable chairs made of wood. Braid appeared in a more secure place - as a bed headrest in the bedroom. A high built-in in the kitchen hides a spacious pantry, and the island on legs was designed so that a cleaning robot could drive under it without any obstacles. Quartz sinter - both on the countertop and in the form of a panel between the cabinets - is a guarantee of resistance to scratches and discoloration.
Children's room before and after renovation
© jlw studio
Personal touches and vintage with soul
This is not an apartment from a catalog - it's a space that tells the story of a family.
On the wall hang posters by Titus Brzozowski purchased at the opening of his works, which I visited as part of one of our first dates together (with, as it later turned out, my future husband)
- recalls the architect.
In the bedroom hangs a linocut - a wedding gift, and next to the bed stands a jar of Portuguese shells from their honeymoon. The living room is decorated with a chest of drawers from Plywood Project, purchased at the Fair of Nice Things, and the lamps are a collection of souvenirs, competition prizes and gifts from clients. These items don't just decorate - they create an atmosphere and evoke memories.
Small, but ergonomic - this bathroom houses everything necessary
© jlw studio
Synthesis of experience - the designer tests her solutions
Was the architect inspired by previous projects? Of course. This apartment is a collection of proven solutions that she has previously used with clients - now implemented and tested in her own home:
- brushed steel fixtures,
- under-cabinet hood fully integrated,
- furniture with undercuts for shoes,
- curved tile cuts,
- quartz sinter as a homogeneous finishing material.
But it also works the other way - new customers ask about the solutions they saw in her own apartment, which is the best recommendation.
A corner for books in the bedroom
© jlw studio
From a block of large slabs to a thoughtful family home
This project shows that even in a 1970s apartment, you can create a space that is modern, welcoming, functional and beautiful. The key lies in a thoughtful approach to the functional layout, attention to detail and the ability to combine practice with aesthetics. This is an example of a realization that not only meets the expectations of everyday life, but also inspires. And that's what interior design is all about: to create places where you live well - not just live.
