In Gdynia - a city with a modernist soul - we took on a project that was anything but typical: the transformation of an existing family home into a warm, contemporary, and deeply personal space. This was never meant to be a dramatic makeover. Instead, it was a carefully calibrated process - a conscious decision not to start from scratch, but to build upon what was already there. Rather than erasing the past, we embraced a more restrained and responsible approach. We chose to preserve certain existing elements - such as the well-kept dark wood flooring and parts of the original built-in cabinetry - not out of nostalgia, but out of respect for thoughtful, sustainable design. These decisions grounded the project in a sense of continuity while offering a meaningful response to the growing need for lower-impact renovations. Working within these parameters required a great deal of sensitivity. The challenge lay in harmonizing the strong presence of inherited materials with our clients’ vision: a home that felt soft, welcoming, and refined. Together, we shaped a coherent narrative - one where old and new coexist in balance, and where contemporary aesthetics are allowed to emerge without discord.
This project also gave us the opportunity to design several custom pieces.A bookshelf crafted from stained burr wood, a solid walnut sideboard with a strong tectonic presence, and a low built-in unit with hand-carved fronts - each of these elements contributes to the spatial composition. All were made with the highest level of craftsmanship and attention to detail.
We introduced a palette of warm, tactile materials: Ceppo Beige marble, soft straw-toned ash wood, and layers of fabric in the form of drapery, wall panels, and upholstered furniture. A sculptural kitchen island became the centerpiece of the living space - its gentle, rounded form crafted in Cristallo Rosa quartzite, a stone whose delicate veining required the utmost craftsmanship.
The dressing room - imagined as a darker, more intimate “jewel box” - brings in a bolder sensibility, with a circular stone island and mosaic-clad surfaces that enrich the tactile experience. To complete the project, we curated a selection of art and design that resonates deeply with the space: delicate paintings by Basia Bańda, a sculptural chaise from Porada, a bold dining table from Bonaldo, and lighting by Ingo Maurer and Ovature Studios. Each object adds a note of expression, like jewelry that catches the light in just the right way.
