IAD/berlin

International

RENEWAL!

L.A. modernisM revisited in this 1950 Quincy Jones house Irish architect Eileen Gray’S RESTORED VILLA IN THE South of France RURAL CHIC CONVERSION OF an 1850 HORSE BARN IN THE NETHERLANDs

New essentials for the luxury bath

Canadian Edition FALL 2015 FALL 2015

$6.95 CDN

Berlin, Germany

interior design

A single lightweight linen drapery treatment is used throughout the apartment. It calls attention to the tall ceilings and windows, and deep, arched window wells. And despite the dark colour, it allows a softly filtered light into the space. The living room furniture is deliberately simple, and includes a refined black chest of drawers from the 1950s. Kolasiński designed the curtain rods, which were fabricated by a locksmith, so that the installation elements are not visible. The wide floorboards are oak, with an oil finish for durability.

new again Within a centuries-old one-time palace, a designer uses classic and reclaimed furnishings in fresh combinations to craft a warmly modern family home.

By Shawna Cohen Photography by Anne-Catherine Scoffoni

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after living a storied life—first as a palace, then as a hospital during the Berlin Wall era—before falling into ruin, this striking structure has since been converted into four private residences, including an unexpectedly minimalist family home by Poland-based interior designer Jacek Kolasiński. The owners (a couple, with two young children) gave Kolasiński free rein to design the space; he responded by combining classic design elements from Scandinavia and the Bauhaus-inspired ’20s with Polish accents. Kolasiński, the owner of interior design firm Loft Szczecin, also designed much of the furniture in his trademark style—simple, seamless and clean-lined.

Just as the structure itself has been revitalized, so, too, have many of the items housed in the 200-square-metre apartment (located 90 minutes north of Berlin), such as a Vitra chaise lounge, found in a neighbour’s warehouse, and a kitchen cabinet that used to store medical supplies, both restored by Kolasiński. The designer delights in unique auction finds, incorporating them into his creations— everything from original Bauhaus light fixtures and Polish ceramics to graphic posters from the ’50s and ’60s. The result? A space that’s streamlined and polished, yet inviting and full of whimsy.

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Berlin, Germany

interior design

Left and below: Low-slung furnishings throughout most of the apartment create a uniform, understated look. Included in the mix is a Vitra chaise lounge (left), found by Kolasiński under some old windows in a neighbour’s warehouse. He reupholstered it and placed it in the dining room, injecting a casual feel into what is usually considered a more formal space.

A collection of vintage plates and figurines by a range of Polish designers is showcased in the dining room.

“The homeowner became a fan of Polish ceramics from the ’50s and ’60s during the development of the project—she keeps on wanting to buy more,” says Kolasiński, who sourced the pieces at various auctions.

“It’s interesting that Polish artists who created ceramics at that time were internationally known and appreciated, despite the existence of the Iron Curtain.”

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Berlin, Germany

interior design

Below: An oak sideboard, designed by Kolasiński, resembles furniture more than it does kitchen storage. The piece’s refined features are a natural complement to the kitchen’s clean minimalist lines.

Bottom: An ultra-sleek kitchen boasts seamless built-in wall cabinets, devoid of hardware. Kolasiński’s paint choice is a white that contains black pigment; it reads like very pale warm grey, adding an additional layer of warmth.

Below: Kolasiński mixes old and new in the dining room, creating a space that looks both elegant and lived-in. A fresh, custom-made tabletop with Vitra legs purchased at an auction is paired with chairs from Kodak’s old Berlin headquarters. A painting by Polish artist Gdańsk Kamil Lisek adds a contemporary twist and a pop of colour amid the mostly neutral-toned furniture and accessories.

A refurbished black cabinet, once a medicalsupply storage unit in a Polish hospital, houses ceramic figurines from the 1950s, as well as a coffee crockery set found at an auction. The eclectic collection offers a touch of individuality, while mismatched kitchen chairs—each with the same warm wood and black accents—are a casual counterpart to the square-edged table.

Wood grains and textural linens have room to breathe in these uncluttered spaces. There’s an easy balance between raw and refined, and the designer’s restraint is always on display.

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Bauhaus-style wall lamps, by Danish design company Gubi, offer an industrial edge to the orderly kitchen.

The exposed wiring adds a sense of playfulness to the workspace.

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Berlin, Germany

interior design A colour palette of pale and mid-toned greys forms a serene backdrop to the curated collection of salvaged finds and reclaimed furnishings, the effect heightened here and there with a touch of industrial edge.

Left: A simple row of Parisian streetlight-inspired opal glass and marble hanging lights (by Danish company &Tradition) adds character in the bathroom. A chaise lounge, as streamlined as the one in the dining room, adds luxury in this spa-like environment.

Below and right: The bed, designed by Kolasiński, features a headrest upholstered in grey linen, complementing the linen curtains in the apartment.

(There are no curtains in this master bedroom, where the morning sun serves as an alarm clock.) Sconce lights, similar to the ones in the kitchen, juxtapose exposed wires with simple, clean lines, imbuing the serene space with the requisite amount of edge.

Below: A mid-toned grey, deeper and warmer than the wall colour used elsewhere, gives the room a cocoon-like feel. Simple pieces, such as the iron towel rack, keep the vibe relaxed. The deep baseboards are painted black for protection against moisture—and accented with a thin, playful stripe, a subtly striking design element.

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