- Interior
Polish design studio Anke Design realised a beautiful monochrome home. Raw materials are combined with natural finishes and an earthy colour palette. Modest and sober, but warm in character, this is the perfect retreat. Like all Anke Design projects, this flat is an expression of pure harmony and simplicity.
It's not the first time we write about the talented Polish designer. In every project, she always manages to surprise us with her unique vision on design. With her most recent design, she gives a family house in Krakow a handmade soul. As is so often the case, the house this couple built for themselves more than a decade ago lagged behind their changing needs over the years, leaving many rooms non-functional or almost unused. The local interior design agency thoroughly renovated the house and adapted it to the current lifestyle of the owners and their growing family. Interior designer and founder Anna Gawlik worked closely with the couple to overhaul the layout of the house and adopt a minimalist aesthetic of muted tones and understated materials to achieve coherence and harmony. 
Although the house was initially a mishmash of communal, private and work spaces spread across all three floors, including the basement, the new layout is now clearer. After a thorough analysis of the family's needs, a new functional design was created for three floors. Thanks to the clarity in the different areas, all the bedrooms are now on the upper floor, the living and dining area is on the ground floor and the work studio is in the basement. The basement was brightened up by adding some new windows, making it a fully usable space, namely a workshop, utility room and there is even a guest area. The latter also serves as a playroom for the couple's daughter, along with a bathroom with sauna, laundry room and utility room. Multifunctionality was emphasised in these rooms.
Unabashed austerity full of personality.
Despite the unabashed austerity of the interior design, the unit still excels in personality thanks to an eclectic selection of furniture, including custom-made pieces by Anke Design Studio, and an exceptional collection of decorative objects, books and artworks. The living space features a partially charred wooden coffee table, made using the traditional Japanese method of Shou Sugi Ban, which provides the perfect dark accents to the otherwise light-coloured interior. For Anna Gawlik as a designer, this is an extremely important project: ‘It is a milestone in my portfolio, a painstakingly developed project that is by far the best - in my opinion - representation of the direction in which I want to go with my work and subsequent projects.’ In our opinion, it is the result of many years of experimentation, experience and execution. For her, the AXA House is a signpost for the future, more so a direction and a conscious choice.
Architecture (2010): ANKE DESIGN STUDIO Anna Gawlik & ArsProjekt
Architectuur after renovation (2019/2020): ANKE DESIGN STUDIO Anna Gawlik
Interior design: ANKE DESIGN STUDIO, arch. Anna Gawlik