Commissioned to renovate an apartment in downtown Warsaw, local interior design studio MAP applied a Nordic aesthetic of soulful simplicity and streamlined functionality filtered through a lens of mid-century modern elegance. Interspersed with subtle Japanese influences, the revamped property reflects the globetrotting owner’s fondness for Scandinavian design as well as his newfound passion for Japanese culture following a recent trip to the country. On a more elemental level, it also exemplifies the studio’s interpretation of the concept of home, which MAP’s co-founders Marta Szczepańska and Paulina Szeroczyńska, describe as “an environment that nurtures well-being and psychological harmony”.

The apartment centres around a light-filled open-plan living room with windows on two sides and a large kitchen island separating the kitchen from the dining and sitting areas. White-painted walls and ceilings, herringbone parquet, and oak furnishings underpin the scheme’s pared-down, Scandinavian sensibility. The plentiful natural wood finishes work miracles in the cool Polish light imbuing the spaces with warmth while pops of light grey and cream add to the apartment’s sense of lightness. As Paulina says, “I strongly believe that a good indoor space should feel like a sunny summer day, allowing us to enjoy a holiday vibe every day."