HFL Karcza | MISTOVIA

How do you design an interior full of artistic expression and contrasts – perhaps even a little bit mad – while still giving it a comfortable and cosy feel? Is it possible to combine functional storage with an open, light-filled space? The Mistovia studio created a space where everyday life and art coexist harmoniously under one roof in Agata and Przemek’s home in Kraków. It is a story of friendship, and the notion that designing is most enjoyable when it’s done for those you know well.

The homeowners, Agata and Przemek - a pair of graphic designers and founders of bisoñ studio -  have known Marcin, the founder of the Mistovia studio, for a long time. They first met at a design fair in Łódź, and the meeting evolved into a lifelong friendship that continues to this day. From the very beginning, they followed Mistovia’s growth and, in a way, played a part in it by creating the visual identity for the studio.

Today, the roles have reversed: Marcin designed a home for them and their two dogs, Ozzy and Furia.

“Designing for friends always carries more emotion, but also more satisfaction. It’s great to bring something real into the lives of people I care about,” says Marcin.

This relationship is clearly reflected in the language of the interior: consistent yet informal. Agata and Przemek, both working in the creative industry, were unafraid of colour, bold patterns and textures, or unexpected combinations of materials - although their main dream was for a space that felt, above all, cosy. The designer delivered an interior that is equally deliberate and intuitive.

Before moving into their new home, they spent many years living in the very heart of Kraków. For a while, they rented an office in one of the most famous modernist townhouse buildings in the city – the Aleksandrowicz House at Sereno Fenn Street - but eventually found working from home just as comfortable. Over time, the city noise and chaos simply became exhausting. A house on the outskirts was meant to give them room to breathe - while also providing space for work and creative experimentation.

“Apart from escaping the crowds, we needed more space. Mainly a home office where we can work in peace, and a painting studio for Przemek,” says Agata.

This need for space and working comfort became the starting point for the Mistovia design. The 125 m² house was delivered by the developer in a shell-and-core condition. The architect first focused on opening up the interior and bringing in as much daylight as possible. The biggest revolution happened on the ground floor: the walls dividing individual rooms were removed to make room for a free flow of light and function. The only element that could not be touched was the chimney stack - it remained in place, cleverly enclosed by a modular piece of joinery that seamlessly links the entrance hall, kitchen and living room. It takes the form of a black geometric built-in in the entry zone and part of the kitchen, and becomes softly rounded, finished in a warm, pale oak tone with decorative veneers added (a display cabinet for treasured trinkets) from the living room side.

The kitchen can be entered from the entrance hall through a striking portal lined with contrasting black and white stone - Black Forest Granite - whose veining reappears on the wall surrounding the coffee nook, providing a dramatic backdrop for the blood-red light switches. Alternatively, the kitchen can be accessed directly from the living area. This bold, patterned granite appears in several spots - on the entry portal, in the kitchen, and by the coffee station - creating strong, graphic accents that echo the professional sensitivities of the owners. The main run of kitchen cabinetry balances this with a natural oak tone and softly rounded edges. The worktop and splashback wall above it - topped with a practical shelf for favourite objects - are finished in a quieter, pinkish Prada Gold Granite. A distinct feature is the steel-sheet casing of the kitchen extractor - a custom design by Marcin.

The focal point of the living area is the island: lightweight yet sculptural, with an unconventional shape. Its base is lacquered in a vivid orange, while the body is wrapped in black veneer featuring a graphic pattern. The composition is completed by an inflatable, playful Blow Me Up lamp by Ingo Maurer - not entirely serious, yet with an unmistakably industrial edge. The true finishing touch is the glass hen bonbonniere - an icon from the Ząbkowice Glassworks - part of Agata’s personal collection.

The ground floor hides one more surprise - small, but impactful. The compact bathroom is arguably the most daring space in the house in terms of colours, forms, and materials. Despite having no windows and a shower tucked beneath the staircase, unconventional solutions turned limitations into advantages. The unusual layout was offset with a soft, undulating built-in line that extends into the walls themselves, while daylight filters in through two round internal windows facing the living room and the utility space. The room is brought to life by red travertine, burr wood, wall mosaics, a cobalt-blue washbasin, and a red Italian tap.

The deeper you move into the house, the calmer the space becomes. Above the dining table in black (TAMO) hangs a glass globe lamp from Marset in sunset-inspired tones, which softly echo the warm afternoon light that washes into the living room through semi-transparent curtains. The sofas are arranged in a classic face-to-face layout - Agata and Przemek’s favourite configuration, as it encourages conversation and gatherings with friends. The generous shelving accommodates their extensive book collection, while the television stays discreet, hidden inside a closed cabinet. The bookcase is one of the most refined interior elements: its lower section is crafted from walnut, its vertical divisions from tinted ash, and the drawer fronts from exotic bubinga wood.

The upper floor - comprising private quarters, a studio and an office - is reached by oak stairs that transition into a light steel-frame structure on the top level. The bedroom and dressing area adopt a calm, muted expression. Warm oak appears on the headboard wall, bedside tables and vanity, while the soft silk forms of the OiSoOi lamp lend an intimate and cosy atmosphere. Final details come from artwork by Łucja Wużyk and Chwilczyński. The upstairs bathroom is an entirely different story from the one below. It radiates calm and restraint - the dark joinery in smoked oak is elegant and measured, and even the textured glass shower screen forms a classic arch. A vintage wall light casts a soft warm glow, completing a space designed for relaxation.

Agata and Przemek’s home does not keep one single tempo - each room tells its own story, with its own character and rhythm. The variety of materials, textures and solutions forms a contrasting composition, which, despite its differences, works as a unified whole.

“Everything here has its own pace, its own light. The forms are unexpected - sometimes soft and flowing, sometimes decisive and geometric, like a conversation between personalities that differ yet resonate in harmony.” says Marcin.

Photography: AFL Port Praski