Once again, we find ourselves in the familiar position of being utterly charmed by a Colombe Design project. (We’ve waxed poetic about their projects many times before: see here and here.) There are similarities between the residences the firm designs—Old World high ceilings, striking architectural details, an emphasis on sculptural statement lighting—but this one, while just as elegant as the other projects, has a whimsical casualness all its own.
This sophisticated but relaxed approach was largely informed by the apartment’s seaside location in Sopot, on Poland’s Baltic Coast. “Sopot has a very elegant, pre-war-vibe. It’s where many people from Warsaw (and Sweden) buy their summer houses,” explains Colombe founder Marta Chrapka. “The houses are mostly wooden, in pastel colors, and with stained glass, typical for the region.”
The clients, a couple (she’s a travel magazine editor; he’s a film director), wanted a vacation home that referenced the natural beauty of the area while respecting the building’s refined classical architecture. Chrapka’s solution: a pale palette, light pine floors, and a fuss-free, spare mix of Scandi, modern, and antiques.
Join us for a tour.
Photography by Pion Studio, courtesy of Colombe Design.
Above: The dramatic foyer, thanks to Constance Guisset’s large Vertigo Pendant Light, a Colombe go-to. The black and white stool is by Fornasetti.
Above: The view of the sitting and living rooms. The two-bedroom apartment was taken down to the studs; the only original features that were kept were the pine floors (sanded and oiled) and a fireplace. For the walls, Chrapka chose a soft white achieved by mixing Farrow & Ball’s Skimming Stone and Slipper Satin.
Above: The custom glass partition is Chrapka’s favorite part of the project. It separates the living room from the sitting room.
Above: The table is the clients’. Chrapka refurbished it by painting it Farrow & Ball’s Manor House Gray. A brass Gubi Semi pendant light hangs above it.
Above: The antique dining chairs are the clients’ family heirlooms. On the table is a Napoleon bust candle from famed Parisian candlemakers Maison Trudon.
Above: In a departure from the pale walls elsewhere in the home, the office features tropical “Alexandrie” wallpaper by Pierre Frey.
Above: Wallpaper pops up again in the kitchen; this time, it’s “Vega” wallpaper from Elitis. The backasplash is Carrara marble.
Above: The countertop is stained oak. The cabinet and drawer knobs are custom.
Above: Chrapka framed some of the clients’ favorite artworks for a gallery wall. Ikea chairs pair well with the cafe table. Hovering above is the Gubi Grashoppa Pendant light.
Above: The master bedroom, anchored by a large bed with a headboard upholstered in Villa Nova’s Geneva Washable Linen. The bamboo and linen pendant is by Ay Illuminate. (See High/Low: Floaty Linen Pendant Light.) The chair is vintage, found on eBay.
Above: The tiled fireplace is original to the home. The light is a custom Colombe design.
Above: Chrapka designed inset shelves on both sides of the bed alcove for storing books.
Above: Another eBay score: the leaning towel rack. The bathtub is by Omnires. The marble tiles that resemble bits of shells and pebbles found on the beach are from a small workshop.
Above: The lighting is from Zangra.
For more seaside homes in Europe, see:
- Two London Creatives Shore Up a Tiny Beach House, Ikea Hack Kitchen Included
- Steal This Look: A Noirish Living Room in Coastal Sweden
- A Romantic Monastery-Turned-Vacation Rental on the Amalfi Coast
N.B. This post is an update; the original story ran on February 24, 2020, and has been updated with new information.
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