Elegant Apartment in Warsaw, Poland

Saska Apartment has been designed by the Warsaw based firm Soma Architekci. This wonderful two story apartment has been designed to be minimalistic and stylish. Saska Apartment is located in Saska Kępa, a neighbourhood of Warsaw, Poland. Saska Apartment in Warsaw, Poland by Soma Architekci: “The owner of the apartment located in the centre of…


A Gracefully Rejuvenated Industrial-Style Apartment in Warsaw

industrial-style apartment

Image courtesy of Design Studio Soma Architekci.

Design Studio Soma Architekci completed the design and development of Koneser Apartment, a contemporary 78 square meter (840 square foot) crib located in Warsaw, Poland. The newly refurbished industrial-style apartment is part of a building that used to house a local vodka factory.

“The factory is an example of European architecture from the turn of the 19th century,” the designers explained. “The red brick, along with narrow windows, lovely cornices, small towers and arched ceilings make for an authentic atmosphere.” Consistency with the characteristics of the industrial building was the main factor to consider when designing this apartment.

Image courtesy of Design Studio Soma Architekci.

The heart of the space is an open plan kitchen, living and dining area, which features modern finishes, as well as industrial-style detailing. The kitchen’s brick wall was restored and currently acts as one of the focal points of the living area. Some of the furniture and lighting units feature black metal structures, which add to the industrial vibe of the Warsaw apartment. The lamp in the kitchen made up of strips of fiberglass was envisioned by French designer Constance Guisset.

Despite its industrial style, the apartment feels warm and welcoming thanks to decorative cushions, soft fabrics and rugs. Natural light fills up the entire space through large windows which pay tribute to the architecture of the historical building. Enjoy the virtual gallery below and let us know your thoughts! All photos and information were provided by Design Studio Soma Architekci.

Image courtesy of Design Studio Soma Architekci.

Image courtesy of Design Studio Soma Architekci.

Image courtesy of Design Studio Soma Architekci.

Image courtesy of Design Studio Soma Architekci.

Image courtesy of Design Studio Soma Architekci.

Image courtesy of Design Studio Soma Architekci.

Image courtesy of Design Studio Soma Architekci.

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New Orleans Artist Debbie Boyd Hageman Looks to Mother Nature

The balance of cool and bold work perfectly in artist Debbie Boyd Hageman’s work. All images courtesy of Debbie Boyd Hageman.

New Orleans-based artist Debbie Boyd Hageman has always looked to mother nature for inspiration, solace and refuge. From the time she was a little girl out in the garden with her mother, helping to grow their vegetables, to photographing and painting outdoors in her beloved New Orleans, Boyd Hageman finds her creativity flows best when outside.

“I look at the landscape and I see something new every time,” says Boyd Hageman. She paints big, bold, colorful abstract paintings for commercial and retail clients around the globe.

The Philly native spent a good chunk of her childhood in the state of Indiana. In her early 20s, she headed south to Florida, where she began her artistic career. Though she had always painted and briefly spent time in college art classes, it wasn’t until the then 20-something hit the Sunshine state that she was able to sell her paintings and confirm she could be successful as an artist.

Her use of both bright and muted colors, often together, is part of what makes her art so appealing. Though she does sell smaller pieces so that her art is accessible at all price points, Boyd Hageman mostly creates larger pieces that can stand on their own. “I tend to express myself best using large-scale canvases,” she says.

Deep, dark colors from artist Debbie Boyd Hageman work well in a monotone room.

Freedom of expression

For this busy artist and mom, it truly is all about expression.

“Sometimes I hate a piece, then I love it, then I hate it. Eventually, I come to a place where I can stop working on it, which is where I love it again,” she says with a laugh. Though she works to keep the artistic temperament to a minimum, Boyd Hageman jokes she’s been known to throw a piece outside on the ground when completely unsatisfied. “I usually go pick it up later and get back to work on it.”

The prolific painter is also a talented cook who makes most of her family meals daily – and from scratch. Working as an artist has allowed her to spend more time with her husband and two children. Her family also loves the outdoors. Often, they will walk the levee overlooking the Mississippi River. The scenic walk is just a few hundred feet from her front door in the Algiers Point neighborhood of New Orleans. It’s that kind of freedom she finds most appealing.

“I love that I make my own schedule, set my own rules and can truly be myself,” she says.

New Orleans-based contemporary artist Debbie Boyd Hageman in her studio.

The creative process

The artist has set up a studio in her home and posts pictures of her process almost daily. Many collectors buy their pieces directly from Boyd Hageman through her social media channels. She says those channels are like a virtual art gallery and she has a huge appreciation for them. Some artists she follows and admires on Instagram are Adam Handler, Eileen Noonan and Joseph Conrad-Ferm, as well as many others.

The busy artist also sells her pieces at various art galleries and artistic spaces such as the Broad Theater. Plus, she sells at local hotels like the Old 77 Hotel through the curated collection from Where Y’Art. She also has pieces in the permanent collections of The Jung Hotel, Pigeon and Price and The Brent House Transplant Institute.

On days when her schedule and mother nature align, the natural beauty will pack up her paintings and her gear and head to the famous French Quarter. There, she often sets up shop in Jackson Square with a multitude of other talented artists.

“It’s a real community of people who take care of one another,” she says. She adds that she learns a great deal from her contemporaries on everything from the location of the best parking spaces to easy ways to haul canvases and equipment through the busy streets.

For more information on Debbie Boyd Hageman, visit her website or follow her on Instagram or Facebook.

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1950s São Paulo Penthouse Gets an Original Upgrade


Brasil based Estúdio Paralelo completed the restoration of a 1950s São Paulo penthouse and revamped it for the needs of contemporary city living. The space has a total surface of 150 square meters (1615 square feet) and also displays an unconventional layout.

“The apartment absorbs both floor-plans of the two apartments per floor of this small building in Santa Cecília, each one with 60 square meters (646 square feet), and organizes the space in a fashion that is curious for the time in which it was constructed,” the architects said.

They kept many of the original elements, such as the granilite in the staircase and the wooden floors. They restored other details, like the iron windows with electrostatic paint as well as the terracotta cementile flooring. The complex array of textures gives the São Paulo penthouse an original feel.


“After being closed for 20 years, the owners bought not just the apartment, but the promise to fight for the necessary renovations, which would be structural and require much patience and planning,” the architects also explained. Some of the major changes included updating the entire piping system and also adding concrete roof slabs for support.

“The result is a clean space, with simple lines and clear organization; without spacial hierarchy. The light spreads to all corners, which serves to show the original characteristics of the building”, the designers concluded. Enjoy the photo gallery below and feel free to share your thoughts with us! Information provided by Estúdio Paralelo; photography courtesy of Ricardo Bassetti.

Step inside the São Paulo penthouse

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