A stylish, modern living room with a green sofa, wooden furniture, plants, and decorative art, seen through marble walls.

Timeless Harmony: A Kraków Apartment Blends Classic Elegance with Contemporary Design

Words by Yatzer

Kraków, Poland

Led by architects Diana Żurek and Gutek Girek, Furora Studio has built a reputation for crafting refined interiors that balance a sense of timeless elegance with playfulness. Their latest project, an apartment in Kraków, is a striking testament to this ethos, seamlessly blending classical influences with contemporary elements. Set within a historic tenement, the residence was formed by merging two separate apartments, an architectural challenge that Furora Studio resolved with ingenuity and finesse. Through a meticulous fusion of material, form, and spatial rhythm, the two designers have once again redefined urban living with their signature blend of sophistication and character, crafting a space that feels at once familiar and forward-thinking.

A wooden chair with a woven seat and a vintage black cabinet with intricate Asian designs and a small statue in a softly lit room.

Photography © ONI Studio.

View of a stylish living room through a marble-framed doorway, highlighting wooden flooring and modern decor elements.

Photography © ONI Studio.

The heart of the design lies in its interplay of structure and fluidity. Organised around an open-plan day zone and a more secluded night zone, the apartment’s spatial axis creates elongated vistas that enhance the sense of depth and movement. The entrance hallway for example, framed by a striking stone portal, acts as a prelude to the main living area, which seamlessly integrates sitting, dining, and kitchen spaces. Here, natural light floods in through tall windows, bouncing off mirrored surfaces to create a bright and airy atmosphere, while a discreet home office, enclosed by glass and mirrors, further enhances the apartment’s visual flow.

Materiality also plays a central role in shaping the apartment’s identity. Herringbone parquet, wall panelling and ornate cornices provide a classically elegant foundation, while black detailing and veined stone surfaces introduce a bold contemporary edge. Walnut wood lends warmth, lending a hand to complementing the juxtaposition of antique furnishings with sleek, architect-designed pieces.

A modern living room featuring a green sofa, a minimalist coffee table, plants, and artistic decor under a stylish pendant light.

Photography © ONI Studio.

Modern living room featuring green velvet sofa, wooden chairs, a stylish coffee table, and a glimpse of the kitchen through a glass wall.

Photography © ONI Studio.

  • Modern living room with green velvet sofa, black coffee table, art pieces, and a decorative cabinet near a large window.

    Photography © ONI Studio.

  • Elegant interior featuring a black console table, framed art, and a marble wall, creating a sophisticated atmosphere.

    Photography © ONI Studio.

  • A stylish, light beige ceiling lamp with a black trim, elegantly mounted on a white ceiling.

    Photography © ONI Studio.

  • A sleek black cabinet with decorative panels, topped with a marble surface and a white vase holding red flowers against a minimalist backdrop.

    Photography © ONI Studio.

Stylish living room featuring a green sofa, wooden dining table, and indoor plants, illuminated by natural light through large windows.

Photography © ONI Studio.

Modern kitchen featuring sleek black cabinetry, a marble backsplash, a wooden dining table, and a unique pendant light.

Photography © ONI Studio.

A minimalist dining space features a wooden table with a metal pitcher and woven bowl, surrounded by elegant black chairs.

Photography © ONI Studio.

Modern kitchen featuring a walnut table, minimalist black chairs, a spherical pendant light, and sleek cabinetry with marble accents.

Photography © ONI Studio.

  • Modern kitchen featuring black cabinetry, a marble backsplash, a wooden table, and a stylish vase with red flowers.

    Photography © ONI Studio.

  • A stylish living room featuring a green sofa, marble accents, a glass coffee table, and modern art pieces, viewed through glass doors.

    Photography © ONI Studio.

  • A cozy interior featuring a ballet dancer sculpture on a wooden shelf, a modern chair, and books partially hidden by greenery.

    Photography © ONI Studio.

A wooden console table displays a beige vase and two decorative sculptures, with a framed drawing hanging on the wall above.

Photography © ONI Studio.

A modern hallway with herringbone wood floor, featuring a round white chandelier, decorative mirror, and a small side table.

Photography © ONI Studio.

A cozy bedroom featuring a minimalist bed with cane headboards, white bedding, a green throw, and modern black wall lamps, complemented by abstract art.

Photography © ONI Studio.

The bedrooms, conceived as intimate sanctuaries, layer woven textures, deep navy tones, and crisp white surfaces to create a serene retreat with custom-crafted headboards and bespoke wooden furniture adding an artisanal touch. The apartment’s two bathrooms continue the scheme’s delicate balance of classicism and modernity, featuring graphic patterns and rich chocolate-walnut tones set against a muted, all-white backdrop, all the more underscoring Furora Studio’s ability to orchestrate their signature sense of harmony between historical charm and contemporary expression.

Cozy bedroom featuring a teal velvet headboard, white bedding, a modern nightstand with books, and a decorative stone, accented by warm lighting.

Photography © ONI Studio.

Modern interior featuring a wooden shelf with books, a minimalist lamp, a brown chair, and a large abstract wall art piece.

Photography © ONI Studio.

  • A modern room features a geometric artwork, a stylish bookshelf with books, a blue vase, and elegant herringbone flooring.

    Photography © ONI Studio.

  • Elegant bathroom featuring marble walls, a wooden vanity with black faucets, and a large mirror with a modern design.

    Photography © ONI Studio.

  • A modern bathroom featuring a marble shower, sleek cabinetry, and elegant hexagonal floor tiles in a soft, neutral color palette.

    Photography © ONI Studio.

  • A modern bathroom featuring a marble sink, wooden cabinetry, and elegant mirrors, with a gold-accented light fixture above.

    Photography © ONI Studio.

A cozy bedroom with a green blanket, viewed through an open door, leading to a bright, modern living room with stylish decor.

Photography © ONI Studio.