My Modern House: designer Małgorzata Bany's creative live/work space in north London
“I moved here with my partner, Tycjan Knut, from a lovely flat in a Georgian building in Stoke Newington. Since then, we’ve been based in this creative live/work space in an old warehouse building near Seven Sisters.
“We’re both from Warsaw. We studied together nine years ago. Tycjan is a painter and art dealer. I started making sculptures during my masters and I realised that more utilitarian objects were often my inspiration. I think I make things that are somewhere between design and sculpture.
“Our last flat was really beautiful but we were always at our studios. We never got to enjoy it in the way we wanted to.
“It just made sense to have our home and studio in one space. I can’t work constantly on the pieces I make; sometimes I have to just step back and let the casts set. Living where I work means I can utilise my time better.
“It was really grey and damp when we got here, and my studio was painted maroon. We haven’t changed the structure of it but because it’s a very long, narrow space, it took a while to configure our furniture in a way that didn’t make the house feel like a train carriage.
“We have adapted this space to our needs, but I also feel like we had to adjust to it a lot – that was the biggest struggle to begin with. I am used to a more traditional layout, which I used to associate with being more cosy and restful.
“Living and working in one space meant we had to find a balance between it being homely, and functional and adaptive. For example, I am back and forward to the kitchen sink all day, so I didn’t want too many soft furnishings because they would get dirty.
“We have put so much effort into this building. We made pretty much everything: the sofa, the kitchen; it’s all handmade by us.
“Our friend gave us an IKEA sofa. We deconstructed it and repurposed it into a base for a Donald Judd-inspired day bed that we made from plywood. Our friend wasn’t upset – she loves it!
“We made a Japanese-style screen to divide the bedroom after being inspired by the ceiling panelling. It was useful to have the studio here for that. I really enjoyed the process of putting it all together.
“I don’t know what it means for the future! I’m not sure how interested I am anymore in conventional spaces, which can be very prescriptive. Now, I’m very used to moving things around – I’m probably addicted.
“The space is really flexible. If I have a big project on, we can just put things aside in the living area, protect the floor and I can work from there.
“Tycjan shoots pictures of his paintings in here. It’s nice to be able to take our work into a domestic setting to see how it functions outside of a studio.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had to adapt to anything as much as to this space; it was really challenging. But I think because of that, it has become precious.
“It works. I don’t have a massive need now to go away to find a quiet place where I can rest. I think we’ve found a comfortable live/work balance in which we love the space, and we love our work, so it all just merges into one.”
Małgorzata, how do you define modern living?
“For us, it’s about finding a balance between the functionality and aesthetic qualities of spaces and objects. As our home is also our workspace, it’s important that it feels practical, but that it also promotes new ideas and an open mindset.”
If you moved, what would be the first thing you’d take with you?
“Artworks. Friends’ works, Tycjan’s work. They’re irreplaceable.”
Is there a property on The Modern House website that has caught your eye?
“Gibraltar Walk. It would make the perfect home and workplace for us. We love the idea of having studios and living space on different levels of the house.”
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Read more: My Modern House: warm minimalism in artist Genevieve Lutkin and designer Joel Culley’s Clapton apartment
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