Katowice-based interior design studio Mistovia have a talent for turning nondescript, compact apartments into convivial, playful and sophisticated dwellings thanks to their spatial deftness and an eye for colour and pattern. For this 45-square-metre short-term rental apartment in their home town’s historic centre, they have combined their signature aesthetic of eclectic elegance and modernist nostalgia with the owner’s passion for hunting for vintage treasures, ultimately creating a charming, characterful space that is bound to stand out in a crowded rental market.

Actually comprised out of two smaller apartments, the property was reconfigured to create a spacious living area that includes a dining area and a kitchenette, with the adjoining bedroom separated from the bathroom via a frosted glass screen to compensate for the latter’s lack of windows. A mirror-clad built-in closet, custom-designed to store all the necessary household equipment required for a rental property, further enhances the natural light distribution without however compromising the sense of spaciousness.

A palette of light pastel colours, including baby blue for the ceiling, along with coloured mirrors, softens the dark hue of the oak herringbone parquet flooring, imbuing the apartment with a sense of playfulness, while red-orange velvet curtains and the indigo blue-painted entry door add darker accents. Hemmed in by a tight budget, the designers have furnished the space with an eclectic mix of both inexpensive new pieces and vintage finds, many of which the owner bought online and in second-hand stores.

An antique credenza that used to be an indispensable piece in traditional Silesian kitchens has been boldly repurposed as wall-hanged kitchen cabinets, providing a surprising focal point, while a vintage sideboard now serves as the bathroom’s vanity. In the living area, a leather sofa from IKEA is juxtaposed with a black glass and chrome steel table inspired by modernist Italian designer Giotta Stoppino’s work, which, along with a set of minimalist chairs by Milan-based brand ZEUS and a vintage light pendant succeeds in filling the space with chic 1970s vibes.