Small House Harmonizes Functions Through Simplicity

D79 is a small house that the team from mode:lina completed in December 2014. The house was designed for a family with young children and this was an important aspect to take into consideration when planning the whole project.

multifunctional family house by modelina social area

Mode:lina is an architecture firm founded in 2009 by Pawel Garus and Jerzy Wozniak. The team is now comprised of 5 members and works together in an effort to fulfill their clients’ every need. The team’s focus is on the client and every project start with a research phase. This helps them determine the direction that needs to be followed.

multifunctional family house by modelina kitchen design

In the case of the D79 house, it became apparent that this had to be a kid-friendly environment. The house needed to be functional and to combine a multitude of functions and features in a harmonious way. One of the client’s requests was for a spacious kitchen layout with an island and a large oak table where the whole family could gather and spend time together.

multifunctional family house by modelina kitchen interior
multifunctional family house by modelina kitchen island

These elements were included in the design. The kitchen is open and spacious and has white furniture. The island separates it from the dining area where the main piece is the oak table the clients requested.

multifunctional family house by modelina kitchen furniture

The wall behind the dining table was covered with chalkboard paint. This allowed it to become an attraction for the kids and, at the same time, it became a focal point for the whole room and a way to add character to the space.

multifunctional family house by modelina dining area

We were curious about the wall and the design in general so we asked the team a few questions.

Is the placement of the chalkboard wall practical in this case, considering the proximity to the dining area and the fact that it’s partially covered by shelves?

The chalkboard wall does good in this interior. Kids get a charge out of it. It is blatantly obvious after coming to the apartment. The drawings are made with special chalk so we don’t have to worry about them.

multifunctional family house by modelina chalkboard wall
multifunctional family house by modelina chalkboard wall closeup

As far as the color and material palette go, it’s obvious that white plays a very important role and that the wood elements are just as important.

multifunctional family house by modelina white and wood

Was white a first choice? Why did you opt for this color? Was it so the space would seem bigger and brighter or for a different reason?

It was the investor’s idea – to get as much white furniture in the interior as possible. We mixed white furniture and wood, which impart homely atmosphere. The white furniture brightens up the room and makes it visually bigger.

multifunctional family house by modelina living room TV

The living area is part of the same open floor plan as the kitchen and the dining space. It features white walls, wooden flooring and window blinds and a sleek and minimalist wall unit with storage compartments for the TV and related electronics.

multifunctional family house by modelina view from living area
multifunctional family house by modelina seating area

The gray sectional sofa acts as a separator between the different functions of the zone and its positioning offers this particular area privacy while also allowing it to feel comfortable and cozy.

multifunctional family house by modelina bedtoom interior

The bedroom is really cozy and relaxing as well. It has a wood-paneled wall that adds warmth to the space and a bookcase that separates the bed from the rest of the zone. Double curtains can either make the room feel breezy and fresh or intimate and hidden. This space is the parents’ sanctuary and was designed according to their own specific needs and requirements.

multifunctional family house by modelina bedroom furniture
multifunctional family house by modelina bedroom mirror

The furniture in the bedroom is white, minimalist, with wood accents just like in the case of the kitchen and living room. But despite the simplicity the attention to details was never neglected. The wall mirror in the bedroom is a really good example. It’s a very subtle ad very clever addition to the room.

multifunctional family house by modelina bedroom bookcase

Looking at this project as a whole, it’s obvious that there’s a lot of harmony here. Everything is beautifully balanced and the house manages to be both kid-friendly and functional. It’s a perfect family environment and creating it was challenging but also really rewarding.

multifunctional family house by modelina bathroom

What was the most difficult feature to design or implement in this house? Surely, not everything went smoothly and you had to face some challenges along the way.

Planning the functions in a small space was the biggest challenge for the architects. The interior needs to be compact. The architects had to create an open space, which would be ideal for the kids and the parents.