DLÁŽDĚNÁ Duplex interior
We took on this duplex apartment in the center of Prague at a stage when it was practically empty. No floors, no bathrooms, no doors. Just the space, the layout, and a steel staircase in the middle of the structure—a development project where we designed the interior from the ground up. And that’s what we ended up enjoying the most. Instead of suppressing it, we let it guide the entire design. We painted the staircase a bold yellow and made it the focal point of the interior. The living area, fireplace, kitchen, and art installations all revolve around it.
Yellow takes center stage
Yellow isn’t exactly our typical choice. That’s precisely why we loved it here. In an otherwise black-and-white interior with muted gray flooring and a black fireplace, the staircase structure was given a color that instantly transforms the space. It’s not just the stairs. Yellow also extends to the railing, the ceiling, and other details around the central core. In this duplex, the color serves not merely as a decorative accent, but as an element that helps define the space and connects the lower living area with the upper floor.
A fireplace in the center
We placed the fireplace in the central core, around which the staircase winds. It isn’t pushed against a wall; it doesn’t serve merely as an accessory. It is right at the heart of the action. As a result, the living space functions differently than a typical living room. The seating area, dining room, kitchen, and staircase all relate to the center of the apartment. This creates an open space that is essential to the interior of the duplex.
A kitchen with geometry
The kitchen is intentionally serene. White surfaces, black background, clean lines. In contrast to this stands an atypical bar with a geometric base, which brings another striking element into the space. This is not a kitchen that tries to be the center of attention. Rather, it perfectly complements what is happening around the staircase and the central fireplace.
A bedroom in the open space
On the upper floor, it was no longer possible to make any major changes to the layout. The placement of the doors led us to a solution where the beds are not positioned against the wall in the traditional way, but are placed in the open space. A narrow passageway was created behind the headboard, and the headboard itself consists of a steel structure. It visually separates the space but does not close it off. Light remains in the room, and the bedroom does not feel cramped, even though it works within the given constraints.
Bathrooms without frills
We designed the bathrooms with great restraint. Concrete screed, simple surfaces, black elements, and details with a slightly industrial feel. There was no need to add additional layers of materials in this apartment. The bathrooms serve as a calmer part of the interior, allowing the main themes of the duplex to stand out.
This interior design for a duplex wasn’t about having free rein, but about working precisely with what was already in place. The staircase structure, the fixed layout, the placement of doors, and technical constraints all served as the starting point for the entire design.
You can find out more about why it’s important to plan your interior early and what an interior architect can influence on the INTERIORS page. And if you’re interested in specific elements of the living space—the fireplace, furniture, lighting, or other suppliers—we’ve detailed them in the blog post Living Room with a Fireplace in the Center.
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by Radka - 28. 4. 2026