Panoramic view of dining room in Pařížská apartment – concrete table with table setting, rattan chairs, three circular pendants, black kitchen island with pendant bulbs and geometric mosaic floor

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Renovation of the PAŘÍŽSKÁ Apartment

This renovation of the apartment on Pařížská Street was created as part of the SQUAT iD23 conceptual exhibition in 2016. There was no traditional client or precisely defined brief behind it. The goal was to create an interior where we could test specific materials, color combinations, and details directly in a real-world space. The entire concept was based on a single question—whether it is possible to design an apartment with a prominent use of brass and gold elements in a way that remains elegant and does not appear ostentatiously luxurious. Pařížská Street was the perfect setting for such an approach. A historic apartment building, high ceilings, a prestigious atmosphere, and at the same time a certain dose of boldness.

Concrete at the heart of the apartment

The kitchen and dining area became the heart of the apartment. The dominant feature is a massive concrete dining table balancing the amount of brass and decorative details throughout the interior.

Flooring played an important role as well. We used hexagonal tiles inspired by original Prague apartment buildings and connected them seamlessly with white oak flooring. Details like this help contemporary interiors feel natural inside historical architecture.

Above the dining table we used technical Delta Light fixtures usually seen in commercial spaces. Combined with brass, concrete and darker tones, they suddenly feel much softer and more atmospheric. Simple pendant bulbs above the kitchen island complete the space with diffused light.

View of dining area and kitchen island in Pařížská apartment – pendant bulbs above island, black circular pendants, rattan chairs, geometric mosaic floor

Dining table setting in Pařížská apartment – brass and ceramic decor with vases and dried branches, rattan chairs, circular pendants, black kitchen block in background

Kitchen of Pařížská apartment renovation – island with black granite worktop and brass drawer hardware, brass tap, gold wall clock, pendant bulbs, historic glazed doors in background

Overall view of dining and living area of Pařížská apartment – concrete table with table setting, rattan chairs, circular pendants, tiled stove, brass chandelier and black sofa in background

Close-up of kitchen island in Pařížská apartment – black granite worktop, brass square tap, round wall light and glass vessels in background

Pařížská apartment renovation – view through doorframe into dining room with concrete table, rattan chairs and three black circular Delta Light pendants above geometric hexagonal floor

Close-up view from above of black circular Delta Light pendants and dried flowers on dining table in Pařížská apartment – contrast of black metal and natural decorations

Floor transition detail in Pařížská apartment – geometric hexagonal mosaic seamlessly meeting white marble tiles, brass triangular table legs in foreground

Tiled stove and oversized living room

The living room was the biggest challenge of the entire apartment renovation. The space is large and representative, but we wanted to avoid making it feel cold or overly formal.

The atmosphere comes from the combination of strong materials, darker tones and historical elements. Original tiled stoves anchor the interior and immediately create the feeling of an old Prague apartment. Around them sit contemporary materials — concrete finishes, geometric floors and minimalist furniture.

The entire living room works on contrast. Decorative brass handles and historical references meet clean lines and technical materials.

Living room of Pařížská apartment renovation – black leather Togo sofa, green tiled stove, concrete wall finish, black round coffee tables, brass wall light, historic glazed doors

Close-up of geometric wire decorative metal object in Pařížská apartment – abstract steel rod sculpture in foreground, bokeh interior lighting in background

Living room of Pařížská apartment renovation – olive velvet armchair on dark wooden legs, smoked glass floor lamp on black stand, white concrete cylindrical side table, historic window

Detail of decorative vessel or glass vase on textured wall with historic motifs in Pařížská apartment – abstract still life combining glass, light and ornamental wallcovering

The black bedroom

The men’s bedroom became the darkest part of the apartment. We worked with black and anthracite tones, dark surfaces and very soft lighting. The idea was to create a calm, almost hotel-like atmosphere.

Connected to the bedroom is a black bathroom with brass details and a sculptural shower that feels more like an object than traditional bathroom equipment. Bathrooms became one of the main places where we tested the relationship between gold, dark materials and raw surfaces.

The entire interior relies on disciplined colour palettes. Because of that, even very dark spaces still feel elegant and calm.

Lifestyle photo in Pařížská apartment bedroom – man in bathrobe jumping onto bed towards woman lying down, dark wooden panelled walls in background, hanging globe lights

Alternative shot of men's bedroom in Pařížská apartment – upholstered headboard, beige bedlinen, dark walls, floor lamp with round shade – cooler colour tone

Alternative shot of brass vintage fittings with porcelain handles on black mosaic shower wall in Pařížská apartment – golden tiles in background – slightly different crop

Black bathroom of Pařížská apartment – double black bowl sinks on dark vanity with brass open niche, mirror in rough timber frame, brass fittings, glass cloche, globe wall lights

Black bathroom of Pařížská apartment – view through glass partitions, hexagonal tiles, sculptural ceramic object on floor, bidet and toilet in background, black bowl sink on right

Detail of open wardrobe in Pařížská apartment – dark open system with LED lighting, light garments (shirts, throws) on black hangers

Space for everything

One of the biggest advantages of the apartment is the amount of storage space. The walk-in wardrobe is therefore not just a hidden utility room, but a full part of the interior concept.

The design focuses on functionality and visual clarity. Since the apartment already contains many expressive materials and details, the wardrobe works as a calmer part of the overall composition. Brass accents and darker tones still connect it naturally to the rest of the apartment.

Walk-in wardrobe of Pařížská apartment – full view of open system with dark frames and LED strips, wool and textured garments on hangers, LG Styler on right, mirror

Exterior view of Pařížská apartment wardrobe – open clothing system visible through black-framed sliding glass doors, gold pot vases with plants on dark wooden floor

View from entrance hall of Pařížská apartment – historic door with ornamental etched glass panel, view into dark WC with black wall tiles, round mirror and brass door fittings

Detail of black bathroom in Pařížská apartment – white square countertop washbasin on black pedestal, wall-mounted tap, black wall-hung toilet, white and black contrast

The golden bathroom

The second bedroom is the complete opposite of the darker masculine part of the apartment. It is lighter, softer and built around warm brass and golden tones.

This was where we tested the main idea most directly — whether a golden bathroom could still feel elegant and contemporary. The key was combining matte finishes, restrained colours and simple materials. Any additional decoration or gloss would immediately push the space into fake luxury.

The study remains intentionally minimal. Inside an apartment full of strong moments, it was important to create a few quieter spaces as well.

Guest room of Pařížská apartment – grey sofa bed, headboard niche with wavy beige plaster wall tiles, two wall sconces, grey built-in storage wall, black marble side table

Guest room and study of Pařížská apartment – grey sofa, desk with monitor and table lamp, floor lamp, abstract artwork with concrete wall plaster, balcony doors with sheer curtain

Study of Pařížská apartment – dark desk with open catalogue book and monitor, tripod lamp with black shade, rattan dining chair, sun-filtered curtains

Alternative shot through glass partitions into golden bathroom of Pařížská apartment – white round pedestal washbasin with LED strip, golden tiles, black pendant lamp – closer crop

Detail of black toilet paper in brass geometric wire basket in Pařížská apartment bathroom – strong contrast of black and gold brass, dark background

Alternative shot of golden bathroom with bathtub in Pařížská apartment through glass partitions – without bedroom in background, tighter crop, golden tiles, white washbasin

Close-up of designer white round pedestal washbasin with black trim – Pařížská apartment bathroom, minimalist design with wall-mounted white tap

Alternative shot of geometric mosaic niche with round mirror and wall lamp in Pařížská apartment bathroom – slightly darker processing

Alternative shot of Pařížská apartment hallway – dark elephant motif artwork, brass pendant lamps, view through to adjacent room – slightly different crop and colour temperature

First Impression

The entrance hall introduces the entire apartment immediately after entering. Geometric tiles, brass details, dark contrasts and historical references all appear here from the very beginning.

The whole apartment relies on consistent colours and disciplined material combinations. Because of that, concrete surfaces, brass, historical elements and technical lighting can coexist naturally without the interior feeling chaotic.

For us, this apartment renovation in Pařížská was not just another Prague interior project. It became an opportunity to test how far materials like brass and concrete could go while still feeling timeless and balanced.

View into hallway of Pařížská apartment from entrance – hexagonal floor tiles, golden wallcovering, dark cabinets on left, large dark elephant artwork with lamp, view to glass wardrobe

Entrance hall of Pařížská apartment – view from front door, dark cabinets with brass fittings, white historic door, hexagonal floor, niche with black cabinet on brass plinth, round light switches

Why do we enjoy renovations?

What we enjoy most about apartment renovations is the moment when the original character of the space isn’t suppressed, but rather used as the foundation for a new interior. At Pařížská, we worked with the building’s history, its original atmosphere, and its old motifs, contrasting them with concrete, brass, and contemporary materials. It is precisely these contrasts that make apartment renovations more interesting than perfectly pristine new builds. Read about how we approach renovations.