Intemporary Design Studio Transforms a Rented Lugano Apartment with Artwork and Vintage Pieces

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Ukrainian designer Alexandrine Lukach, owner of Intemporary Design Studio, found herself quarantined in Lugano, Switzerland in a rented apartment furnished student-style for her two adult children. After two months in the apartment, Lukach knew a full transformation was needed. The terms of the lease prevented structural changes, so the designer went to work bringing in homey textures, vibrant artwork, and vintage furniture. She mixed eras and influences but disparate pieces feel united to create a home.

In the dining area, Cesca dining chairs by Marcel Breuer pull up to a vintage wooden table. On the wall nearby, a sketch from the ’20s hangs with a vintage oil still life and a graphic work by a contemporary artist. Lukach bought some artworks at flea markets in Italy and Switzerland. But most pieces were from her favorite Ukrainian artists. “It was due to art that this faceless rented apartment with white walls and a conventional layout, which could not be changed even with a strong desire, turned into a living space,” Lukach says. The pandemic also made transport difficult, so some pieces came to Lukach through mailed tubes sent via the post office.