Sylwia’s aunt, Bożena, passed away unexpectedly in September 2021 following heart surgery in Kraków. Tragically, she never regained consciousness in the recovery room. She was only 72 years old.
I had the opportunity to meet Bożena in 2014 when Sylwia and I were vacationing in Poland. The condo where she had lived for most of her life had been in the family since it was built in 1964. Sylwia’s father, aunt Bożena, and their two siblings grew up there, having moved in during their teenage years. It was also Sylwia’s only home in Poland before she emigrated to the U.S. at the age of fourteen.
So, when the chance arose to purchase her childhood home, we didn’t hesitate. The condo officially became ours on November 8, 2022. After the purchase, it remained unoccupied for about a year and a half, until we arrived in June 2024. Fortunately, by then, the renovation was nearly complete.
We had entrusted the entire renovation project to Sylwia’s cousin, Paweł, and his wife, Patrycja, who own a design and remodeling business in Kraków. Their expertise made them the obvious choice, and working with them eased much of the stress that comes with managing a project from abroad.
In March 2023, I flew to Poland for a couple of weeks to see the condo in person and assess its condition. It was the first step in planning a full renovation, which would include completely updating the electrical and plumbing systems. At 54 square meters—about 580 square feet—it was smaller than what we might consider if we were buying a place elsewhere. But this apartment held special meaning for Sylwia, and since our intention was to use it as a summer home, the size felt just right.
Our vision for the renovation was simple: to create a space that would feel warm, inviting, and comfortable for us and the kids—a place where memories could grow in a home already filled with so much family history.
A full gut renovation finally began in April of 2024. A two man crew, Tomek and Adam did a heck of a job considering the condo is on the third floor with no elevator. They busted some walls and built new ones and I can only imagine the amount of rubble and materials they had to haul up and down those stairs during the roughly three month project.
What a mess that was—but we made it through! Now for the fun part. Let’s see how all the finishing touches came together to turn this place into our little home away from home. Click “Next” to take a peek!