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Projects

The projects below reveal my approach to stay experience design: I observe the essence of a property and the promise it holds, identify the spatial and experiential friction preventing guests from experiencing it, and design strategic interventions to restore its coherence, character, and lasting value.

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Casa Razy Case open space from a high angle: dinning table, credenza with mirror, glass cabinet and stove top.

| 01 Casa Razy

From Hidden Character to Manifested Identity

Environmental Narrative and Experiential Zoning Intervention

Key spatial reorganization to express the accomoodation’s identity and foster moments of discovery, conversation, and connection—significantly transforming the way guests experience the stay.

| 02 Casa Oz-Shabit: the bedroom

From Secondary Space to one of the Highlights of the Stay

Sensory and Hospitality Interventions

A sensory intervention designed to bring the listing’s emotional promise to life and transform the bedroom into one of the highlights of the stay.

Ambient shot of the Casa Oz-Shabit bedroom after the experiential design intervention showing the bed, the bed canopy, a wood bench at the feet of the bed, and wooden side tables.
Casa Rural La Familia case study after the experiential design interventions by Zofia Machnowski Studio: impactful photo gallery with art pieces, heirloom objects in a glass cabinet, seasonal fruit, tea, and books on the coffee table.

| 03 Casa Rural La Familia: the living room

From Anonymous to Recognizable Family Legacy

Creating Moments of Discovery and Points of Connection

A focused intervention designed to create moments of discovery and key hospitality touchpoints that communicate the host family’s identity and encourage connection among guests.

Casa Razy

| 01 Casa Razy

From Anonymous to Recognizable Family Legacy
Environmental Narrative and Experiential Zoning Intervention

Open space volume with kitchen, dining table and a small living room, white, empty walls. Eye level wide photography shot documenting the Casa Razy case study before the experiential design interventions.

Before

Open space volume with kitchen, dining table, and a small living room; area zoned dark blue and ochre walls, a large mirror, curated showcase of unusual, interesting objects. Wide photography shot documenting the Casa Razy case study after the experiential design interventions by Zofia Machnowski Studio.

After

The listing promised: “a cozy, unique and quirky cottage.”

The hosts wanted guests to feel: “energized, inspired and ready to enjoy themselves.”

What the guest encountered: an open-plan accommodation with typical mid-century furniture and a few eclectic decorative touches.
 

| 01 MY OBSERVATION:

The space contained a fascinating collection of personal, striking and unusual objects; however, they were dispersed, hidden away and lacked a visual hierarchy that would allow them to stand out and tell a coherent story. As a result, they receded into the background and remained silent.

Therefore, the guest:

  • Was unable to make the connection between the many individual elements of the collection.

  • Missed the narrative of the accommodation.

  • Was given few cues through which to connect with the property in the way the hosts intended.

     

| 02 WHAT I IDENTIFIED:

The concrete opportunity in this space was to create a spatial framework with a clear visual hierarchy and a shared aesthetic language. This would allow the objects to come to the foreground in a coherent and cohesive way, telling a story of uniqueness, character and warmth that the guest could recognize and connect with.

 

| 03 WHAT I IMPLEMENTED:

  • Moments of discovery and connection through selected objects displayed intentionally.

  • A more distinctive color palette to support and frame the existing collection.

  • Color blocking to create zones of interest within the open-plan space.

  • Visual anchors to focus attention and invite exploration.

     

| 04 THE RESULTS:

  • The guest no longer encounters a scattered space filled with isolated objects, but a cohesive environment that sparks curiosity and invites discovery and conversation.

  • The space now expresses its true character through a more cohesive, distinctive and welcoming spatial language.

The intervention did not artificially create character; it reorganized the surrounding conditions so that the identity already present could become manifest.

 

PHOTO GALLERY

To explore some of the details and design principles implemented in this case, click on the images below.

Casa Razy was not lacking personality. Its personality lacked the conditions to become visible. 

Stand-alone kitchen cabinet in its original dark brown finish before the intervention at Casa Razy.
Casa Razy's Stand-alone kitchen cabinet painted in dark blue and with a wooden lacquered top showing the cabinet's final location in the kitchen and documenting the "after" effect of the intervention.

Before & After: The kitchen's stand-alone cabinet in its original wooden finish (left) and with its new painted finish in dark blue (right).

Deep Dive: Casa Razy, the toilet room

Even the Smallest Space Matters | Extending the Experience into an Overlooked Corner

Even a toilet can become part of the accommodation's narrative.

The same spatial language used in the main area was carried into the smallest and most functional corner of the home. Rather than treating it as a secondary space, the toilet became another opportunity to surprise and delight—through color, unexpected objects, live plants, and a small architectural reference.

Bland and empty guest toilet at Casa Razy showing the "before" state of the small room.

Before

Casa Razy small guest's toilet room after the experiential design intervention showing a quirky and cozy design with dark blue walls, wooden wainscot treatment, live plants, and unique objects - all matching the main open space narrative and look & feel.

After

PHOTO GALLERY

To explore some of the details and design principles implemented in this case, click on the images in the gallery below.

Casa Oz-Shabit

| 02 Casa Oz-Shabit: 
the bedroom 

From Secondary Space to one of the Highlights of the Stay
Sensory and Hospitality Interventions

Wide shot view of the plain and austere bedroom in Casa Oz-Shabit case study before the intervention.

Before

Wide shot view of the layered, texture rich, cozy bedroom in the Casa OZ-Shabit case study after the experiential design intervention.

After

The listing promised: “A cozy, romantic retreat where guests could rest and connect.”

What the hosts wanted to convey: “Relaxation, connection, and a romantic atmosphere.”

What the guests encountered: an austere, almost empty room with a single functional purpose: sleeping.

 

| 01 MY OBSERVATION:

The bedroom fulfilled its basic function; however, it felt austere and lacked the sensory cues and elements needed to encourage relaxation and connection.

As a result, the guest:

  • Found few cues that invited rest or connection.

  • Did not recognize the emotional promise of the stay in the room.

  • Lacked a spatial or visual framework that could serve as an anchor.

  • Had little reason to remain in the room beyond sleeping hours.

     

| 02 WHAT I IDENTIFIED:

The concrete opportunity was to introduce a variety of sensory cues, interactions, and moments of discovery that would encourage relaxation, connection, and a romantic atmosphere.

 

| 03 WHAT I IMPLEMENTED:

  • Textures, patterns, and layers of visual depth.

  • Key points of soft, warm lighting in different formats and intensities.

  • Moments of discovery and connection articulated around the bed and bedside tables.

  • A stronger visual and spatial focus around the bed, creating a cozy corner that invites guests to pause and linger.

  • Hospitality touchpoints: welcome tray, natural scents, bottled water and glasses, a wooden bench at the foot of the bed, a relaxing playlist, and integrated Bluetooth speakers.

     

| 04 THE RESULTS:

  • The bedroom is no longer perceived as merely a place to sleep; it becomes one of the highlights of the stay.

  • The guest discovers an enveloping space that invites presence, relaxation, connection, and the enjoyment of a romantic atmosphere.

The intervention did not create a different kind of space; it introduced the sensory conditions needed to facilitate what the bedroom was intended to be.

PHOTO GALLERY

To explore some of the details and design principles implemented in this case, click on the images below.

Complimentary 15-minute initial virtual consultation.

Finca La Familia

| 03 Casa Rural La Familia:
The Living Room

From Anonymous to Recognizable Family Legacy
Creating Moments of Discovery and Connection Touchpoints

Before shot: Wide shot view of Casa Rural La Familia with dark velvet sofas, a small area rug, sparse pictures on one wall, a mid century coffee table, and two glass cabinets on either sides. The space looks tired and disconnected.

Before

After image: Casa de La Familia case study's living room looking coherent, welcoming, and with identifiable family generational elements after the experiential design intervention: a cohesive wall gallery with generational images of the family and art, seasonal fruit and the from the property's farm, and books on the coffee table, heirlooms displayed in the glass cabinet.

After

The listing promised: “A home away from home in our small rural house on the family farm—which has seen four generations grow up.”

What the hosts wanted guests to feel in this room: “Connected to our family roots and history,” and “comfortable and at home.”

What the guest encountered: a pleasant, comfortable living room that could have belonged to anyone and felt somewhat disconnected.
 

| 01 MY OBSERVATION:

The living room already had a comfortable layout and cozy furniture; however, the elements felt dispersed and visually disconnected, and the space lacked details that spoke of the family’s heritage and history. In addition, there were no cues encouraging interaction among guests, making the television—located across the room—the default activity in the space.

As a result, the guest:

  • Found few elements that helped them discover who lived in the house or understand the lineage and heritage of the four generations connected to the property.

  • Had little reason to gather and interact in the living room beyond watching television.

  • Had few incentives to connect personally with the stay and truly feel at home.

     

| 02 WHAT I IDENTIFIED:

The concrete opportunity was to introduce moments of discovery and hospitality touchpoints that would bring the family heritage, local history, and pride of place into the room, along with interactive elements that encouraged connection among guests themselves.

 

| 03 WHAT I IMPLEMENTED:

  • Moments of discovery, objects, and artworks reflecting the family’s identity and heritage: books about the history of the area, photographs of four generations of the family, inherited objects; paintings, photographs, and drawings created by family members.

  • Hospitality touchpoints connected to the activity of the family farm: seasonal fruit, olive-leaf tea, and an invitation to visit the farm.

  • Visual references and cues to the current generation of residents through selected personal objects and photographs.

  • Interactive touchpoints encouraging guests to connect with one another, including board games and a tea set.

  • A spatial and visual anchor—the rug—to unify the living room as one cohesive whole.

     

| 04 THE RESULTS:

  • The living room sparks curiosity and encourages discovery and connection.

  • The space feels warm and cohesive, functioning as the true heart and gathering point of the stay.

  • The stay now expresses the hosts’ heritage and story unmistakably.

  • The living room has a unique identity that radiates warmth and intentionality.

The intervention did not invent heritage or create artificial hospitality; it simply introduced the personal elements and details that allowed guests to discover them and, in turn, genuinely feel at home.

 

PHOTO GALLERY

To explore some of the details and design principles implemented in this case, click on the images below.

I’ll help you express it.

Complimentary 15-minute initial consultation.

Ready to discover the hidden potential of your accommodation?

Whether you want to identify where your promise falls short, resolve specific spatial frictions or redefine the entire experience of your stay, let’s talk—no obligation.

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