Hi, I'm Kasia
By Kasia started with a homecoming.
Two years ago, after living most of my life in the United States, I came back to Poland. I was burned out and needed a break — what I thought would be a one-year sabbatical turned into something longer. I fell in love with Gdańsk. I found a little apartment on the edge of the Old Town and spent most of the year renovating it.
As a designer, I wanted my new home to feel modern but also distinctly Polish. But when it came time to choose finishes and decor, I was overwhelmed. There were thousands of options — a far cry from the Poland I left over 30 years ago, where your tile choices were "beige or slightly different beige."
Despite all the variety, I couldn’t find what I was looking for: contemporary patterns inspired by Polish nature and culture. There were plenty of ginkgo leaves and Japanese cranes, but no chestnuts or storks — at least not outside of baby decor. The Polish-inspired designs I did find leaned heavily on folk art or nostalgia. They didn’t reflect the Poland I saw around me — modern, creative, and evolving.
So I started designing my own patterns, drawing from the things I love about this place — its seasons, its landscapes, its stories. I printed them on demand and used them in my space. When I shared them with friends and family, both here and in the US, they encouraged me to keep going.
That’s how By Kasia was born — a way to share a fresh take on Polish design with others who, like me, feel connected to this place and inspired by it.
About my patterns
All of the patterns at By Kasia are inspired by Polish culture and tradition — the everyday symbols, stories, and rituals that shape life here.
The inaugural pattern, Makmak, features field poppies surrounded by ladybugs. Both are mainstays of the Polish summer and deeply symbolic — poppies stand for resilience, while ladybugs are said to bring prosperity. It’s a cheerful, hopeful print that captures the feeling of a sun-drenched day in the countryside.
Storki tells a story of migration — one that’s especially meaningful to me as an immigrant. Every fall, storks leave their nests in Poland and fly to North Africa in search of a warmer climate. Their return each spring is a national event. People follow their routes online, and there are even livestreams of stork nests where you can watch the chicks hatch. It’s a beautiful reminder of homecoming, change, and belonging.
Pierogi Party is exactly what it sounds like — a joyful celebration of Poland’s beloved national dish. I designed it especially for kitchen wares like tea towels, aprons, and oven gloves. It’s a bit cheeky, a bit nostalgic, and 100% Polish.
More patterns are coming soon — each one rooted in a piece of Polish culture that inspires me.
My style
While the subject matter is deeply rooted in Polish culture, the style of By Kasia is distinctly international and contemporary.
I’m inspired by artists like Charley Harper, who used clean, geometric shapes to capture the essence of nature. There’s also a strong influence from both Asian and Scandinavian design — in their simplicity, balance, and love of pattern.
My goal is to create designs that feel fresh and modern, but not tied to trends — pieces that are both timeless and of-the-moment. They’re unmistakably Polish in subject, but visually at home anywhere in the world.