Out of nearly 100 synonyms of the word gray, one of them best describes the nature of our meadow under the Izera sky. Gray. It refers to summer, which pampers here with the lush grass, hours spent on gentle trails and in a hammock with a book. In autumn, the gray is less, it is replaced by red leaves and brown hats brought from the nearby forest. Winter is cheeks red with snow rides, runs and descents. Spring reveals the most beautiful view of Szrenica, Łabski Peak and Stóg Izerski. Starry evenings in the bubble tub are the domain of every season.
Ashen describes a small house made of silvery boards, surrounded by a path of gray slate glistening in the sun. They have been mined in the region for hundreds of years, they come from the last mine in Świeradów Zdrój. The cozy interior shines with an aesthetic glow, for which the icons of Polish design from the second half of the 20th century, saved from oblivion, representatives of European design and local decorations, which we partially made ourselves, are responsible for. The atmosphere is enhanced by carefully selected colors and amusement in the form of games, albums, books, puzzles and candles. We should also mention the fireplace, which completes the catalog of small pleasures.
It is possible to cultivate joy incorrectly here, whether you are 5 years old or a little older. Check if gray suits you.
In an ash-gray or, if you prefer, gray house with a silvery façade, located in a meadow on the edge of Grudza, the highest village in the Jizera Foothills (506 m above sea level). We call it: a small house under a big sky. It has an amazing view of Szrenica, Łabski Szczyt and Stóg Izerski. In summer it is slightly obscured by lush bushes and trees, but thanks to this the house is immersed in greenery, hidden among alders, willows, oaks and birches.
Exact dimensions and layout of the houses:
– 35 m² downstairs, with a living room with a kitchenette, a bathroom with a shower and a separate bedroom,
– 15 m² of open mezzanine with a second bedroom,
– 35 m² of terrace from which you can enter a wood-fired hot tub.
The houses are located on separate plots, each of which is over 1,000 m². The facilities are fenced and independent of each other - at a distance of several dozen meters, visually separated, giving a sense of intimacy.
We have created each house for 4 people who will rest comfortably in cozy and design-filled interiors. I took care of the compilation of Polish and foreign design classics myself, because this is my hobby. On a daily basis, I create Politura, a company dedicated to bringing back to life forgotten icons of Polish design designed in the second half of the 20th century. Your glances will be able to stop, among others: on: a wall hanging in the living room found at an exhibition in Jelenia Góra and restored, an openwork Lotos chair (1980) and a Rondo pouffe (1975) designed by Poznań resident Romuald Ferens, Ted Net folding chairs from the 1970s, designed by Niels Gammelgaard, a renovated Grand Italia sofa, brand Zanotta, on German lamps and vases from the 1960s, or Danish teak lamps and accessories.
The cottage has two bedrooms with double beds. One in the downstairs bedroom (140 cm wide), the other in the open bedroom on the mezzanine (180 cm wide), accessed by a ladder. In both interiors you will find a variety of entertainment items: Danish party games from the 1960s, games and puzzles from Printworks, books and albums about design, slowlife and reading materials from Czarne publishing house, as well as candles, incense and aromatic oils. Plus pillows, rugs and blankets so you can settle down and relax in the place you choose.
To enjoy the view of undisturbed nature, on the terrace at Popielato 1 there is a corner sofa (this is my project carried out in cooperation with craftsmen from the region) and a table with chairs. On sunny days, you can attach two sails over the terrace, which will provide a pleasant shade. The second place to admire the Jizera nature channel are two modular sofas in the living room. They can be divided into 4 segments that can be freely configured and moved freely.
The interiors are also decorated with wreaths of wild plants made locally in Janice, sculptures in the form of basalt stones from a now closed mine in Rębiszewo, and decorations made by us from birch bark, obtained in a way that does not harm the tree, which comes from Siberia.
The cottages are open all year round, heat is provided by radiators, underfloor heating in the bathroom and fireplaces, which create an atmosphere, especially on autumn and winter evenings.
An extendable table in the living room can become your work corner. Wifi works flawlessly, download speed is 50 Mb/s.
In the gray houses you can eat whatever your heart desires, because cooking is very comfortable in the well-equipped and eye-pleasing kitchen. You will find plenty of dishes, cutlery, cups, glasses and goblets here. We really tried to think about everything, including batteries, cables and grill lighters. We even left wireless speakers in the kitchen for you to make your stay even more enjoyable.
You can eat your meal at a large, foldable table or on the terrace. There is also a barbecue at your disposal.
Good coffee goes well with the views outside the window, which is why we have equipped the kitchen in Popielato 1 with a filter coffee machine and in Popielato 2 with a drip coffee machine. You just have to choose a barista who will serve coffee in the morning. And with a cup, go to the terrace to enjoy your drink accompanied by the view of the mists that often appear here.
We will be happy to share with you a list of our favorite restaurants, cafes and a secret location for a delicious bakery.
Boredom is the best that can happen to you here! However, if you are afraid of boredom, we have several ways to do it.
Lying in a hot tub and watching the clouds move across the sky. Wood, sourced responsibly and locally, will be available in abundance. We recommend swimming in hot water in the evenings when the sky is full of stars. After dark, there is no lighting in the village, and the Izerski Park of the Dark Sky, which is located nearby, also does its job.
Direct contact with nature. Gray is immersed in green. Birches, alders, willows and oaks surround the house on several sides, and the surrounding meadows, fields and forests encourage unhurried walks. We do not mow the meadow in front of the house, because biodiversity is close to our hearts. Thanks to natural overgrowth, we blend in with the surroundings. Being here in the summer you have the impression that you are in a large meadow surrounded by a forest. It is a real respite from everyday life.
Favorite Reading. You can reach for one of the albums and hide with it under a blanket on the couch or hang out in a hammock with a book, your own or with one of our proposals that are waiting in the interior.
And further? Next is even more interesting. The Jizera foothills is an extraordinary land, you just need to step over the fence to immerse yourself in it.
Let's start with the village of Grudza itself, which has an interesting history. The village was once called Bonaluti, it owes its name to the Benedictine order from Lutomierz. From the mid-nineteenth century, it was in turn a summer village called Birngrütz, which guidebooks wrote about because of the magnificent views. A souvenir from those times is still growing today - an over 300-year-old pear tree, the oldest and probably the thickest in Poland. Right next to the tree are the ruins of an old Dutch windmill. There used to be an inn and a brewery here.
To get to the mountain trails it is enough to 10 minutes by car. Go to Kwieciszowice, Antoniów or Przecznica. If you want to ride bikes, we recommend starting in Świeradów. The network of forest bicycle paths is over 200 km long (on the Polish side and in the Czech Novy Mesto pod Smrkem). In winter, you can ski or snowboard in three resorts: in Świeradów, in Szklarska Poręba or in Karpacz. A little further away is the largest Czech resort, Černa Hora - Pec pod Sněžkou, with 50 kilometers of ski slopes. We have tried it out personally and we sincerely recommend it to you. Izery is also a paradise for cross-country fans, the vicinity of Świeradów and Jakuszyce offer dozens of kilometers of routes.
For those who are eager to experience history, we can recommend the Czocha castle (21 km), where numerous events and night tours take place, and the Chojnik castle (19.5 km) located over a 150-meter cliff. An interesting attraction is also the Geopark in Krobnica (12 km), operating in the spaces of the former St. John, where tin and cobalt were mined for several centuries. Today, you can walk along the underground route leading through two tunnels.
If you need the benefits of a big city, we recommend a visit to the most beautiful city in Poland, Jelenia Góra, which resembles the Austrian Innsbruck. The city is located in a valley, against the background of the Karkonosze Mountains, which constitute a spectacular backdrop for a small but atmospheric old town. Good restaurants and cafes can be found here without any problems, as well as water attractions in the very pleasant Cieplice Thermal Baths.
What’s there for children?
There are a few toys and books for children in the houses, but we left them just in case, as we noticed that the youngest children spend time outside whenever they can. They look for grasshoppers in the grass or chase butterflies, swing in a hammock and set off on the gentle Jizera trails with enthusiasm worthy of explorers. For example, there is a gentle, asphalt trail or a gondola lift leading to Stóg Izerski, which can be seen from our plot. Less than 20 minutes by car from us there is the Ecological Education Center - Izerska Łąka, which organizes workshops, presentations and film shows for children. In Świeradów Zdrój (also 20 minutes by car), you can visit the Isabell gingerbread workshop and take part in workshops on baking and decorating Jizera gingerbread (for children 6-13 years old, you need to buy a ticket in advance). It is worth going for walks with 6 fluffy alpaca boys to Zagroda Alpako Terapii (15 minutes away).
All simple pleasures were tested here by our children: Lonia and Tadek. They unanimously concluded: they recommend them to other children.
