With their children now grown and married, the couple decided to adapt the family's old apartment and make the most of its privileged location, on the seafront of Barra (RJ), creating an apartment that felt like home, more functional, harmonious and ready to welcome friends and family. The new
green kitchen took center stage in the
180 m² project.
To accommodate this new phase of life, architect
Vivian Reimers , from the
VRO Arquitetura office and
CASACOR Rio de Janeiro team, faced some challenges. Starting with the original
layout : despite being spacious, the property had walls that blocked the passage of light, making some areas dark and even somewhat enclosed, such as the kitchen. The lack of a toilet was another issue that bothered the owners.
"We removed some walls, changing the circulation and creating a more efficient layout. This way, we made better use of the space, we were able to create a
guest bathroom where there used to be a hallway, and we were still able to do the most important thing for the couple: create the kitchen of their dreams," says Vivian.
To achieve this, Vivian eliminated the service area, expanding the space allocated to the kitchen, and opened the space to the
living room , creating an integrated, fluid and much brighter social area. The kitchen also gained two essential items for the residents: a wine cellar, installed under the dining counter that connects to the dining room; and a glass cabinet to display crystal and porcelain. Built into the carpentry, the piece stands out in the project.
"By choosing an open kitchen, it was essential to rearrange the support areas, in addition to accommodating two machines, one for washing and one for drying, ensuring that they were strategically positioned for efficient use without interfering with the aesthetics of the environment", highlights Vivian.
In the living room decor, the combination of
blue with earthy tones from the striped rug was the starting point for choosing some objects such as cushions and the dining room pendant light.
"It's a way of creating visual balance, creating a feeling of comfort and cohesion between the different areas, as well as making the space more welcoming and full of personality," says the architect.
The renovation, which is almost complete, also took sustainability into account by keeping much of the family's furniture, which received some additions proposed by Vivian, and even restoring some pieces.
For example, the Bahia marble used on the bathroom floor and countertops underwent a restoration process to restore its original shine. Replacing the metalwork and ceramics in the wet areas brought a contemporary touch to the bathrooms.
The
balcony was revitalized, gaining a more functional and pleasant gourmet area, with plants that make the space even more inviting.
