200 m² apartment gains minimalist décor in shades of white, gray, and beige

The entrepreneurial couple already lived with their three children in this 200 m² duplex penthouse in Barra da Tijuca (RJ) when they decided to commission architects Fabio Bouillet and Carol Freitas from the BF + Architects firm (and cast CASACOR Rio de Janeiro) for a renovation and decoration project. “The clients wanted the penthouse to be better utilized for family use during the week and not just for hosting friends and barbecuing, as it had been before. In addition, they requested a spacious and complete master suite in the penthouse,” says Carol. To gain more space in the penthouse, the architects made some adjustments to the original layout of the property, such as relocating the staircase. “This change was the key to the project, as it allowed for the creation of a more comfortable living room on the upper floor and the complete master suite that the couple desired, with a walk-in closet for each spouse and a bathroom with two showers,” reveals Fabio. Still in the penthouse, the new gourmet space in the outdoor area was incorporated into the living room and bounded with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors (made of glass with black aluminum frames), allowing it to be used closed, with air conditioning on and the barbecue running at full steam, thanks to a special hood installation. In general, the project's inspiration was to create an atmosphere that reflected the couple's lifestyle, which is young and modern, loves to enjoy the home with family and friends, and appreciates a minimalist style, but without compromising comfort. "They like simple, functional, durable, and quality things. They requested few pieces of furniture and comfortable spaces to be used frequently in daily life," says Carol.

In the entirely new decor, the architects used shades of beige to compose the base of the color palette throughout the apartment and accented with black to bring modernity. "This visual unity contributes to the resident feeling cozy, with a sense of peace," evaluates Fabio. Among the contemporary designer furniture, on the upper floor, the architect highlights the Less floor lamp and the Ufo pendant lamp, by Fernando Prado, the Disco coffee tables, by Marcus Ferreira, the high Evo stools, by the duo Adolini + Simonini, and the Paulistinha chairs, by Mula Preta. On the lower floor, highlights include the Drummond armchair, by Maurício Bonfim, the black Pinot side table, by Ronald Sasson, the Bossa pendant lights, by Fernando Prado, the Hold armchair, by Estúdio Ninho, the Scala side table, by Studiosette7, and the Fenda coffee table, by Estúdio Fresa. "In addition to investing in Brazilian design, the couple got excited about the new home and decided to start an art collection," says Carol, citing, for example, a composition of 46 small paintings by artist Tomás Guarienti. In the palette of materials and finishes, the apartment features light gray porcelain flooring, a staircase with steps made of sintered laminate and wood, and transparent glass railings, walls and ceiling painted with white paint, washed American oak cabinetry, upholstery made of bouclé or linen fabric, and rugs made with 100% recycled threads from PET bottles, easy to clean since the family has a little dog. “The greatest challenge of this project was to present something that was completely off the clients' radar. They never imagined, for example, that we would move the staircase. But when they saw the benefits of this change, they agreed right away,” reveals architect Carol Freitas.