English couple swaps house in England for minimalist apartment in Rio

The minimalist and elegant style is noticeable throughout this 154 m² apartment in Leblon (RJ): the residents – an English couple moving to the capital of Rio de Janeiro – asked architect Natália Lemos (from the CASACOR Rio cast) for a clean home, with little wood and an integrated kitchen. During the renovation, the architect not only opened up the kitchen to the living room , but also joined two bedrooms to create a super room for her son, with a bedroom and a TV/video game room separated by sliding doors, which allow the spaces to be isolated or integrated. “We chose a sofa bed so that our son could also use the TV space as a guest room,” says Natália. The project's minimalist concept was also given a Scandinavian touch (through the color palette dominated by shades of white and off-white , with hints of black) and an industrial touch (through the beams and pillars that the architect left in the exposed concrete when the kitchen walls were demolished). In terms of furniture, Natália prioritized timeless pieces with a clean , simple aesthetic and in neutral colors, highlighting some Brazilian creations with signature design, such as the Espaldar G armchair (by Juliana Vasconcellos ), the Claudia dining chairs (by Aristeu Pires ), the dining table (by Leandro Garcia ) and the Docc pendant lights and the Joy stool (by Jader Almeida ). Among the works of art, the architect highlights the painting by the artist Thomaz Velho , above the sideboard.

Since the clients aren't big fans of wood tones, Natália only used the material in the dining area. Even though it's a predominantly white and off-white space, with hints of black, the living room with TV was quite welcoming, thanks to the mix of textures of the materials used – from the concrete bench-sideboard under the TV to the walls covered with corrugated cement boards (which were putty and painted white). In the kitchen, the demolished side wall was replaced by four louvers with rounded corner frames and natural straw cladding , with an open weave. In addition to providing a certain level of privacy when accessing the bathroom, this feature added extra charm and a welcoming touch. Another highlight is the floating black wood island, with a niche underneath to accommodate a mini wine cellar . In the couple's bedroom , the mix of textures in the materials and finishes and the abundant natural lighting stand out, enhanced by the all-white aesthetic of the space. “Our biggest challenge in this project was, without a doubt, making an apartment that was almost entirely white super cozy. Exploring materials and finishes with different textures certainly helped us achieve this goal,” concludes architect Natália Lemos.