Open shelving separates the dining area from the home office in this 100 m² apartment

Located in Copacabana (RJ), this apartment of 100 m² was completely renovated by the office Paula Müller Arquitetura, part of the CASACOR Rio de Janeiro lineup. The owners are a couple with an 8-year-old son, who moved to the neighborhood to be closer to the mother of the wife. The property, purchased in poor condition, underwent changes to the layout and received a completely new decoration, adapted to the daily needs of the family. The project prioritized integrated and well-optimized projects, with functional carpentry solutions, good circulation, and efficient organization for daily life, without excess information or furniture. Among the main changes, the integration of the kitchen with the living room stands out, as well as the creation of an office connected to the social space, positioned between the back of the sofa and the side cut-out shelf, which delimits the dining area without compromising the passage of natural light from the main window. "I designed the open kitchen to the living room, with a counter for quick meals, and the service area with cross ventilation through a glass view, including a space intended for the resident's bike training. Furthermore, I created a camouflaged glass cabinet on the side of the kitchen carpentry, which serves as a discreet support for the dining table," explains the architect. The decoration emphasizes lightness and coziness, with cabinets integrated into decorative panels. Only a few objects and paintings were reused from the previous address; everything else—from furniture to carpentry, rugs, lighting, and curtains—is new. The neutral and light color palette bets on shades of white and off-white on the walls, in the cut-out shelf, in the kitchen cabinets, in the curtains, in the upholstery, in the rugs, and in the bedding. The chromatic base gains warmth and coziness thanks to the wood MDF carpentry, the original "peroba-do-campo" hardwood floor, carefully restored, and the upholstery of the chairs and stools in caramel leather, creating a uniform sense of comfort throughout the apartment. In the master bedroom, a sliding door covered with a mirror discreetly hides access to the bathroom, while the carpentry panel serves as a headboard for the bed, with an upper niche for books and objects and side lamps with directional arms, uniting functionality and sophisticated design. "The biggest challenge of this project was to make use of the original 'peroba-do-campo' hardwood floor. The work required care and dedication, but it was totally worth it, resulting in an impeccable aesthetic finish and providing identity to the apartment," concludes Paula Müller.