Vacation refuge: 60 m² apartment combines contemporary décor and a retro touch

Located in Leblon, in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, this apartment of 60 m² was designed by architects Ricardo Melo and Rodrigo Passos (from the cast of CASACOR São Paulo) as a vacation retreat for a mother and daughter who live in Belo Horizonte and frequently visit the city for leisure and fun. "We have been working together for a long time. The client came to us through a referral, and since then, the partnership has only grown. This is already the third apartment we have done for them here in Rio," says Ricardo.

The property already had a renovation, which the new owner initially intended to partially keep. However, throughout the process, she opted for a complete transformation, keeping only the peroba-do-campo wood flooring and the original windows. "The main requests were the integration of the living room with the kitchen, the preservation of the flooring, the creation of a closet, and the proposal for a practical apartment with a slight retro touch," explains Rodrigo.

Fashionable in design, the client also wanted a contemporary project with signed pieces and a relaxed, colorful style typical of a vacation home. The floor plan underwent significant modifications: the kitchen was opened to the living room, the former suite bathroom was replaced by a more compact bathroom and a closet, and the door to the social bathroom, previously facing the kitchen, now has access from the living room.

All the decoration is new, featuring furniture designed by Jader Almeida, including the Dinn dining table with an exotic stone top, Alba Wood chairs, the Doty coffee table, and the Teca serving cart. The base of the color palette is neutral, but the living room comes to life with a colorful geometric kilim rug, from which colors were extracted to compose the artworks of the projects, including the hand-embroidered fabric and the tapestry by Colombian artisan Argenis Ocampo.

Also highlighted in the space is the Don lamp, adjustable by counterweight, and the photographs on the sofa by photographer Ariosto Amado — one in orange and red tones and another of an Alka Seltzer tablet — which provide a fun touch aligned with the vacation vibe.

The open kitchen draws attention for its retro black and white ceramic tile flooring and the upper cabinets with illuminated glass doors, which give lightness and sophistication to the projects. The refrigerator, built into the cabinet, remains discreet, keeping the clean and integrated visual with the living room.

In the bedroom, the decoration combines pastel bedding, the Jardim side table by Jader Almeida, and a composition of small pictures by artist Thomáz Velho, also in soft tones, creating an elegant and cozy ensemble. The style of the decoration is contemporary maximalist, and the entire project, from the elaboration to the finishing touches of the decoration, was completed in six months.