Sunlit 245 m² refuge becomes a gaúcho couple's pied-à-terre in Rio

A childless couple in their 50s from Caxias do Sul (RS) was looking for a pied-à-terre in Rio de Janeiro until they found this apartment of 245 m² in Barra da Tijuca, with views of the sea, the Olympic golf course, the nature reserve, and the Marapendi lagoon. From there, architect Amanda Miranda – part of the CASACOR Rio de Janeiro roster – was called to transform the property into a leisure space geared to stays in the city and to socializing with carioca friends at dinners and get-togethers.

Projeto de Amanda Miranda (Juliano Colodeti. do MCA Estúdio/CASACOR)

“The clients were looking for a chic space that was at the same time relaxed and light, with clear references to Rio de Janeiro, its beaches, and the city’s natural beauty. The idea was to bring a bit of that beachy vibe into the apartment. They also asked for a home office connected to the primary suite, as well as an expanded closet,” the architect says.

Projeto de Amanda Miranda (Juliano Colodeti. do MCA Estúdio/CASACOR)

In addition to meeting the owners’ requests for the private area, Amanda reorganized the kitchen, the gourmet balcony, and the living room. The wall between the kitchen and the balcony was removed to create a cooking counter with an attached rustic solid-wood table, while the connection to the living room is now made by a large sliding door, enhancing the integration between the spaces. “The biggest intervention took place in the kitchen, since the client loves to cook and bring friends together. As a result, it ended up becoming the heart of the home,” she explains.

Projeto de Amanda Miranda (Juliano Colodeti. do MCA Estúdio/CASACOR)

In the decor, everything was specified from scratch, since the clients live in another state. The architect prioritized comfortable, welcoming furnishings, creating a soft, light atmosphere. In select spots, the spaces receive touches of color, such as the checkered rug and the terracotta fabric sofa on the social balcony; the multifunctional green-lacquered millwork, with an L-shaped design, that serves both the dining area and the gourmet area; and the bedroom’s blue wall, a hue echoed in a few accessories.

Projeto de Amanda Miranda (Juliano Colodeti. do MCA Estúdio/CASACOR)

Among the signature design pieces, the Tetê armchair by Sergio Rodrigues stands out, set in the TV lounge, which is defined by an off-white rug woven from sisal and cotton fibers. In the art collection, a large multicolored painting by Marcelo Solá draws the eye, along with pieces of Brazilian craftsmanship, such as the little bricks from Barrolândia, basketry, a ceramic necklace, a textile headdress handmade by Maneart, and a pendant light with a macramé-woven shade.

Projeto de Amanda Miranda (Juliano Colodeti. do MCA Estúdio/CASACOR)

As for materials and finishes, the flooring throughout the apartment was executed in porcelain tile in the Travertino Navona pattern, a finish replicated on the living room’s TV panel to ensure visual continuity. In the social area, the walls alternate between white acrylic paint, woodwork panels in an oak pattern, and a texture that evokes beach sand.

Projeto de Amanda Miranda (Juliano Colodeti. do MCA Estúdio/CASACOR)

The same wood finish appears on the lower kitchen cabinets (paired with upper cabinets in a light fendi tone) and recurs throughout the apartment’s millwork. The kitchen countertops were executed in Taj Mahal quartzite with a brushed finish.