Neutral decor and integrated, fluid spaces characterize this 140 m² apartment

In search of more space, a couple with a young daughter bought this 140 m² apartment in the Jardins neighborhood (south zone of São Paulo) and immediately commissioned a renovation and decoration project from an architect with an office in the capital of São Paulo. Unsatisfied with the result and service, on the recommendation of a friend who lives in Rio de Janeiro, the new owner decided to hire Rio de Janeiro architect Paula Müller – from the CASACOR Rio cast –, who accepted the challenge immediately and created a new project from scratch. “The client asked for an apartment with few pieces of furniture to make the circulation lighter and more fluid, with light, neutral and visually clean decor , with as few colors as possible, and lots of closets, since the previous property lacked storage space,” says Paula. “We can say, then, that this was the concept that guided the entire project,” she explains. With the renovation, the apartment was practically torn down. In the new layout, the gourmet balcony and the kitchen – previously isolated, for example – were integrated into the central living room. “We placed the dining table, with eight chairs, in the gourmet balcony space, since on the other side of the living room, right in front of the kitchen’s peninsula-style cooking counter, there is the lunch table, with four chairs,” he explains.

The decor, which follows a timeless contemporary style with a Scandinavian feel , is all new - even the bedroom linens and kitchenware were selected by the architect, with the help of a personal organizer . Most of the furniture was chosen for its visual lightness, comfort, practicality and timelessness in each piece. “Initially, the client asked for a completely neutral, light and sober color palette. Therefore, the upholstery fabrics and curtains, the carpet and the flooring in the social area range from off-white to light gray tones, while the cabinetry was finished in natural wood, also very light. Then, to break up the monotony of colors without visually weighing it down, she asked for touches of green to be added, which appear in the plants, vases and cushions,” says Paula. In the private area, the bedrooms have wooden floating floors and carpentry with either a wood finish or a gray lacquer finish – always in light tones –, with linen-style wallpaper in the couple's bedroom and handmade painting on the wall of the daughter's bedroom, done by the A Casinha studio.