Soon after purchasing this
450 m² apartment in Três Rios (inland RJ), a young business couple expecting a baby commissioned a project from architects
Diego Raposo and
Manuela Simas , from the
Diego Raposo + Arquitetos office, to make their new home just the way they dreamed.
“As the clients really enjoy having friends and relatives over, they asked for an apartment that would allow for this kind of interaction, without any formalities. Another important request was to include a generous area in the design to install a
closet ,” says
Raposo .
As it is a ground floor property, even with a large area, the new owners wanted to incorporate some outdoor areas , but this would require major interventions. According to the architects, the renovation made several changes to the original layout of the property to integrate areas and create new spaces.
In the master
suite , for example, a
bathroom was incorporated into the original closet area to make it more spacious, while a side balcony of the building was transformed into the new bathroom, with doors leading to the balcony of the master bedroom. “
This left space to create a spa area ,” reveals Raposo.
Another side balcony of the building was also incorporated into the property, this time to create
a spacious gourmet area, measuring 45 m², connected to the kitchen , which has a cooking island . As the clients are passionate about Greece, love a beach atmosphere and like to entertain in a relaxed way,
the decor here was inspired by the Mikonos/Santorini style .
According to the architects, overall, the project sought a
minimalist atmosphere, betting on a neutral and clear base (both in coverings and fabrics) to receive contemporary Brazilian furniture, some of which were designed by the architects (such as the
Mole armchair by Sergio Rodrigues and the
coffee table by Luia Mantelli ), in addition to carpentry designed by the office itself, executed in
freijó wood .
In terms of decor, practically all the furniture is new, with a focus on timeless design, always associated with comfort. As the living room is much larger than the previous apartment, it was necessary to invest in proportionally larger pieces and use the couple's old furniture in other rooms, on a smaller scale.
In the social area, the office opted for a
palette of light tones and natural materials, such as linen, freijo wood, travertine marble and leather , to make the spaces lighter and more welcoming. Furniture is placed in the spaces in a timely manner to allow the spaces to “breathe” and convey a sense of calm. The works of art and ornaments are discreetly placed so as not to take away from the prominence of the space as a whole.
In the
master suite , as the clients wanted to feel like they were in a five-star hotel room, the professionals designed a
headboard to accommodate the super king-size bed , as well as side tables and a straw and stainless steel lamp.
All the walls of the bedroom were covered with light oak panels , contributing to a very cozy environment, conducive to rest.
In the generously proportioned,
spa-like bathroom , in addition to creating
overhead lighting over the countertops, the architects installed two sliding doors with wooden panels that give the feeling of a home and also allow the space to be integrated with the outside area. “Since the client loves to sunbathe, when the panels are retracted, she can use the shower as a shower. We covered the
shower wall with pebbles to reinforce the spa feel,” concludes Raposo.
