Marcelo Salum modernizes 1300 m² house in Chicago

Designed by Marcelo Salum , this 1300 m² house is located in Rinsdale, a suburb of Chicago (USA) and is home to a Brazilian couple with three children. Despite being a relatively new property, the architect was called in to adjust several elements inside the residence, such as the volume of the stairs and ceilings, and also to modernize the construction. "Although it was a large house in a very upscale neighborhood, it was a classic but not at all modern," says the architect. "Looking at the photos from before, the floors were natural oak and had received a few coats of colored paint, which didn't look good. We cleaned all the floor, staircase, and ceiling structures and redesigned a few things," he adds.

The house contains six suites in total, which have been redone. The living room, dining room, family room and library were also renovated. For the outdoor leisure area, the owner wanted a barbecue area attached to the house in the Brazilian style – and different from American culture. "We created a space that we call a gazebo and a solarium where we included the barbecue. They wanted this classic, cleaner and more contemporary style without too much excess," concludes Salum.