Natural materials and light tones are the stars of a project by PKB Arquitetura

A business couple living in Niterói (RJ) were looking for a base of support in the capital of Rio de Janeiro to relax on weekends, in the company of their two children (who no longer live with them), until they found this old apartment, measuring 260 m² , on the block from Leblon beach. The new owners then commissioned the PKB Arquitetura office – part of the CASACOR Rio team – to carry out a project to renovate the common areas and the bedrooms , which were given completely new decor. The main intervention in the original plan was the integration of the kitchen with the living room, which were separate before the renovation. “The clients wanted the second address to be comfortable, cozy and timeless, with a neutral and clear décor and full of designer Brazilian furniture ,” says architect Pedro Kastrup. The project prioritized natural materials in light tones (white oak joinery, wooden furniture, stone tops, fiber rugs and Navona travertine flooring) to convey a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere and also highlight the careful selection of works of art and iconic furniture by Sergio Rodrigues, Jorge Zalszupin and Bernardo Figueiredo. In the entrance hall, the highlight is the painting by Danish artist Mai-Britt Wolthers (who lives in Brazil), accompanied by a low monolithic bench, designed by architect Pedro Kastrup. Measuring approximately 90 m², the large social area does not require walls, but has been divided into an office, lounge, TV room, wine cellar and dining room with seating for 10. “ In the home office, we designed a wooden panel with a straw front , which allows us to isolate the space from the social area when necessary, without completely blocking the passage of natural light,” explains Kastrup.

Although small, the lounge (or conversation room) is a synthesis of the project as a whole – decorated with four Renata armchairs (by Sergio Rodrigues ), a natural fiber rug in a neutral and light tone and a round coffee table, with a wooden base and a Travertino Navona marble top, the same material used on the flooring throughout the living area. In the TV room, the highlight is the extensive woodwork bookcase, made up of symmetrical niches (with delicate indirect lighting) and the slatted sliding panel, which allows you to display or hide the TV. Other highlights are the Moleca armchair, by Sergio Rodrigues , and the Sertão side table, by Estúdio Mais Alma , inspired by the work Abaporu, by Tarsila do Amaral. The dining room features a table designed by PKB, Oscar armchairs (by Sergio Rodrigues ), Viky chairs (by Bernardo Figueiredo ) and Campana pendants (by Cris Bertolucci ). Like the office table, the buffet was made of Apia quartz, an exotic stone that added more personality to the space. To top it off, a diptych by Glaucia Leme (oil on canvas) and a work by Samantha Canovas (canvas on frame). The kitchen has a generous space, with the same basics as the entire apartment, with raw travertine flooring and white American oak joinery. The central counter, with cooktop, is accompanied by Lúcio stools (by Sergio Rodrigues ), while, on the side wall, the yellow cabinets bring a touch of color and personality to the neutral-toned space. Finally, at the clients’ request, the office adopted the same aesthetic solution in the three suites, maintaining the simple and minimalist style of the social area. The headboard panel, made of white American oak, embraces the bed and side tables, while the selection of paintings (with subtle and poetic messages) gives an individual touch to each room.