Rafael Ramos frames the Rio landscape in this 98 m² apartment

When the opportunity arose to buy this 98 m² apartment in Rio de Janeiro , the resident had no doubts: the view includes some of the city's landmarks, such as Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, Pedra da Gávea and Morro Dois Irmãos . A Polish woman who has worked in the Brazilian financial market for years, she commissioned architect Rafael Ramos – from CASACOR Rio – to carry out a complete renovation project, including the decoration. “The client asked to keep the original wooden floorboards and for the decor to reflect the elegant simplicity of the Rio de Janeiro South Zone lifestyle ,” says the architect. With the exception of the building’s window frames, which were kept, the apartment was completely redone. The old kitchen was replaced by a guest suite, taking advantage of the proximity of the back bathroom . The original dining room, which was hidden and enclosed by walls, was demolished to make way for a new kitchen that is fully integrated into the living room with TV and facing the project's main attraction, the view of Botafogo Bay. In addition, the guest bathroom was moved and a master suite was created for the client, with the bed facing the landscape. In the project, the architect highlights the custom-made carpentry designed by himself, such as the natural freijó panels that cover the walls of the kitchen and bedrooms, the dining table (with a top and base with rounded corners) attached to the kitchen's cooking peninsula and the living room's bookcase, made up of overhead shelves and a large suspended lower cabinet, fixed to the wall, with a slatted front and rounded corners.

Overall, the decor is neutral (so as not to take away the prominence of the view) and follows the timeless contemporary style , with a predominance of pieces with curved, rounded and organic shapes, such as the sofa, the coffee table, the suspended sideboard in the living room and the dining table attached to the kitchen cooking peninsula. Present throughout the project – from the wall coverings to the furniture and cabinets, including the solid wood flooring – natural wood brings a feeling of comfort and coziness and takes on a more urban feel when combined with elements in shades of gray, such as the two exposed raw concrete walls in the living room, the fabric on the sofa and the porcelain floor that delimits the new kitchen area. Delicate ornaments, paintings and photographs of Rio landscapes reflect the resident’s taste and personality. “Her love for Rio is also present in the ceramic covering on the bathroom shower wall, with a pattern inspired by the iconic Ipanema boardwalk ,” says the architect. “Colors appear in a specific way on the two stools near the living room window, in some objects and small paintings, and in the natural linen bed linens,” he points out. To finish off the look, large vases with plants were placed in strategic points around the room. The furniture selection prioritized pieces designed by Brazilian designers, with highlights including the Leif bench by Sergio Rodrigues , the Oscar dining chairs by Beto Salvi and Tuti Giorgi , and the Boomerang sofa by Bruno Jahara .