In
Higienópolis , a traditional neighborhood in the central region of São Paulo, a couple asked for the help of architect
Isabella Nalon to make a major transformation in the
social area of an apartment that was over four decades old. After the renovation, the rooms became more
spacious, modern and
integrated . “By eliminating walls, we united the kitchen with the social area. With the warmth of
wood , the home theater is a reminder that no one should watch a movie alone and the
dining room became the family meeting point,” explains architect.
In the original design, the
living room had a narrow balcony, measuring just 2 m², and was not used much by the residents. By
removing the door that separated the terrace from the social area, the connection between the spaces enhanced the area and opened up space to accommodate guests. The wooden floor, which was already quite deteriorated, was replaced with
polished porcelain , a practical material that is very easy to maintain. The new floor was installed in all the rooms in the social area, a feature that helped with integration.
With the changes implemented in the
layout , the living room has become perfect for relaxing. With a
soft and
calm color palette, the space features
raw linen upholstery mixed with
organically designed pieces, such as the coffee table, blending with other furniture with straight, minimalist lines.
The kitchen, which in the original plan was isolated from the social area, also had its walls removed, resulting in more space , more fluid circulation and increased natural light. The project gained a quartz countertop that is resistant to stains and scratches, in addition to being perfect for quick meals. In the old
layout of the apartment, a bedroom and a small kitchen occupied the space that gave rise to a
spacious and bright dining room . Since the wall that divides the room from the rest of the social area cannot be removed, the solution was
increase the opening of the old door to promote a feeling of integration with the living room and TV room.
When demolishing the masonry to transform the bedroom and kitchen into the dining room, a beam was found in the middle of the path. The solution to overcome this problem was to take on the difference in the slab, which could not be eliminated, and cover it with a
wood-like MDF. which involved the entire area.
Even with the reduced footage , Isabella managed to give the bathroom a new look. The architect opted for porcelain tiles for the floor and wallpaper, which enhance the lighting. With LED lights surrounding the mirror, a wall light sconce and spotlights in the ceiling, the room was overvalued . The countertop, the star of the room, has a carved quartz sink. 
