The proximity to work in downtown Rio de Janeiro and the ease of getting to the city's two airports via expressways were the main motivations for a young businesswoman when she bought this new
49 m² apartment in a recently launched real estate development in
Rio's Port Zone . The new owner's second step was to commission a renovation and decoration project from architect
Leandro Neves – from
CASACOR Rio – who did not need to make significant changes to the original plan, as the property already offered proportionally well-divided areas.
“The client asked for a functional apartment, decorated in
light and airy tones , with textures that bring a
feeling of coziness ,” says Leandro. “Our biggest intervention was removing the
living room window frame to incorporate the
balcony , which we closed with glass, and changing the tiles and fixtures in the
bathrooms ,” he adds.
The project concept sought to create a serene atmosphere based on a
neutral base composed of elements in
sandy tones , with emphasis on the
rectangular porcelain floor in the
travertine marble pattern and the walls of the living room and bedroom, which gained a thick and irregular artisanal texture. In the ambiance of the living room with integrated kitchen, priority was given
to furniture with curved, circular or organic shapes , such as the sofa, the Caique high stools (by designer
Felipe Madeira ), the decorative wall lamp (by designer
Waldir Júnior ) and the Siri swivel chair (by designer
Giacomo Tomazzi ).
The
wood carpentry in a medium and warm tone “warms up” the off-white base, balancing
the whites and
browns , which fade to
beige . “The carpentry was important to integrate the spaces, dividing the functions of each area, with emphasis on the
slatted panel in tauari wood , which covers the entire TV wall and extends to the balcony, now integrated into the living room,” he explains. In the kitchen and service area, the architect combined shelves (to keep everything close at hand and occasionally display ornaments and books) with closed cabinets.
On the
balcony integrated into the living room, it is worth highlighting the
carpentry trunk bench , with a slatted front (which runs the entire length of the railing), the
round table with a conical base for meals, the
swing fixed to the ceiling and the gourmet counter on the side wall, with a mirrored bottom, two shelves and cabinets with openwork slatted doors, which hide the minibar, the ice machine and the gas heater.
The resident's suite was equipped with the same materials as the living room, in order to create a visual unity. "The lampshade by ceramic artist
Gabriela Batista and the ornaments brought poetry and serenity to the space. The decor combines the orange of the wood and the bed linen with touches of greenish blues," says the architect. In the office, also used as a guest room, the
closet with a large central wooden niche stands out, which accommodates a bed that seems to float, and can also be used as a daybed or sofa in everyday life.
In both
bathrooms, wood takes center stage to create a spa-like feel, providing visual comfort and a welcoming feeling. In the guest bathroom, for example, the material covers the entire ceiling, while travertine-patterned porcelain tiles cover the floor, shower walls and sink, creating an almost monolithic effect. In the master bathroom, wood is even more present – it is not only on the ceiling, but also in the large “box” that separates the area dedicated to personal care from the bathing area. In both bathrooms, entire walls were covered in mirrors to increase the feeling of spaciousness in the spaces.
