A couple in their 50s, with two teenage twin daughters and a French bulldog named Apolo, bought this 210 m² duplex apartment while it was still in the planning stage, on the same street where they had lived for 25 years in Leblon (RJ). The couple made the changes to the plan proposed by the construction company and only then was architect João Panaggio – from CASACOR Rio – hired to design the next stages, including carpentry, furniture and lighting for all the rooms. “The clients had several requests. First, to imprint the personality of each family member into their respective rooms, taking into account each person’s preferences,” he says. “Then, they asked for plenty of storage space throughout the property, a large wine cellar in the living room and a more relaxed kitchen , in blue with touches of industrial style, where it would be possible not only to cook, but also to have breakfast, chat and entertain friends,” he adds. “Finally, they asked for a comfortable social area with spaces that encourage family time, whether watching TV, having lunch or preparing a barbecue,” he says. The project focused on integrated and multifunctional rooms in the social area through an open and fluid floor plan, with cabinetry in dark wood (pau-ferro) and ebonized wood, aged brown leather upholstery, as well as cushions and a striped rug in earthy tones. “This mix of materials and colors made the spaces warmer and more welcoming and contrasted with the cold base in neutral and light tones that already existed in the property and was maintained”, explains Panaggio.

Among the works of art, the architect highlights the diptych on the theme of nature next to the wine cellar, by artist Esher Bonder , and the smaller paintings on the TV panel, by artist Marcella Madeira . In the living room, which occupies the entire front of the property facing the street, the architect sought to create a visual unity through a panel of ironwood carpentry that camouflages access to the bathroom and, at the same time, integrates the TV room, living room and dining room, decorated with loose furniture to provide more fluidity between the spaces. The staircase leading to the second floor now has fixed vertical wooden brises , with a carpentry bench underneath in the same material, while the kitchen was integrated into the living room and, in place of the old wall, a folding door made of black aluminum with sandblasted glass was installed, which allows the spaces to be isolated or integrated, according to the need. "Our main challenge in this work was to start the project from a plan already defined by the clients, without modifying masonry and coverings", concludes architect João Panaggio.