127 sqm apartment gains a house-like feel with green joinery and integration

Designed by the firm Rafael Ramos Arquitetura (from the CASACOR Rio de Janeiro lineup), this project carried out a full renovation of a 127 sqm apartment in Leblon, in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro. Designed for a single lawyer and civil servant in his 40s, the property is located in a building from the 2000s and needed a complete update of its systems, finishes and layout.

Projeto de Rafael Ramos. (Fotos: Luiza Schreier | Produção visual: Andrea Brito Velho/CASACOR)

Just back from a work trip to Asia, the client wanted to move away from the original compartmentalized layout to achieve the cozy atmosphere of a house, reorganizing the floor plan according to the routine of someone who lives alone and prioritizing comfort and spatial continuity.

Projeto de Rafael Ramos. (Fotos: Luiza Schreier | Produção visual: Andrea Brito Velho/CASACOR)

In the living area, the integration between living room, kitchen and balcony became the focal point of the new configuration. Demolishing the wall that separated the kitchen from the hallway created an immediate connection with the living room and allowed for the installation of a peninsula cooking countertop. To define the areas without interrupting natural light and visual continuity, the transition to the living and dining room received sliding doors in fluted glass.

Projeto de Rafael Ramos. (Fotos: Luiza Schreier | Produção visual: Andrea Brito Velho/CASACOR)

In response to the resident's interest in more traditional styles, the kitchen received light green cabinetry inspired by the Provençal style, combined with geometric-patterned ceramic tiles on the backsplash that introduce color and design.

The materials palette enhances brightness and a sense of spaciousness. The original plank flooring was preserved and restored, serving as the base for the wood-toned cabinetry that runs throughout the apartment, while the snow-white walls, finishes in beige and sand tones, and white linen cambric curtains maintain the light base.

Projeto de Rafael Ramos. (Fotos: Luiza Schreier | Produção visual: Andrea Brito Velho/CASACOR)

In the living room, the TV panel stands out with its beige brick finish, in harmony with the rug that combines sisal and threads made from recycled PET bottles. Behind the dining table, a large mirror visually expands the space and encourages the flow of light.

Projeto de Rafael Ramos. (Fotos: Luiza Schreier | Produção visual: Andrea Brito Velho/CASACOR)

Incorporated into daily use as an extension of the social area, the glass-enclosed balcony houses a gourmet kitchen and received an off-white porcelain tile floor. A new four-leaf retractable frame expands the opening to the living room, allowing the space to be adapted to climate variations and ensuring that the projects effectively take part in the home's routine.

Projeto de Rafael Ramos. (Fotos: Luiza Schreier | Produção visual: Andrea Brito Velho/CASACOR)

In the private area, the floor plan reconfiguration now brings together three suites. The master suite gained usable area and two closets, while one of the suites was designed in a reversible way, with a bathroom that also serves the social area, in addition to a powder room dedicated to guests.

Projeto de Rafael Ramos. (Fotos: Luiza Schreier | Produção visual: Andrea Brito Velho/CASACOR)

All the furniture and decor objects were specially selected for the property. The art curation features a pair of paintings by Sou Franco on the main wall of the living room, three small-format works by Thomáz Velho above the sofa, and a black-and-white photographic series by Guilherme Milward above the bed in the master suite.