When Carolina Quevedo and Marcus Watari began their search for a live/work apartment in São Paulo, Brazil, they dreamed of an open floor plan, an industrial vibe, and a bustling neighborhood filled with cafes, boutiques, bars, and restaurants.

The couple combed the city for months, finding only compact flats with inflexible floor plans. But eventually, they discovered exactly what they were looking for: a 1,054-square-foot apartment, formerly a large podcast recording studio, with exposed raw concrete pillars, beams, and ceilings in the heart of São Paulo.

“It immediately caught our attention,” Carolina says. “The layout was appealing, and the neighborhood has shops, restaurants, a vibrant nightlife, and easy access to other parts of the city.” While they loved the apartment’s location and its massive living room, they were less enchanted with its black-painted walls, neon accents, and exposed electrical work. “It wasn’t functional for everyday living,” Marcus says.

The architects created an office for two in the open living area by arranging a freijo wood desk along the wall. Shelving above the desk holds Carolina and Marcus’s book collection, and the armchair and ottoman, designed by Sergio Rodrigues, were acquired at auction. The poster is by Shepard Fairey. The sitting area is outfitted with a family heirloom coffee table, a Stripe sofa by Cini Boeri, and a Jackson Pollock print." layout="wide" credit="Photo by Andre Mortatti" photoUserId="6536352518208872448"/>

They purchased the apartment and quickly got to work on a renovation with an initial budget of R$500,000 (about $87,500 USD) in hand. Without question, they hired Felipe and Jordan Castilho Perez of FJ55 Arquitetos for the project. “I’ve known Marcus since childhood and we’ve remained friends,” Felipe says. “He and Carolina have followed my firm’s work and growth over the years.”

“Their architectural style just really resonates with us,” Marcus says in agreement.

$17,544 Labor	$43,860 Caprentry	$3,860 Bathtub
$3,158 Tile Coverings	$4,912 Kitchen Marble	$719 Concrete Bathroom Sinks
$5,263 Wood Flooring	$4,386 Soundproof Windows
Grand Total: $83,702 (R$477,100)

Custom cabinetry made from freijo wood holds a pair of speakers, a turntable, and an extensive vinyl record collection." layout="" credit="Photo by Andre Mortatti" photoUserId="6536352518208872448"/>

Together, the homeowners and architects decided that their first order of business was to reimagine the living area. They started by opening up a guest bedroom to make the room as large as possible. “The new living room size allowed us to create multiple small environments,” Carolina says. “And we wanted to keep the open plan between the living room, kitchen, and dining space, so we could be in different areas but still communicate.”

Next, the architects organized different zones using custom cabinetry and furniture to delineate the areas. Near the entrance, they created an office for two with a built-in freijo wood desk and shelves supported by French brackets to hold the couple’s book collection. The desk turns a corner to form an L-shape with custom cabinetry for a turntable and speakers. “It’s a tribute to Marcus’s passion for vinyl records,” Felipe says. “It stores his collection in a practical and stylish way.” A sitting area across from the office is outfitted with artworks and vintage furniture, including a Strips sofa designed by Cini Boeri.

Felipe and Jordan recreated the kitchen and dining area, adding a pantry and an oval-shaped island wrapped in pink ceramic tile with a glossy finish. They spent about $4,912 on marble counters and selected freijo wood cabinets that visually tie in to the built-ins in the office. “We used the same wood to maintain a cohesive architectural language,” Felipe says.

Konkrë Living Design." layout="" credit="Photo by Andre Mortatti" photoUserId="6536352518208872448"/>

The architects reorganized the primary suite, moving the closet to the rear of the room, and they updated both the en suite bathroom and the powder room with ceramic tile and freijo wood vanities. In the primary suite, they replaced the built-in tub with a freestanding one by Sabbia.

Carolina and Marcus’s biggest splurge was the woodwork—they spent about $43,860 (R$250,000) on carpentry throughout the apartment. “We wanted natural wood, which increased the cost,” Carolina says.

On the other hand, Marcus says they were able to save money because “the concrete didn’t require any work.” Since the ceiling beams are asymmetrical, the architects added sheet metal shelving to disguise the irregularities. They filled the shelves with potted plants to bring a burst of greenery into the space.

Best of all, they were able to finish the project for less than their budget of R$500,000—they ultimately spent about R$477,100 ($83,702) for the entire renovation. “We love it,” Carolina says. Their favorite thing about their new home? It’s the custom sound system cabinet crafted from freijo wood. “We use it daily,” Marcus says.

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Project Credits:

Architecture & Interior Design: Felipe Castilho Perez, Jordan Castilho Perez, Mariana Torigoshi, and Clara Gardelin, FJ55 Arquitetos / @FJ55arquitetos

Construction: PG Construtora

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Budget Breakdown: Wonderful Woodwork Refines a Concrete São Paulo Flat for $84K