As one can imagine, an apartment from the 1970s that hasn’t been touched in years wouldn’t be the most conducive for a work-from-home couple. It had its charms, original parquet floors among them, which gave Pedro and Flavia reason enough to purchase. But improvements were needed, so they brought in architect Ana Sawaia. She took one look at the space, located in the Pinheiros district of São Paulo, and saw things clearly: “The main objective was to lighten up and refresh,” she says.

First, Sawaia addressed the light situation. The living room windows were generously sized, but faced a neighboring building that blocked out light, so there wasn’t much hope there. Instead, she looked elsewhere. “The solution was to fully open the kitchen to the living and dining room, which allows the light from the kitchen’s facade to permeate the entire space,” says Sawaia.

Before, the apartment had a central corridor that led to the bedrooms, and a bathroom was squeezed between it and the kitchen. By demolishing the wall that separated the bedroom and living room, in essence eliminating the corridor, Sawaia was able to bring light from the kitchen deeper into the living areas.

But it also allowed her to toy with the 1,400-square-foot plan. She created larger bathrooms and a more generous closet for the couple, and, in the open living areas, integrated an office space for the couple. A new statement-making steel bookcase hangs between the office and the living area, and a few of the shelves have open backs to maintain an open feel.

Creating that sense of openness and fluidity was a priority for the young couple, who enjoy inviting friends and family into over. But also, as avid cyclists, they can easily store their bikes inside without making the apartment feel cluttered.

Another key design decision was the placement of the laundry room, which Sawaia positioned against the wall adjacent to the kitchen. She enclosed it with a white-painted iron frame that’s fixed with translucent laminated glass that not only hides the clotheslines, washing machine, and the air conditioning condenser, but also allows light to pass through from the service area window. When the lights in the laundry room are on, it glows like a lantern.

When it came to finishes and furnishings, Pedro and Flavia, an engineer and illustrator by trade, had to reconcile their stylistic differences. “Pedro prefers modern and Flavia old and iconic, however both love Brazilian design, so that’s the samba between them,” says Sawaia, who collaborated with the couple throughout the renovation. Together, they agreed on a range of furniture by Brazilian designers, such as Cremme, Paulo Alves, Baraúna, and Artesãos da Ilha do Ferro.

In terms of finishes, some of it came down to budgeting for material costs. In lieu of a costly porcelain-tile floor, the team selected a more economical option for the living room, kitchen, and laundry area, a burnt cement that combines pink, ocher, and white pigments. Flavia had a lot to do with it. “She fully participated in those choices,” Sawaia says. For more cost savings, they repolished the existing parquet floors.

Meanwhile, concrete was selected for a long bench that runs from the living room to the office, which generated significant savings in comparison to custom woodworking. In one bathroom, a combination of green hydraulic tiles and white ceramic inserts creates a soothing sanctuary that visually connects with the office’s green walls.

“Pedro prefers modern and Flavia old and iconic, however both love Brazilian design, so that’s the samba between them.”
—Ana Sawaia, architect

The couple’s bathroom, on the other hand, was covered with tiles designed by Sawaia’s office for Ladrilar’s Pausa collection. The tiles graphics serve as a subtle tribute to the architect, who is the daughter of composer Almeida Prado. “Each one has an analogy with time,” says Sawaia, referencing symbols found in a music score. It’s a nice finishing touch for the renovation, which was ultimately a medley of materials, finishes, and stylistic points of view that transformed a tired flat into an inviting and light-filled home.

Related Reading:

An Apartment in São Paulo’s Famous Lausanne Building Gets a Glowing Facelift

Subtle Touches Make for a Seriously Soothing Apartment in Brazil

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Ana Sawaia Arquitetura / @anasawaia

Producer/Set Designer: Aldi Flosi / @aldiflosi

Photographer: Carolina Lacaz / @carolina.lacaz

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A Major Apartment Renovation in Brazil Hits All the Right Notes