The Aratans apartment, located in downtown São Vicente (SP), is the result of a transformation full of meaning. The 65m² apartment, old and with a poorly distributed original layout, had already been put up for sale a few times without success — until architect Bianca Marques, who now lives in the property with her husband, decided to take on the challenge of reinventing it and transforming it into her first home. “The layout of the property was not conducive to socializing: the living room and kitchen were completely separate, and it had two side-by-side entrance doors, which was completely unnecessary. We had already given up on selling it. So I decided to rethink everything and transform one bedroom into two, as most people were looking for,” says Bianca.

The new layout completely reorganizes the use of the spaces. The old kitchen was replaced by a living room; the service area became an integrated kitchen with a peninsula and direct access to the dining room. The new laundry room is hidden inside a closet with folding doors, which still provides ventilation even when closed. The old living room was transformed into a spacious and welcoming master bedroom, and the original bedroom was transformed into an office with a charming hammock.

The woodwork was used strategically to enhance the space without overloading it. The project does not have a lowered ceiling, prioritizing spaciousness and indirect lighting, with emphasis on the Mantra (Suvinil) paint in the living room, which echoes Pablo Borges' woodcuts. The cookie table in the living room, designed by Studio Stefanovicz, and the handcrafted houses from the Maria do Barro Community also help to create a Brazilian, affectionate and contemporary atmosphere.

The kitchen features blue Horizontes Zanzibar flooring by Portobello, combined with polished Itaúnas granite and wood-effect MDF and clay joinery, creating an elegant and subtle contrast. In the bathroom, Cement Block flooring, also by Portobello, appears on half the wall outside the shower, reinforcing the lightness of the space — which also serves as a guest bathroom.

In the master bedroom, the light L-shaped joinery and wooden headboard with built-in lighting bring visual comfort and functionality, while a shoe cabinet opposite the bed provides extra storage in a discreet manner.

The project was developed in just one month, with seven months of construction. “The idea was to create a light, fluid and affectionate home, where each choice — from the coverings to the art objects — would reflect our story,” adds Bianca.

Team:

Architects: Bima Arquitetura

Photographer: Gabriel Fernandes 

Materials Used:

Carpentry: molinari marcenaria
Marblework: casa marmore
Metalwork: andrade vidros
Lighting: lelux iluminacao
Decorative items: sepia casa and acervo aberto
Coatings: portobello
Linen and decorative pillows: atelie vivi catelan