This 200-square-meter apartment transforms the traditional checkered floor into the defining feature of its interiors. Designed for a couple with two children, the residence was conceived as a home centered around family life, hosting friends and family, and creating meaningful memories. Located in São Paulo, Brazil, the project was designed by Küster Brizola Arquitetos, who used the graphic pattern as a tool to organize the social areas and establish the apartment’s identity.
Although the checkered pattern has a longstanding presence in architectural and interior design history, it takes on a new perspective in this project. Rather than appearing as an isolated detail, the flooring extends throughout almost the entire social area of the apartment. Its large-scale repetition softens its visual impact, creating the impression of a continuous rug that connects the different spaces and reinforces their integration. The grid also guides the architectural layout, with its geometry carefully aligned with the custom cabinetry and stone countertops. This precise coordination transforms the flooring into an element that visually organizes the interiors.
With its strong visual presence, the Keramika flooring guided the selection of materials and finishes throughout the apartment. Its striking pattern required a careful balance between textures, colors, and surfaces, allowing it to stand out while maintaining harmony with the other elements. To enhance this balance, the architects opted for a predominantly light palette, in which white brings a sense of lightness, while blue accents introduce a serene atmosphere.
American Oak cabinetry, present throughout the residence, establishes a continuous language between the different spaces, bringing warmth to the interiors and reinforcing the architectural unity. It also subtly incorporates the residents’ personal history through the integration of ceramic pieces from the family’s pottery workshop, creating a symbolic connection between past and present while adding a distinctive identity to the new home.
Maintaining a sense of flow between the different functions of the social area was another key aspect of the project. To achieve this, the architects designed a multifunctional shelving unit that organizes circulation and subtly defines the playroom, game room, and living area while preserving visual continuity between the spaces. Originally intended as a home office by the developer, the playroom received a delicate metal-framed partition instead of the original wall, maintaining its connection with the social area while providing the privacy required for the space.
In the game room, the furnishings highlight the residents’ appreciation for pieces with historical value and reinforce the dialogue between memory and contemporary living. Among the highlights is a century-old Italian pietra dura table, sourced from Florence and acquired at Cristiano Ross Antique Shop. Integrated into the room, the piece strengthens the project’s sense of history and emotional connection.
The integration of the gourmet balcony with the kitchen created a generous continuous space dedicated to cooking, family gatherings, and entertaining. Within this composition, the Paraná Cromos stone island becomes the central element. Featuring beveled edges, the countertop echoes the design of the everyday dining table, which reproduces the same design and reinforces the unity of the composition. The Guache ceramic tiles by Portobello introduce shades of green throughout the kitchen, evoking nature and bringing freshness to the space while harmonizing with the American Oak cabinetry and the project’s palette of blue, green, and terracotta tones.
Each design decision contributes to an apartment that balances geometric rigor, comfort, and identity. By reinterpreting a traditional flooring pattern through a contemporary approach, the project transforms the checkered floor into a design tool capable of organizing the layout, strengthening connections between spaces, and expressing the residents’ story through a warm and timeless interior.
