Redwoods

Diana Tamayo

• Interior Architects

Secoyas, is a remodeling project for a young foreign newlywed couple, the apartment had an eclectic concept. One of the biggest challenges was to create a living space, with an open kitchen that unified the spaces, as well as a comfortable area to receive visitors.

photo_credit Diana Tamayo — Diana Tamayo

The concept on which the entire design was based is a contemporary and monochromatic style, with neutral colors such as gray, beige and white, creating a balance between cold and warm. Materials such as porcelain tiles were used to give the appearance of marble, light oak wood lightly stained, stainless steel in mirror finish to give the feeling of spaciousness. The shiny gold and brushed brass style, were a key piece in the choice of materials for this project.

Upon entering the apartment the first thing you notice is the bar counter which is integrated to the kitchen, which can be used as a living area, but also as a work area for cooking, the kitchen was designed with upper and lower cabinets where you can hide the appliances and accessories leaving a clean space.

Also in the center of the kitchen, a marble-topped island was placed, with a waterfall on the sides, which is movable making it a multifunctional island.

The laundry area was integrated with the kitchen, creating a larger and more functional space with a washing machine, dryer, a space to store laundry products, a closet where the water heater and electric panel were installed, so they were not exposed. In the back we put a breakfast area with large potted plants and foliage to give privacy to the space facing the outside.

The living room was another important space for the user, what we did was to integrate the part of the garden so that when we opened the doors it would be connected to the interior of the apartment. We used a large screen and audio equipment that was functional and aesthetic in both spaces. We also made a guest bathroom with indirect light, we used a light wood lattice in the same tones to give more privacy, taking advantage of each space, we placed a bookcase with indirect light, we used LED strips which can change from warm to cold color which was one of the main elements in the concept.

In the master bedroom it was necessary to maximize the space, a multifunctional furniture was installed to serve as a workspace, dressing table and TV cabinet. This was achieved through a design with a wooden bar with drawers, a full-length mirror and indirect lighting which worked perfectly for the vanity and as a work light.

The bathroom was a challenge, since it had no natural light, to achieve the most natural effect we placed some buttresses along the mirrors which can change colors, although it is recommended to always leave them in neutral light color to simulate sunlight. Porcelain tiles were installed on walls and floors in off-white with light textures, white quartz sink tops and oval carrara marble look. To contrast and give a different touch, a gray mosaic was installed in the shower in the form of a niche. The accessories and faucets are in a brushed gold tone, thus unifying the whole contemporary concept in neutral tones.

The guest bedroom also became a multifunctional space with storage space, a TV cabinet with closet was installed, and a folding system was integrated at the base of the bed, thus giving the best use to the spaces.

The garden was one of the most important points of the project, a deck was created with synthetic decking that looked like wood, in this space a table and a barbecue with an area for preparing food was placed. The garden adjoining the common areas was given privacy with a bamboo barrier, with fruit and aromatic trees to create a fresh space. To complement the space, an audio system and spotlights were installed to illuminate the space at all times.