• Family Refuge

    Camboinhas Beach, Niteroi

journal

Photography: Juliano Colodeti 
02 / 08 / 2022
Natural textures and hints of color bring the coziness needed to transform this holiday retreat into a real family home. 
She is Brazilian, he is Swedish, and they currently live in the US with the couple's two daughters, the oldest, a biomedical, aged 23, and the youngest, still, a student, aged just 16. The house, only now recovered, has been in the family for a few years and has an incredible view of the sea at Praia de Camboinhas, in Niterói, Brazil. With 154m², the property, which has not undergone significant renovations since it was acquired, already required special attention. For this, the studio Maia Romeiro Arquitetura came on the scene, led by the architects Marina Romeiro and Felipe Maia, which transformed the apartment into a true haven by the sea.

Clients wanted a timeless and contemporary property that was not at risk of getting dated. “The project does not have a defined concept, it is a modernization of space with timeless and neutral choices. The client, being Swedish, highly values furniture design, especially wood. This led us to a hybrid path, like a 'hygge beach', with light tones, lots of wood, bold design and natural textures”, explains the architect Marina Romeiro. The renovation included all divisions, with new furniture and occasional changes to the floor plan. The biggest changes were the integration of the balcony with the living room, the side balcony with the master suite, and a new service area, which left the kitchen and started to occupy the defunct service room.

The apartment gained an air of a home with these changes, combined with the strong presence of plants. The light floor refers to the sand and the colors enter discreetly so as not to detract from the sea view. “For the living room, colors and textures were chosen that did not rival the view: nuances of white and nude predominate, with touches of green, pink, blue, and earth tones in the details, in addition to natural materials. We tried to use pleasant and inviting colors to look at and to appreciate the environment, no strong contrasts”, says Felipe Maia. In addition, instead of a single coffee table, the architect opted for smaller and looser furniture, as they are light and provide greater flexibility and versatility to the space.

Other highlights are the bold design furniture, with pieces signed by Jader Almeida, Aristeu Pires, Alvar Aalto, and Jasper Morrison, and the straight-line joinery in natural freijó. The wooden panel between the dining room and the intimate area, with a mini boreal glass sliding door, allows natural light to enter the hallway.

Natural textures and punctual colors bring all the coziness and “beach touch” to the apartment's rooms. The couple's suite was integrated into the balcony and divided into a sleeping area, a reading space, and an office. Neutral colors and touches of coral were used in the decor. In the daughters' room, the decor is feminine and youthful, with touches of blue and light pink, in addition to cupboards with straw doors.

Finally, the office, used by the husband, has a generous shelf to store the various books and serve as a background for possible online meetings. Across the room, the edge-to-edge workbench provides a large, comfortable workspace.
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
  • Family Refuge
For more information, visit Maia Romeiro Arquitetura website.
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