Terracotta bliss – Sao Paulo

Creamy brick walls, terracotta tiles and tropical plants feature in this Sao Paulo apartment by Brazilian designer Melina Romano, which is intended to feel “modern and countryside“. Romano and her team said they blended colours, textures and materials to reach the balance between modern and cosy. Throughout the unit, finishes are meant to be easy to clean and maintain. Terracotta flooring and tan brick walls lend a “rustic charm” to the space and the ceilings are sheathed with a textured wallpaper.
Rooms are dressed with comfy furniture in earthy tones, including vanilla, beige and sage green. In the living room, the team placed a cream sofa, a sculptural wooden chair and a woven rug. Suspended from the ceiling is a black fireplace, which contrasts with the room’s soft colour scheme.
A focal point of the public area is a screen made of decorative blocks, called a cobogó. The screen was “strategically placed in the middle of the living room as a work of art that plays with light and shadow in space.The kitchen is fitted with black cabinetry in contrast to the ivory-coloured island.
A white dining table joins with the island and receives further support from a rope affixed to the ceiling. The table is surrounded by contemporary chairs with green and white upholstery with slender legs. In addition to natural light, illumination is provided by a floor lamp with a moon-shaped shade and an overhead fixture that resembles a task lamp.
Other details include a staircase lined with tropical vegetation. In the bedroom, a rust-coloured bed frame and headboard with a built-in nightstand positioned off-center.