A young international couple expecting their first child approached us to transform their Upper East Side apartment—with the caveat that the wife would be overseeing the design from Brazil, her home country, and returning with the new baby when construction was complete. As a growing family, they needed an apartment with larger bathrooms and additional storage, while aesthetically they hoped for a redesign that better suited their unvarnished aesthetic. 

The renovation inspired us to dovetail seemingly opposing design influences: Brazil’s tropical Brutalism and the soft, curving details that already existed within the apartment—all the while meeting the client’s programmatic needs. We detailed a custom millwork wall that adds much needed storage. Extending from the kitchen into the living room, it features a cane texture as a subtle contrast to the concrete floor. The built-in also doubles as a display case for the owner’s assortment of books and collected ephemera. An office nook is carved out beneath a new transom window, culminating in a light-filled work-from-home space.

Photography by Nicholas Venezia.