Neutral and timeless tones shape spaces to be filled with pieces with curved silhouettes and soft, material textures: the home becomes a 360° sensorial embrace of pure material charm.
Warm, welcoming, balanced, bright and playing on the neutral and timeless palette of sand: there is an apartment in Curitiba, capital of the state of Paranà, in Brazil, that as soon as you touch it with your gaze you understand that it was designed by a woman. In this case the professionals are two, Carolina Rauen and Larissa Garbers of the studio Rauen Garbers Arquitetura. Theirs is the signature behind every space in the Sabbia apartment: pure elegance. Since its perimeter is made up of large windows (and glass is a cold material) they made extensive use of natural wood, also covering the floors and walls and then playing with rounded shapes and different textures, which give rhythm.
The apartment in Curtiba, Brazil, designed by the elegant flair of the Rauen Garbers Arquitetura studio, plays on tone-on-tone materials with refined gradients in warm sand tones.
Result: a cocoon-house to find yourself and be embraced by every element, by the light, by shades that inspire calm, recalibrate your breathing. How can the risk of monotony be avoided? Integrating unusual but elegant shades such as green (thyme or forest) and terracotta, diluting with white and relying on curves. Away with sharp and defined edges, we opt for feminine and sinuous shapes, caressing materials for total comfort and objects that exude strength and tenderness, aesthetics and practicality, the ability to defy time and to amaze.
Two neutral & soft corners in the living area of the Sabbia apartment designed by the studio Rauen Garbers Arquitetura
The living room is the highlight of the apartment. The furniture, which includes multiple seats and tables, features iconic pieces of Brazilian design that use different materials and textures. The shades of sand and beige harmonize with the surrounding wood; the natural lighting, a strong point of the property, is reinforced at sunset with light points that enhance each room.
IDEAS FOR THE LIVING
If you love to host, you will have to choose your seats carefully. Not only should they have neutral shades, which are always a great investment, but also rounded shapes and very soft materials. Or rather, the pluses of the Pebble Rubble sofa by Moroso, which has a megalithic appearance and plays on illusions and sensory experiences. It appears to be made of stone blocks eroded by water and wind but in reality it is a system of 15 modules completed by 3 very soft padded poufs, which can be combined in infinite solutions.
Pebble Rubble modular sofa by Moroso, designed by Sofia Lagerkvist and Anna Lindgren of Front Design, different sized configurations, from €11,600 – photo © Moroso – moroso.it
Rounded shapes also for the armchair Brioche by Twils, one of a kind in terms of line, ergonomics, quality and soul. It is composed of two volumes: a padded croissant-shaped backrest that envelops and a generous seat cushion. Curved shapes enhanced by the absence of sharp edges, the softness of the fabric and a practical swivel base. Curved lines also for Clop by Luxy, the unconventional chair that follows the way of being and doing of the people who use it: it was designed, in fact, to adapt to multiple seating positions and methods of use.
On the left, Brioche armchair by Twils, designed by Beatriz Sempere, from €2,400 including pouf – photo ©Twils – twils.it; on the right, Clop seat by Luxy, design by Il Prisma, €2,380, photo © Luxy – luxy.com
Two focuses on suggestive light points and wall art in the living area.
The same curvy philosophy is also applied to the tables to be placed next to the various seats. Like the Lokum by Acerbis in blown glass: rounded and irregular cubes and parallelepipeds in which matter, light and colour blend in an intense dialogue. Or the coffee table-stool Tempo by Riva 1920 in solid scented cedar wood, handcrafted from a single block. Inspired by the hourglass, it has a sinuous profile but a solid structure.
Lokum tables by Acerbis in blown glass, designed by Sabine Marcelis, from €1,500 each – photo © Acerbis – acerbisdesign.com
The multifunctional table by Design House Stockholm is called Cinderella, which mixes functionality and beauty. Its oval structure, combined with a solid oak finish, makes it perfect in any environment, whether as a side table next to a sofa, as a workspace or even as an ironing board! It has adjustable dimensions and comes with a heat-resistant cover.
Cinderella multifunctional adjustable table by Design House Stockholm, design by Anna Kraitz, €1,140 including ironing board cover – photo © Design House Stockholm – designhousestockholm.com
On the left, Tempo coffee table-stool by Riva 1920 in solid scented cedar wood, design by Authentic Design, €1,049 euros, photo © Riva 1920 – riva1920.it; right, Pose Tufted rug by Ferm Living in tufted New Zealand wool, available in two sizes, from €475, photo © Ferm Living – fermliving.com
To tie together all the elements of the living area, it is nice to use a rug-hug that symbolically contains them all, like the poetic Pose Tufted by Ferm Living; while to lighten the mood of the environment, you can color the wooden walls with wall art in soft colors but with funny subjects, like those on the canvases of the Bubblegum collection by Mineheart: classic but irreverent.
Canvas art print, Portrait 1 from the Bubblegum series by Mineheart, design by Young & Battaglia in collaboration with artist Kirin Young. With or without frame, available in different sizes, from €58.84 to €878.80, photo © Mineheart – mineheart.com
Thinking about lighting, instead, you can use the moon. The Ex-mood floor lamps by In-es.artdesign in Nebulite reproduce the lunar surface, they were born as outdoor creations but also create suggestive atmospheres indoors and, what’s more, they exist in an applique version.
Ex outdoor floor lamp. Moon by In-es.artdesign, available in different sizes, from €417.24, photo © In-es.artdesign – shop.in-es.com
At the entrance to the apartment in Curitiba, the two architects thought of a layout that would allow interaction between the different spaces, where receiving and tasting were integrated into a single large environment. The kitchen space features an impressive stone bench at two heights: a lower one, equipped with chairs for everyday use and an upper one, with stools for moments of relaxation. Inserting refined nuances and rounded elements into this context makes the space even more convivial, encouraging socialising.
The kitchen, conceived as a large sharing space.
KITCHEN IDEAS
From an aesthetic point of view, the elegance of a white kitchen is indisputable. Its welcoming soul can even be enhanced through targeted objects. Chairs that envelop, like the Raphia Rattan model by Casamania & Horm, a combination of technology and craftsmanship and the result of the two souls of production linked to Italian territoriality: the metal industry and the small, historic manufacturing companies of rattan and wicker.
An alternative? Stools with soft lines like Nerd Counter by Muuto in painted ash. Simple and solid, they have a light curved plywood shell and a low back that provides pleasant support.
On the left, Raphia Rattan chair by Casamania & Horm, design by LucidiPevere, €874.74, photo © Casamania & Horm – shop.horm.it; right, Nerd Counter stool in varnished ash by Muuto, design by David Geckeler, €499, photo © Muuto – muuto.com
Tableware is a must, with sophisticated shades and curvy volumes, such as the Qing plate set from the Faux Semblants collection by Ibride Design. Behind the appearance of a pot-bellied vase inspired by Chinese dynasties, ideal for decorating tables and sideboards, this stackable service reveals a set of melamine containers with delicate designs, but resistant to shocks and high temperatures. Finally, as a conceptual counterpart, the mouth-blown Cobra glasses by Georg Jensen and their particular, sinuous and refined design are perfect.
Qing Melamine Stackable Plate Set by Ibride, design by Rachel Convers, €179.95, photo © Ibride – ibride-design.com
Sinuous and wavy tumblers, in mouth-blown glass, Cobra by Georg Jensen, design by Constantin Wortmann, €40 for the medium set of 2 pieces, photo © Georg Jensen – georgjensen.com
To complete the kitchen area in the Sabbia apartment, a sideboard and a versatile system of vertical containers.
The neutral and light palette becomes even more chic and interesting thanks to touches of green, delicate like thyme, intense like the forest, chosen for the table setting but also for the furnishing elements such as, for example, the Dita sideboard by Ligne Roset, with four doors and lacquered wood panels.
Dita sideboard by Ligne Roset in lacquered wood, available in different finishes and colours, the composition in the photo from approximately €2,912, photo © Ligne Roset – ligne-roset.com
To lighten the wooden walls you can place a metal structure with containers on them, minimal and ingenious like Mittzon by Ikea, equipped with wheels that allow you to move it where needed and also use it as a green divider.
Metal structure with 4 Mittzon containers from Ikea, €169 each (in the picture there are three side by side) photo © Ikea – ikea.com
The master suite of the apartment designed by Rauen Garbers Arquitetura is an invitation to relaxation and contemplation. The bed in American oak, a noble and timeless material, is strategically positioned to enjoy the breathtaking view and has a large headboard: it is the heart of the sleeping area.
A glimpse of the suite, whose focal point is the double bed.
IDEAS FOR THE SLEEPING AREA
If a bed must embrace, let it be made of soft interweavings! It is impossible not to fall in love with the Flirt model by Mogg: it is a maxi nest made up of a padded weave in the headboard and in the bed frame, which envelops the beech wood slatted base.
Double bed in woven fabric on beech net, Flirt by Mogg, design Bellavista and Piccini, available in two sizes, from €8,124, photo © Mogg – mogg.it
One idea is to place it on the trompe l’oeil rug Timber Tones by Moooi Carpets, which celebrates the timeless beauty of wood, where intricate geometric patterns mimic natural grain and classic marquetry, creating a work of art that fills any space with warmth and sophistication.
Next to the bed, on the bedside tables, the night light comes from the small lamp Panthella 160 by Louis Poulsen. Designed in 1971 by Verner Panton, it is still an iconic masterpiece of form and function today. It has new small dimensions that make it ultra-handy, a battery that lasts up to 8.5 hours at 100%, a touch dimmer positioned on the top and charging via USB-C port. Portable, it follows you wherever you go and is available in 15 colors, including this delicate green that goes enchantingly with sand and neutral colors. Plus, it’s made entirely of recycled plastic.
Left, Timber Tones illusion wood effect rug by Moooi Carpets, design Sjoerd Vroonland, €2,760, photo © Moooi – moooi.com; right, portable lamp in recycled plastic Panthella 160 V3 by Louis Poulsen, €200, photo © Louis Poulsen – louispoulsen.com
In front of the bed area, a large storage unit (with five doors and internal shelf) to store linens can be Botero, an affectionate tribute to the voluptuousness of the Colombian artist. It was designed by Félix and Désirée, a couple of architects who founded Lola Glamour, and they equipped it with massive legs, geometric doors, strength, exuberance and sensuality.
Long and massive wooden sideboard with different finishes, Botero by Lola Glamour, €4,658.5, photo © Lola Glamour – lolaglamour.com
No TV above, but vases in which to place flowers or to use as simple decoration. These from Bosa belong to the Sisters Collection, each of them has curvilinear shapes, handmade decorations and a special name (Frida, Clara, Helen, Sofia, Clara). They are sisters and love wide spaces where their heads, full of harmony and creativity, can express themselves freely. They are a tribute to all women, the heart of every home.
Hand-decorated white ceramic vases, Sisters Collection by Bosa, designed by Pepa Reverter, from €564.99 each, photo © Mohd – bosatrade.com
The bathroom is the room that more than any other uses the vibrations of color to give character to the environment. In the Sabbia apartment, the large, linear sink is covered in green Alpine marble and is the real protagonist, together with the perfectly curved designer taps.
Two details of the green Alpine marble washbasin, the star of the bathroom.
BATHROOM IDEAS
As an alternative to the sink, you can opt for small colorful touches, such as those of Isy22 by Zucchetti, a hi-tech set (equipped with a system without waste and with aerator) for the sink, consisting of a tap and knobs for controlling the water in green Aver marble, a historic Italian brecciated stone.
A style detail that will not go unnoticed by connoisseurs and lovers of beauty, such as the sponges (in organic cotton) in coordinated shades by the Danish brand Tekla and the handmade Shell vase by Ferm Living in the shape of a nautilus shell, in opaque stoneware on the outside and enamelled on the inside. The great thing is that you can fill it with your favorite bouquets or a bottle of champagne.
On the left, Isy22 system by Zucchetti, designed by Matteo Thun & Antonio Rodriguez, with green Aver marble knobs, from €1,725, photo © Zucchetti – zucchettidesign.it; on the right, organic cotton towels by Tekla, available in different sizes, from €50, photo © Tekla – teklafabrics.com
Handcrafted stoneware vase, Shell by Ferm Living, €99, photo © Ferm Living – fermliving.com
Project by Rauen Garbers Arquitetura – rauengarbers
Photo © Fabio Jr Severo
On the cover, a glimpse of the living area of the Sabbia apartment, the realm of sand shades, rounded shapes and soft-textured materials.
