Gabriel Hidd didn’t waste any time. Right after purchasing his first apartment at auction, the Rio de Janeiro–based economist enlisted architect Rafael Ramos to turn the outdated flat into a comfortable, contemporary home that reflected his tastes.

Originally built in 1980, the apartment “felt like it had never seen a makeover before,” says Gabriel, and came with a host of issues: three types of flooring, cramped rooms, and few electrical outlets. To remedy these problems and remake the space with a more contemporary feel, Gabriel and Ramos decided on a gut renovation.

Gabriel envisioned his newly renovated apartment as part home, part vacation rental that could bring in extra income. Spoiler: He loved the results so much that he scrapped the rental plans and decided to live here full time.

The renovation by Ramos reflects Gabriel’s personal aesthetic with a mix of industrial style and clean, minimalist lines. To achieve this balance of raw and refined, Ramos opted for a blend of natural materials—off-white cement bricks, wooden frames, and fluted glass—against a backdrop of soothing shades of gray and minimalist geometric-print tiles.

While Gabriel loves the end result, the six-month-long renovation process was not without its headaches. According to Ramos, the unit “practically fell to the ground” during demolition. The team’s main challenge was opening up the cramped layout, which included a traditional “pipe,” or mini corridor, that lead to a small window off of the living room, a common design solution to allow for air flow in apartments south of Rio.

“We eliminated the pipe by demolishing a wall between one of the bedrooms and the living room,” Ramos explains. In place of the original masonry, the team installed sliding fluted glass doors framed with wood that meet at the corner to enclose the bedroom, which doubles as an office space. Even when closed, the doors provide a sense of openness with light permeating through the glass.

“When the sliding doors are fully open, the living room looks much wider and gets even more natural light,” Ramos explains, adding that making the spaces brighter was one of their biggest challenges.

As a way to work around the apartment’s size and the project’s budget constraints, Ramos created built-ins for storage that are streamlined into the overall design and tailored to the needs of each room.

More walls were demolished to expand the kitchen and create a better connection with the dining room. Ramos’s team took the opportunity to create a laundry area adjacent to the kitchen.

Gabriel wanted all-new furniture and decor for his first home, so the team chose bespoke pieces that fit the constraints of the space and reflect his personal style.

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Ramos felt it was important to integrate materials and details that reflect Rio’s personality into the apartment’s overall design; one element is the brick wall that lines one side of the living room, which lends texture while melding with everything else on Gabriel’s wishlist. “Sometimes I just stand there admiring the wall, the furniture...everything,” he says.

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Rafael Ramos / @rafaelramosarquitetura

Interior stylist: Studio Jefferson Stunner / @studiojeffersonstunner

Lighting: Casarão dos Lustres / @casarao_lustres

Photographer: Luiza Schreier / @LuizaSchreier.ArchPhoto

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This Apartment Renovation Was Meant as a Rental. The Owner Liked It So Much, He Kept It for Himself