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FM Apartment in Brazil Pairs Industrial Design With Vibrant Hues

ByMyProperty Life

Zalc Arquitetura has reimagined a 1,076-square-foot apartment in Perdizes, São Paulo, Brazil, transforming it into a bold combination of industrial and modern. The FM Apartment reflects the creative lifestyle of its residents through vibrant colors, handcrafted details, and an open-concept layout that prioritizes connection and flexibility.

A modern black chair sits beside a small round table with tripod wooden legs, holding a tray with objects, on a striped rug in a blue and black interior space.

One of the first priorities was to establish seamless circulation between the kitchen, terrace, and living room. To achieve this, the architects integrated the outdoor space with the main social areas, creating a larger and brighter living environment. In the private zone, the primary suite now features a fully connected bathroom, offering a hotel-like experience. Additional adjustments included resizing the guest bathroom to allow for a more spacious powder room and entry hall.

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Modern bathroom with bright blue tiled walls and shower area, contrasted by black perforated panels and a light-colored floor.

Color plays a central role in defining the apartment’s character. The entryway and bathrooms showcase handmade hydraulic tiles in bold cobalt blue, a dramatic hue that commands attention and sets the tone for the rest of the interiors. In contrast, more subtle shades of blue soften the atmosphere in the kitchen – appearing on the cabinetry – and continue into the primary bedroom through carefully chosen details.

Modern living room with a blue-tiled wall feature, white sectional sofa, black accent wall, and indoor plants.

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Throughout the apartment, black surfaces – including millwork panels and tile – anchor the palette, bringing depth and industrial edge. The darker tones are balanced by lighter neutrals such as polished concrete floors, white ceilings, and warm wood elements, ensuring that the overall aesthetic feels bold yet livable.

A room with a white couch and a black tv.

In the living room, the modular island sofa is custom designed to adapt to multiple configurations for social gatherings or everyday lounging. Greenery plays a subtle yet significant role, with tropical plants integrated into suspended shelving in the living room and extending into the bathroom. These green elements soften the industrial aesthetic, balancing concrete and metal with natural textures.

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Modern living room with a white sectional sofa, colorful cushions, indoor plants, open kitchen with bar stools, and a large black circular ceiling fixture.

Modern living area with black walls, blue accents, a white sofa with blue cushions, red bar stools at a black kitchen counter, and a circular rug on a light floor.

Modern living room with a black chair, a small light wood table, a beige sofa, and a striking blue tiled doorway framed by black perforated panels.

Modern kitchen with a black island, four red barstools, stainless steel appliances, blue cabinetry, and exposed concrete elements.

A modern kitchen with wooden utensils hanging on a rack and a geometric wooden tray holding various fruits on the counter.

A black and white dog drinks from a bowl built into a modern black and blue kitchen island with concrete and industrial accents.

The kitchen island also incorporates a dedicated space for the family’s pet, complete with filtered water access, seamlessly blending practicality with thoughtful design.

Modern bedroom with a bed against a geometric accent wall, built-in shelves, black framed glass partition, and large window letting in natural light.

A white tiled wall with blue lines features recessed shelves holding a vase with red stems, a word clock, decorative vases, a camera, and yellow books.

Modern bathroom with black and blue tiles, glass partitions, round mirrors, a small sink area, and a green plant next to a bed with a blue throw blanket.

Modern bathroom with blue tiles, black-framed glass partitions, a black shower area, a rectangular sink, and green plants on a black countertop.

Every corner of the apartment carries a unique identity. In the primary bathroom, an unconventional suspended urinal is mounted on a metal pillar. Green plants block those in the bedroom from seeing the urinal’s silhouette through the black-framed glass panels, keeping the open bathroom feeling sophisticated.

Modern bathroom with a large round mirror, blue countertop, light blue vessel sink, and matte black fixtures against dark tiled walls.

Modern bathroom with black tile walls, blue tiled vanity, round mirror, vessel sink, and glass partitions separating the space.

A person in a black dress opens a large, green built-in cabinet in a modern, minimal room with shelves, plants, and a chair.

The guest bedroom doubles as a flexible home office, where a more neutral palette creates a calm backdrop. Flanking walls of sage green cabinetry add a soothing, modern touch. One side conceals a murphy bed for visiting guests, while the opposite side integrates storage. A single wooden board extends across both walls, forming a continuous desk surface that makes the most of the room’s footprint. This multifunctional design emphasizes practicality without compromising aesthetics.

A modern room with a green Murphy bed pulled down, a built-in wooden desk, a laptop, shelves with decor, and a potted plant trailing from the top shelf.

A modern home office with green built-in shelves, a wooden desk, a laptop, a chair, a potted plant, and a large window overlooking city buildings.

Minimalist home office with a wooden desk, green built-in shelves, a laptop, a chair, a potted trailing plant, and a large window letting in natural light.

A small bathroom with black tiles covered in large white polka dots, a round mirror above a transparent sink, and a brass wall sconce.

Wrapped entirely in black tiles punctuated by varying sizes of white dots, the powder room takes on a bold, immersive quality, with the pattern continuing across the floor, walls, and ceiling. The result is both playful and dramatic, turning a compact room into an unforgettable design statement.

Black bathroom with white polka dot walls, a round black-framed mirror, a round wall light, a black sink, and a transparent rectangular basin.

Modern dining room with a round table, six chairs, and a dog lying on the floor near a black perforated wall. Large windows and balcony are visible in the background.

Modern kitchenette with black cabinets, polka dot backsplash, a small sink, and built-in grill; round wooden table and black chair in the foreground by large window.

To learn more about the FM Apartment and Zalc Arquitetura, visit zalc.arq.br.

Photography by Guilherme Pucci.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

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