Studio Papaya’s SBC Apartment Showcases Small Space and Smart Design

ByMyProperty Life 19/01/2026

Small in size but clever in ideas, the 538-square-foot SBC Apartment in São Paulo, Brazil shows how thoughtful design can stretch a footprint beyond its physical limits. Studio Papaya approached the apartment as a kind of living system, where color, material, and custom furniture work in unison to display how the home is used from morning to night.

Modern open-plan apartment with wooden furniture, shelving, and a mezzanine level. A person walks near the white entrance door; kitchen and dining area are visible.

The entry sets the tone immediately. A saturated green envelopes the threshold and pulls you inward, flowing from floor to walls and even overhead, so that moving through the apartment feels guided rather than simply walked. Storage is incorporated into arrival through a finely detailed wooden screen that hides everyday clutter while still letting light and air pass through. A low seat and built-in compartments make pausing, dropping a bag, or choosing a record part of the ritual of coming home. With the former balcony absorbed into the interior, the ground level reads as one long, open plane instead of a series of chopped-up rooms.

Modern living space with a cushioned sofa, wooden modular shelves, artwork, plants, and a table with chairs; natural light streams in through large windows.

A modern living space with wooden shelving, books, framed art, two round stools, a cushioned bench, and a white table on a concrete floor.

A statement piece of furniture was designed to do multiple jobs. A custom table slides and expands, shifting between prep station, dining surface, and worktop depending on what the day requires. Around it, the kitchen has the directness of a studio workspace with pale cabinet fronts reveal their plywood edges, while steel surfaces reflect light and keep things visually sharp. Subtle changes underfoot replace walls as the main organizers of space – one finish for cooking, another for lounging, and lastly one to signal movement through the apartment – so the eye understands where each activity belongs without a single partition rising up.

Modern interior with a wooden pegboard holding hats and bags, a bookshelf with books and art, and a green wall with framed artwork and a wall sconce.

Modern interior with wooden shelves, colorful wall hooks, a green accent wall, vinyl records, a dining table, and minimalist decor. A white door and small staircase are visible in the background.

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, wooden dining table, upholstered chairs, and built-in open shelves with dishes and fruit.

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a gas stove, oven, and open shelving displaying dishes, glassware, and fresh fruit.

Much of the home’s flexibility comes from bespoke joinery. On the lower level, shelving, screens, and storage units align like pieces of a puzzle, supporting everything from entertaining friends to stretching out on the sofa. Even the seating is adaptable, with movable elements that double as tables or ottomans. A soaring window fills the double-height volume with leafy views, effectively turning the facade into a green backdrop that blurs the line between inside and out. Artificial lighting is kept intentionally restrained, stepping in only when daylight fades.

Modern kitchen and dining area with wooden furniture, large windows, built-in cabinets, pendant lights, and a view of trees outside.

Modern living space with large windows, orange chairs, indoor plants, and wooden furniture, featuring natural light and a view of trees outside.

A modern living space with a cushioned daybed, potted plants, a table set with baked goods, candles, and natural light from large windows.

Modern kitchen with green accent wall featuring three circular mirrors, open shelving with plants, and white cabinets; wood details on ceiling and countertop.

Modern green entryway storage unit with open shelves, a cabinet, a potted plant, three round mirrors, shoe cubbies, and a framed photo near stairs.

Looking up, the mezzanine floats above this open living area, lightly defined by a slim guardrail accented with green panels. The color palette warms with earthy wall tones and honey-colored wood floors that create a relaxed zone for watching films or reading. Instead of solid walls, a slatted divider filters sightlines and sunlight, allowing privacy without sacrificing brightness. Shelving and mirrors along the circulation path add moments of reflection and depth, making the narrow passage feel animated rather than tight.

A terrazzo staircase with green risers leads upward beside a white wall; a potted plant rests on the upper landing, its vine trailing down.

A close-up view of stairs with a speckled green and brown terrazzo surface, next to a green bookcase and a white wall.

A modern living room with a wooden slat partition, shelves holding plants and books, a brown sofa, and an orange accent wall.

A modern living room with orange and white walls, a brown sofa, a flat-screen TV, wooden flooring, and pendant lights hanging from the ceiling.

Modern living space with wooden floor, open vertical wood partition, wall shelves with decor, potted plants, and pendant lights, featuring a red sofa in the foreground.

The bedroom continues this sense of calm. Custom millwork clears the floor, so the space feels larger and less cluttered. The bed is framed by a simple wooden headboard that discreetly integrates lighting and power, while the main wardrobe is cleverly positioned in the vertical void beside the room. From inside, this frees up much needed square feet; from outside, it appears almost suspended, an unexpected architectural feature within the double-height space. Soft curtains diffuse the daylight, giving the room a cozy, cocoon-like quality.

Modern upstairs hallway with wooden floors, green partition, potted plants, a built-in bench, shelving, and a view into a bright bedroom. Large window lets in natural light.

A minimalist bedroom with a neatly made bed, white linens, wooden cabinets, a bouquet of flowers on the nightstand, and sheer curtains letting in natural light.

A modern dining table with two wooden chairs, decorative items on the table, and a small side table with magazines on a terrazzo and concrete floor.

A modern indoor seating area with a brown cushioned bench, white pillows, and a white metal frame holding two potted plants on circular shelves above the bench.

Modern kitchen and dining area with wood and neutral tones, large windows showing a nighttime view, and minimalist furniture.

For more information on the SBC Apartment and Studio Papaya, visit studiopapaya.com.

Photography by Arthur Duarte.

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.