Grijó's House
Harmony, spaciousness, flexibility. The search for a fluid home that expresses the ambition of the new generations. Designing contemporaneity into a conventional floor plan to transform an ordinary space into a home in tune with its occupants was the impetus for a response tailored to the desires and needs of a young and demanding couple. We set to work and brought a dream to life: the opportunity to choose every nook and cranny and materialize what we had always imagined.
House refurbishment project - interiors and works
We began by strategically demolishing some interior walls, which made the house feel wider and more spacious. Previously, the house had a conventional floor plan, typical of old houses, with lots of walls and divisions, which made the space less functional.
The transformation of this 4-bedroom house into a 3-bedroom was one of the most significant changes, allowing for the creation of a suite with a dressing room in the master bedroom, a preference of the client. The wall where the bed would be was also painted dark blue in order to make the space cozier and focus attention on the sleeping area.
The kitchen was completely renovated, optimizing the space and making it more practical. A central peninsula was chosen, allowing it to be used as a kitchen worktop and a table for quick meals at the same time.
An induction hob was placed in the center of the peninsula, creating greater connection with the whole house, with the installation of an extractor fan built into the worktop, new generation equipment that works with carbon filters, replacing the traditional exhaust system.
We had a challenge as soon as we opened the front door of the house, as we were faced with a staircase clad in granite stone, an extremely cold material for the internal environment of the house. We chose to use microcement to replace the granite stone on the staircase, not only because of its decorative appearance, but also because of its high resistance. This material is able to withstand impacts and abrasion, which guarantees greater durability. As it was not feasible to remove the original stone, the microcement was applied directly over the existing cladding, eliminating the need to remove the old cladding.
Microcement is a modern and versatile cladding, with an elegant and minimalist finish. That's why, in the service bathroom, we chose to clad the front wall with microcement as well. One of the advantages of microcement is its ability to adhere to practically any surface, and in this case it was applied over glazed ceramic tiles.
However, it is important to note that the application of microcement requires skill and experience to guarantee a satisfactory result. It is advisable to hire a specialized professional to carry out the installation and to work with a good supplier of materials.
In the courtyard, the base had to be waterproofed and the old flooring replaced with ceramic decking. A shower was created, ideal for cooling off on hot summer days. Finally, the whole house was given a new floor in a warmer shade of natural pine, so as to bring more comfort and life to the space.
When you buy a house that was built around 20-30 years ago, you often come across recurring problems, such as excessive walls, creating rooms that are too small. In addition, the floors are usually old, made of ceramic or wood, showing signs of wear. The staircases are usually made of granite or wood and the bathroom tiles are outdated, as is the equipment, which shows a lot of wear and tear.
