Villa in Rio de Janeiro: Natural Materials Bringing Warmth to Contemporary Design
French-speaking interior architect based in Lisbon, Elsa Sibuet developed part of her professional career in Brazil, a country she knows intimately through its language, aesthetic codes, and sensual relationship with materials. This villa project in Rio de Janeiro is a compelling reflection of that experience.
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Type: Residential — Villa
Area: m²
Scope: Complete interior fit-out, interior decoration, and bespoke furniture design — in partnership with the project architect
This contemporary villa in Rio de Janeiro was designed by the trilingual interior architect in close collaboration with the project architect. The existing structure, distinctly modern in character, was defined by clean lines and generous volumes. What it lacked, however, was warmth, depth, and a more human presence.
Astesi Blue was entrusted with a clear mission: to enrich these contemporary spaces with natural materials without compromising the architectural purity of the design. Stone, wood, and straw were carefully integrated to transform the atmosphere while preserving the villa’s modern spirit.
The central design decision was to clad the main feature wall of the living area in rustic stone. This defining intervention immediately anchors the space and creates a powerful contrast with the villa’s clean, white architecture.
Touches of wood were introduced along the staircase, bringing a natural rhythm to the vertical circulation. Every material choice was carefully balanced—never too much, never too little—allowing warmth to emerge without diminishing the light and openness of the interiors.
Every piece of furniture was designed and crafted specifically for this project. From the coffee table and bookcase to the eight-metre floating sideboard that connects the dining area and living room, each element was meticulously conceived by Elsa Sibuet and her collaborators to suit both the dimensions of the property and the lifestyle of its occupants.
Bespoke furniture serves as the true guiding thread of this project. Rather than acting as decorative additions, each piece was conceived in direct dialogue with the architecture, its proportions, and its intended use.
The eight-metre floating sideboard is undoubtedly the centrepiece. It visually unifies the two living spaces while providing discreet storage seamlessly integrated into the wall. The bookcase, coffee table, and seating were all designed with a consistent palette of materials—wood, metal, and stone—creating a harmonious and cohesive interior.
This project perfectly illustrates one of the core principles of the interior architecture studio: interior design and bespoke furniture are not separate disciplines. They are conceived together, responding to and reinforcing one another to create unique, memorable living environments.
In a villa with highly contemporary architecture, natural materials provide an essential balance. Used excessively, they can weigh down a space. Used too sparingly, they fail to create warmth. The key lies in careful restraint: a single strong feature, such as the stone wall in this Rio de Janeiro villa, is enough to ground the entire interior—provided the surrounding elements allow it room to breathe.
This Brazilian project demonstrates the international reach of the Astesi Blue interior architecture studio. Trained in France, deeply influenced by Brazilian aesthetics, and now based in Lisbon, Elsa Sibuet brings a multicultural perspective to every project. The studio collaborates in French, Portuguese, and English with discerning private and professional clients alike.
Whether designing a villa in Brazil, an apartment in Lisbon, or a holiday residence in the Algarve, Astesi Blue maintains the same philosophy: creating spaces that shape the lives of their occupants just as much as they are shaped by them.
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