Located within a gated community in Araras, a district of Petrópolis in Rio de Janeiro’s mountainous region, this 950 sqm country house underwent a complete interior and exterior retrofit led by architect @MarcelaMartins.Arq shortly after being acquired by entrepreneur Marcello Bastos, co-founder of the fashion brand Farm. The property was purchased as a weekend and vacation retreat. A friend of the owner for over 25 years, the architect has designed several residential and commercial projects for him over that time.

Originally designed in 2001 by architect Cadas Abranches, the house sits on an 82,000 sqm plot, of which 15,000 sqm are dedicated to gardens, sports courts, and pools, while the remainder remains preserved, bordering the Araras Reserve. The original architecture, defined by exposed solid wood beams and columns, was paired with an English country-style décor, featuring red façades and interior walls, along with an abundance of furniture and decorative objects.

The retrofit sought to soften this composition. The architect introduced beige as a neutral base throughout the house, creating a light backdrop that highlights elements in natural tones inspired by the surrounding landscape. Accents of color appear sparingly—such as orange in the playroom and green in the TV room—while each of the nine suites features its own palette. Approximately 90% of the existing furnishings were reused and reorganized, combined with contemporary pieces and new textiles, resulting in lighter, more inviting, and updated interiors.

One of the project’s highlights is the powder room vanity, designed by the architect and carved from a single block of raw stone weighing over one ton.