No Rules, Just Right: How an Architect Transformed Her Tiny Buenos Aires Heritage Home into a Family Sanctuary
Meet Lura, an interior architect who masterfully redefined family living in the tranquil, English-style neighborhood of Temperley, nestled on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Her personal mission? To lovingly transform her own modest 56sqm (603sqft) early 20th-century heritage house into a vibrant, light-filled haven for herself, her husband Juan, and their four-year-old son Pedro.
The original structure, a typical ‘caseriso’ where rooms encircled a central patio, presented common challenges: a previously covered patio and the inconvenience of needing to go outdoors to access certain rooms. Inspired by local renovations that celebrated and preserved original architectural features, Lura envisioned not just a renovation, but a revival centered on bringing the patio back to life and crafting one large, comfortable, and bright living space where her family could truly connect.
A Philosophy of Freedom and Function
Lura’s design approach is refreshingly unconventional: she believes “the only rule is that there are no rules”. This liberating philosophy allowed her to discard preconceived notions about how kitchens, bedrooms, or living rooms “should” look, transforming every corner into a “functional, cozy place full of personality”. Her commitment to authentic charm meant that all new materials were locally sourced with natural colors, meticulously chosen to harmonize with the home’s original features.
The Grand Transformation: Unveiling Hidden Potential
The journey began with strategic structural changes to open up the space:
Walls connecting two bedrooms were courageously torn down to forge a truly expansive living area.
The division between the kitchen and bathroom was removed to create a larger, more functional kitchen.
A pivotal moment was the addition of a new indoor staircase, ingeniously relocating the bathroom underneath it.
The sleeping quarters moved upstairs, where a former tiny storage room was reimagined into the main bedroom, and Pedro’s room was cleverly carved out from a section of the roof terrace.
A Walk Through Their Rescued Home:
The Patio: The House’s Beating Heart The patio is undeniably Lura’s favorite feature, immediately greeting visitors upon entry. Its original walls, stairs, doors, and gate stand as testaments to its history. New limestone tiles, a nod to traditional homes, now pave the floor. Practical additions include a ledge for convenient meal pass-through and ingenious hidden storage under the stairs for cleaning supplies.
Living & Dining: Open, Adaptable, and Personal Stepping in from the patio, a custom-designed entryway piece neatly tucks away shoes, coats, and backpacks behind doors, keeping clutter at bay. The living and dining space unfolds as a large, open room boasting high ceilings, a result of removing original drop ceilings to reveal beautiful vaulted brick. The original pine floors and ‘seta’ doors were preserved, while plaster was stripped from the walls, embracing their natural texture. A custom-made modular sofa provides flexible seating, complemented by deeply personal pieces: a coffee table Lura crafted herself and her mother-in-law’s beloved rocking chair, a favorite spot for everyone. A TV on a swivel mount allows versatile viewing from both the sofa and the dining table, which Lura created from repurposed exhibition materials – a true multi-functional hub for meals, work, and hobbies. Along one wall, a sideboard discreetly stores work items, computers, and Pedro’s toys, topped by Lura’s grandmother’s old, still-used sewing machine.
The Kitchen: A Green, Light-Filled Culinary Hub The entryway cabinets seamlessly transition into the kitchen, ensuring continuity and additional storage. As a family who loves to cook, generous countertops and ample storage were paramount, with every item given its designated spot. The kitchen’s design beautifully echoes the patio’s green palette and natural materials. A large window along the pantry wall was a game-changer, flooding the space with light, and a charming little bar in front of it offers a delightful breakfast nook with soft morning light overlooking the patio.
The Bathroom & Staircase: Functional Art Tucked away behind a door under the stairs, the bathroom features a playful combination of black cement tiles and granite mosaics with charming pink speckles. The indoor staircase is hailed as the “star of the renovation”. It brilliantly integrates hidden storage in every nook and cranny alongside a massive open bookshelf, solving storage dilemmas while giving the space its unique identity. Crafted from warm wood with a metal upper section for light from the terrace, it’s both beautiful and functional. Notably, the original outdoor staircase was preserved for its visual appeal and to provide dual access to the rooftop.
Bedrooms: Cozy, Contrastive Retreats The bedrooms, designed as “small, cozy caves,” offer a deliberate contrast to the open living areas, providing a calm shift in energy before bedtime. The main bedroom boasts a wall-to-wall closet and clever hidden storage behind the bed for out-of-season items. A large window now fills the room with light, replacing an old door. Pedro’s room, though the smallest, is made special with a short door for privacy without feeling cramped and a custom animal-themed wall vinyl for a playful touch. It perfectly accommodates his bed, clothes storage, and beloved Lego and bookshelves. A second door, repurposed from the old storage room, provides access to a roof terrace, with future plans to build Pedro a new bedroom there, converting his current space into a study.
Lura’s Buenos Aires home stands as a radiant example of thoughtful design, proving that even a small heritage house can be transformed into a functional, beautiful, and deeply personal sanctuary where a family can truly thrive.