With a trained eye for detail, an interior designer can transform a space into something that feels new. Add intention to that and it becomes a more beautiful and fresh space.

Design studio Architectural Atelier, co-founded by Fabiola Salayandía and Laura Benavides, has taken rooms and entire homes to new levels time and again. In their recent project, the team transformed a home’s living room so dramatically that it became unrecognizable from its “before” pictures, creating a true piece of art through carefully curated design.

Salayandía said the team approached the project as a spatial reconfiguration and not just a cosmetic update.

Through brainstorming and designing, the team decided to tear down a wall dividing the entrance and living room, redesign the shelves to achieve symmetry and revamp the fireplace to support the spatial reconfiguration.

Their most significant move repositioned and integrated the fireplace into an accent wall instead of allowing it to act as a barrier. That decision created a strong visual focal point and smooth continuity throughout the space.

“This decision alone illustrates a key principle. Design is not about adding more, but correcting what interrupts the experience of space,” Salayandia said.

The designers also shaped other aspects of the space to align with the homeowners’ lifestyle and comfort. They layered warm wood textures, metal accents, stone surfaces and neutral upholstery to create depth and a relaxed mood. They used textures such as a thick, plush carpet and fluffy pillows to exemplify comfort, while adding sensory dimension to the room.

“We don’t design for a style – we design for people,” Salayandia and Benavides emphasize.

The team did not treat a single aspect of this design as an afterthought and gave careful attention to lighting as well. They designed window treatments to allow natural light to diffuse softly throughout the environment. They also placed a sculptural chandelier at the center of the space to reinforce the idea of intentional and well thought-out lighting.

“The lighting strategy extends far beyond a single fixture,” Salayandia said. “Multiple layers – ambient, accent and decorative – work together to shape the atmosphere throughout the day, reinforcing the idea that lighting is not an afterthought, but a fundamental design tool.”

Architectural Atelier took valuable lessons from this design, including the importance of addressing foundational issues early to unlock a space’s full potential. This approach creates a spatial flow with strong impact that finishing touches alone typically cannot correct.

Salayandía and Benavides say a home is shaped not by a single feature, but by the harmony of every intentional choice. In this redesign, their philosophy transformed the living room into a space that feels open, elegant and inviting. It is proof that thoughtful design can redefine the way a home is experienced.
__________________

Architectural Atelier is a full-service design studio specializing in residential and commercial projects, operating across multiple cities with a tailored, client-focused approach.