Apartment sizing and style has been under discussion recently on this blog. While enjoying one of my random hobbies of looking at floor plans, yes I really do enjoy it, I thought I should share some of them with you! A little view into Brazilian apartment living. I am attempting to post a variety of styles but do keep in mind that there are many many more!
Sorry if they aren't very clear but you get the idea.
Sorry if they aren't very clear but you get the idea.
I hear you - I am totally addicted to these things too!!
ReplyDeleteI must have a veranda - if only large enough for a chair and tiny table.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's why I don't get IKEA not opening up here and making a killing!
ReplyDeleteLove me a balcony!
ReplyDeleteThis is funny, because I just started arquitecture at UnB. hehe
ReplyDeletetok & stock is similar andrea...but more expensive!
ReplyDeleteTok & Stok is just more expensive. Not similar at all - quality is crap if compared to Ikea. I think maybe brazilian import taxes are just way too high for Ikea still maintain such reasonable prices? I don't know.
ReplyDeletei LOVE floorplans! these are an awesome rep of the huge differences.
ReplyDeletein my fantasy life i live in a walkup studio in new orleans.
Lolla,
ReplyDeleteIkea products SUCK big time in my opinion, I rarelly find anything worth my assembly time in that store.
Ikea is a big illusion, funny enough, I always thougth Tok & Stok is great and have way superior products, well, no wonder they charge more for their higher quality stuff.
Ray
Rachel,
ReplyDeleteThe last one down on your list is my favorite ;)
Ray
Ray, I have to finally say that I totally disagree with you. Tok Stok is WAY overpriced! While Ikea isn't the best quality, it's like $10. You get what you pay for.
ReplyDeleteI cracked up when I saw this. The second one looks a lot like the 500sqft, 2 bedroom "townhouse" my husband and I lived in. It was adorable and we loved living there, but you had to walk outside to change your mind. We never realized how small it really was til we moved out.
ReplyDeleteBelow is a really good book which can aid floor plan aficionados, plus offers many other interesting insights dealing with space (can be found in English and Spanish). The reviews submitted by buyers are also very useful.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/Pattern-Language-Buildings-Construction-Environmental/dp/0195019199
It is really cool to observe floor plans, like the one´s featured in this post, to then compare them to the patterns in the book. I find it to be very effective for reaching some clarity concerning organization of space.
It helps that the book is so concise, well written and to the point. Plus, well, fun.
They have a website but the content made available there is very limited.
www.patternlanguage.com
You can also find basic concepts, yet very useful info, here (in Portuguese):
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3265481/Manual-do-Arquiteto-Descalco
Kind of a pain to read it in scribt, but good enough to get an idea.
I LOVE House Hunters. Little known fact, I was approached by House Hunters international. They never got back to me! I think they were here last month or are coming next month. I wasn't sell or buying but now that I am, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to do their show. You our there guys, I'm here!
ReplyDeleteRicardo and I are in the mist of purchasing an apartment in Paulinia (well trying to). It kinda just for an investment before price hiking starts here. Nice to see, options.
ReplyDeleteBack to the Ikea vs TokStok (and even worse, Etna); I know them all and own something from them all (yes, I'm that sad), and quality being pretty similar, Ikea is by far the cheapest and with much more variety, and their hieroglyphic-type assembling instructions are the easiest to understand.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I wish they could set up a store here between now and when we become rich and can buy at places like http://fernandojaeger.com.br/
Hi Ray,
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rachel on this matter. I am always surprised (not to say shocked) when I look at the prices they charge at Tok & Stok. My kitchen is from Ikea and has resisted a LOT of wear and tear over six years of daily use (and abuse). Still looks as good as the day it was purchased - and I used to belong to the anti-ikea league. :)
Lolla,
ReplyDeleteI just don't have patience to assemble anything, that is why I am with the "anti Ikea" team ;)
I have to agree with you all, Tok & Stok must be expensive, I really don't know, last time I purchase something there it was even before this current currency REAL, it was probably sometime back in the mid 90's... :)
I prefer to save money and wait until I can buy something better, even if I have to pay a little more...hell, even a lot more... :)
Ray
Before we moved I used the kitchen design software on Ikea's website to plan our kitchen remodel. The idea was to buy the cabinets, ship them (unassembled) along with the rest of our stuff, then have them installed once we got here. It turned out to be cheaper to hire a local cabinet maker to custom make our kitchen cabinets. And they are better quality.
ReplyDeletethat last floor plan has a little cube room for the maid! eesh. man i don't even know where they build apartments like that! for sure not in my city! it hink Etna is more like Ikea than T&S, mainly because the floor plan and they copy the little arrows and directions that Ikea puts on the floor. T&S seems fancier, but i don't really think its crap like you all say...i have a really nice desk/shelf thingy that is nice, not worth the price, but meh, what is worth the price in Brazil? So where i live, we won't be buying an apartment. we're buiding our own house! so ugh i have to draw a floor plan! hehe, no, will hire an archi to do it :)
ReplyDeleteMallory - try out the 3D floor plan tool at Ikea -- it's fun!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/rooms_ideas/kitchen_howto/NA/plan_your_kitchen_in_3d.html