Houzz Tours
Urban Gardens
Houzz Tour: Eclectic Chilean Home Embraces Trees
Ficus trees star in the interior courtyard of this Santiago house, which celebrates its design history, quirks and mix of styles
A chandelier hangs amidst a grove of ficus trees in architect Carolina Katz's house. The trees were part of the home's original design by Fernando Castillo Velasco, a well-known Chilean architect who built the house 27 years ago. The four ficus trees (and one almond tree) in the home's interior courtyard are part of what drew Katz to this stunning home. High ceilings, a simple floor plan and a great location in Santiago's Vitacura neighborhood helped seal the deal. Although the home needed some interior renovations, Katz has maintained its architectural history and embraced its quirks — including the ficus trees.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Carolina Katz, her husband and 4 children
Location: Santiago, Chile
Size: 230 square meters (2,475 square feet); 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Carolina Katz, her husband and 4 children
Location: Santiago, Chile
Size: 230 square meters (2,475 square feet); 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Katz and her husband love contemporary art, particularly paintings, and rotate their collection and personal work around the house.
A portable fireplace adds a cozy element to the high ceilings in the interior patio. "It's a space where we gather to spend winter afternoons and lovely summer evenings," says Katz.
Several main windows were opened and widened during renovation. Artwork from various Chilean contemporary painters — such as Roberto Matta, Nemesio Antúnez and Sammy Benmayor — adorn the walls.
Couch: Italian leather; rug: antique; adjustable side tables: Eileen Gray
Couch: Italian leather; rug: antique; adjustable side tables: Eileen Gray
Katz loves modern furniture, particularly Scandinavian pieces, and warms up their simple lines with hand-crafted Chilean pottery and rugs. The elegant coffee table is one of Katz's designs.
Lamp: Tizio; armchairs: Le Corbusier
Lamp: Tizio; armchairs: Le Corbusier
Bright white modern shelving and cabinetry contrast against the home's original brick walls in the office. Like Katz's home, many of the houses in the Vitacura neighborhood are about 30 years old and are being renovated by new owners.
Rug: hand-crafted in Chile
Rug: hand-crafted in Chile
A colorful rug and bold red chairs reflect Katz's signature contemporary style in an adjacent family room.
Rug: Karim Rashid; red plastic chair: Italia
Rug: Karim Rashid; red plastic chair: Italia
The racquets above her son's bed were Katz's husband's tennis and squash racquets from the late '70s. The golf clubs were Katz's father's. "We still cannot forgive my mother for throwing away my grandmother's wooden pair of skis," says Katz. "They would've looked so good with the sports memorabilia."
Most of the kitchen is brand new, but Katz kept the brick walls untouched to preserve the home's identity and unity. Ceramic floor tile, updated appliances and custom-designed cabinetry transformed it into a functional space for her family.
Katz designed the layout with two defined areas — the cooking space and the dining space. The kitchen dining table is partially hidden in one of the shelves and pulls out when needed.
Katz designed the layout with two defined areas — the cooking space and the dining space. The kitchen dining table is partially hidden in one of the shelves and pulls out when needed.
The dining room was originally where the kitchen was. Katz had this space completely stripped out and furnished it with a Le Corbusier table and Alejandro Aravena chairs. The pendants are from her husband's grandmother's kitchen.
The art is from Chilean artists Benjamin Lira and Benito Rojo.
The art is from Chilean artists Benjamin Lira and Benito Rojo.
A little patio sits just outside the home office, which Katz redesigned as an easy-to-access home garden. Old CD shelves hold pots of herbs and other plantings.
The square-shape patio is about 250 square feet. It wasn't being used much as a patio, so Katz and family planted lemon, orange and tangerine trees here, as well as lettuces, tomatoes, spinach and herbs.
Rug: bamboo; chaise: Brazilian design