A chandelier hangs amidst a grove of ficus trees. The trees were a part of the home’s unique design by Fernando Castillo Velasco, a renowned Chilean architect who built the home 27 decades back. The four ficus trees (and one almond tree) in the home’s interior courtyard are a part of what drew Katz to this magnificent residence. High ceilings, a very simple floor plan and also a great location in Santiago’s Vitacura neighborhood helped seal the bargain. Though the home had some interior renovations, Katz has preserved its architectural history and embraced its quirks — such as the ficus trees.
in a Glance
Who lives here: Carolina Katz, her husband and 4 kids
Location: Santiago, Chile
Size: 230 square meters (2,475 square feet); 5 bedrooms, 3 baths
Carolina Katz + Paula Nuñez
This patio was the home’s dining area. But since the huge space is in the middle of the home, Katz turned it into a central hangout place.
Rug: bamboo; chaise: Brazilian design
Carolina Katz + Paula Nuñez
Katz and her husband love contemporary art, particularly paintings, and also rotate their collection and private work around the home.
Carolina Katz + Paula Nuñez
A portable fireplace provides a cozy component to the ceilings in the interior patio. “it is a space where we gather to invest winter afternoons and lovely summer evenings,” says Katz.
Carolina Katz + Paula Nuñez
Several main windows have been opened and widened during renovation. Art from several Chilean contemporary painters — like Roberto Matta, Nemesio Antúnez and Sammy Benmayor — adorn the walls.
Chair: Italian leather rug: antique; adjustable side tables: Eileen Gray
Carolina Katz + Paula Nuñez
Katz enjoys modern furniture, particularly Scandinavian pieces, and warms up their simple lines with hand-crafted Chilean wool and rugs. The coffee table is one of Katz’s designs.
Lamp: Tizio; armchairs: Le Corbusier
Carolina Katz + Paula Nuñez
Vibrant white shelving and cabinetry contrast against the original brick walls of the home in the workplace. 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
Carolina Katz + Paula Nuñez
A vibrant rug and bold crimson chairs reflect Katz’s signature contemporary style in an adjacent family room.
Rug: Karim Rashid; red plastic seat: Italia
Carolina Katz + Paula Nuñez
The racquets above her son’s bed were Katz’s husband’s tennis and squash racquets from the late ’70s. The golf clubs have been Katz’s daddy’s. “We still cannot forgive my mother for throwing away my grandmother’s wooden pair of skis,” says Katz. “They would’ve looked so great with all the sports memorabilia.”
Carolina Katz + Paula Nuñez
The majority of the kitchen is brand-new, but Katz kept the brick walls untouched to maintain the home’s individuality and unity. Ceramic floor tile, upgraded appliances and custom-designed cabinetry changed it into a usable room for her family.
Katz designed the design with two defined regions — the cooking area and the dining area. The kitchen table is partially hidden in one of those shelves and pulls out when required.
Carolina Katz + Paula Nuñez
The dining area was initially where the kitchen was. Katz had this space fully stripped out and supplied it with a Le Corbusier table and Alejandro Aravena chairs. The pendants are out of her husband’s grandmother’s kitchen.
The art is from Chilean artists Benjamin Lira and Benito Rojo.
Carolina Katz + Paula Nuñez
Just a tiny patio sits just outside the home workplace, which Katz redesigned within an easy-to-access home backyard. Old CD shelves carry baskets of herbs and other plantings.
Carolina Katz + Paula Nuñez
The square-shape patio is roughly 250 square feet. It was not being used substantially as a patio, so Katz and family planted lemon, orange and tangerine trees here, in addition to lettuces, tomatoes, spinach and herbs.