Discovering Portugal

I have been working with artisans in Portugal to create custom furniture pieces for many years now, but I didn’t really know what to expect when I booked a work meets pleasure trip to visit. My dear friend and colleague Sabrina was the ultimate guide, unlocking some of portugal’s most beautiful experiences and destinations.

Completing and shooting my first collection lusitano finally gave me a reason to full explore the country in an immersive way ~ and it was so much more than I imagined. The natural beauty was astounding, and the people were so welcoming.

Recapping below some of the highlights of my journey, capturing this new endeavor, and sharing some of the places I found most enchanting.

Porto

 

The trip started in Porto, home base for our production team and I was particularly enchanted with the Foz neighborhood. It’s by the sea and has a city feel embedded in the wonders of the natural world.

 

Álvaro Siza
Leça da Palmeira

Álvaro Siza, is a renowned Portuguese architect born in 1933, celebrated for his minimalist designs that seamlessly blend with their natural surroundings. His approach to architecture emphasizes simplicity and restraint, creating timeless structures that engage in dialogue with the environment. His use of material and form transforms the pools into an immersive, almost geological encounter—proof that architecture can elevate its surroundings without overwhelming them.

I find it showcases the perfect balance between man-made and the natural—something that resonates with my own design philosophy of blending form and function while staying true to the beauty of the nature.

Photos by modrnpr

 
 

"Architecture is not an inspirational business, it's a rational procedure to do sensible and hopefully beautiful things; that's all."

- Alvaro Siza

 

Guide to Porto

 
 

Comporta

 

We arrived at this tiny town, close to the ocean and immersed in the greenest fields of rice and were otally charmed by the nature, and again the most hospitable people…

Silent Living

 

True to its name, Silent Living is a retreat deeply connected to the nature that surrounds it. Immersed in the green rice fields of Comporta, this is a special and peaceful destination. ⁠

⁠Casas Na Areia

 
 
 

Guide to Comporta

 
 

Monsaraz

 

In what may seem like the middle of nowhere, we arrived at the second Silent Living location where we shot our collection. Like something from outer-space, nestled in a field near a lake, under the shadow of the medieval town, we visited the incredible São Lourenço do Barrocal.

The 2,000 acre estate is now a beautifully restored, luxurious hotel and winery, with two farm-to-table restaurants an utterly charming farm shop with local crafts and olive groves to wander in.

Casa Na Terra

 

True to its name, Silent Living is a retreat deeply connected to the nature that surrounds it. Immersed in the green rice fields of Comporta, this is a special and peaceful destination. ⁠

Silent Living

 
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