Project Description
Project details
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Category: apartment
(short term rental)
Surface: 44 sqm
Intervention: refurbishment and interior design
Layout optimization
New identity
Functionality improvement
Colour palette
Lighting
Decoration
Alfama Living
In the heart of the city’s oldest neighbourhood, nestled among churches, staircases, terraces, and breathtaking views, lies a small apartment, a perfect nest for breathing in the authentic atmosphere of Lisbon.
Our intervention on this small property successfully enhances the entire guest experience by optimizing all technical issues while elevating the design and decoration of the interior spaces.
In the heart of the city’s oldest neighbourhood, nestled among churches, staircases, terraces, and breathtaking views, lies a small apartment, a perfect nest for breathing in the authentic atmosphere of Lisbon.
Our intervention on this small property successfully enhances the entire guest experience by optimizing all technical issues while elevating the design and decoration of the interior spaces.
Project description
This compact apartment represents an excellent investment in the short-term rental market: the perfect size in the perfect location. However, the condition in which our client acquired it did not reflect their vision for the space or their business. A budget renovation carried out about ten years prior had completely stripped the space of its soul. The materials and products used were cheap and characterless, deteriorating quickly with use. This, combined with a poor state of maintenance, led to an increase in negative reviews, compromising the apartment’s performance and desirability.
Working with a very limited budget, we had to scale back an initial plan that envisioned a full renovation to create a highly attractive, high-design space. Instead, we focused on key elements, using guest review feedback to determine where to intervene. The flooring, layout, walls, ceilings, and existing materials were kept unchanged. All our interventions were based on the existing spaces and colour palette, seeking a new dialogue between materials and colours to restore the space’s identity, rather than starting from scratch with a new concept.
/ All previous furniture and decorations were removed.
/The entire lighting system was replaced and upgraded.
/ A double-split air conditioning system was installed.
/ A series of minor repairs and technical improvements were carried out to resolve all the apartment’s small issues.
/ Finally, the entire kitchen was redesigned, optimized for functionality, and transformed in both aesthetics and spatial organization.
Given the bleached wood-tone flooring and the neutral tones of the interior, we avoided introducing materials and colours that would have looked too warm or traditional. Instead, we utilized grays, blacks, and greens in a simple yet playful manner, employing different textures and structures, also bringing into the home a touch of the typical green found on the windows and balconies overlooking the historic street.
The sofa, bed, appliances, and all other functional elements of the home are now comfortable and durable, ensuring guest satisfaction and a long-term investment for the owner.
The new lighting, more powerful and efficient, contributes to making the spaces more welcoming and liveable while improving the overall aesthetics of the home.
Installing air conditioning in a historic building without major structural work is no easy task, yet it was a focal point of the project. Given that the apartment has only one exposure and is embedded in the city’s dense historic fabric, it could become very inhospitable during high temperatures and particularly humid in winter. We selected units with a minimalist and modern design to avoid negative visual impact, while ensuring excellent energy efficiency and acoustic performance.
The old kitchen was extremely bulky and impractical, featuring large cabinets but little workspace. It was entirely white, with a countertop stone that quickly went out of trend, and equipped with poor-quality appliances that were already damaged and malfunctioning. We decided to reverse this situation completely:
/ We opened up the kitchen towards the entrance, removing columns of cabinets and wall units, and cladding the wall with an attractive yet understated stone.
/ We ensured no storage space was lost, optimizing every centimeter and sizing appliances appropriately based on actual kitchen usage and guest experiences.
/ We introduced a eucalyptus green, combined with anthracite and black elements, to enliven the space without clashing with the existing flooring.
The kitchen now appears larger and brighter, offering greater flexibility, functionality, and ease of use to accommodate all guest needs for years to come.
Logistics posed a significant challenge due to the difficult street access, characterized by numerous stairs, no car access, and tight manoeuvring spaces. Thanks to our experience in handling difficult access conditions, we were able to plan and organize the disposal and transport of all materials and products, overcoming all obstacles without unforeseen issues or stress for the client.
Through our targeted and intentional refurbishment, the apartment is now ready and fully equipped to operate at full capacity, leaving its guests satisfied after every stay.