Portuguese designer Cristina Jorge de Carvalho of Atelier CJC transforms a home with a delightful use of art, wallpaper and colourful furnishings in jewel tones
When Lisbon-based interior designer and architect Cristina Jorge de Carvalho was approached to design the interiors of a home in Cascais, Portugal, she immediately thought of how she could layer the space with an eclectic mix of contemporary objects and modern influences to create a sense of timelessness that has been her design signature for the past two decades.
“I like to create harmony by playing with rich, contrasting textures and natural materials, and keeping to a very restricted and neutral colour palette,” says Jorge de Carvalho, who leads her award-winning namesake firm Atelier CJC. “The owners didn't want any major works done, so I thought of a few changes that could change the house completely.”
These changes include brightening the walls and ceilings with fresh paint colours and wallcoverings and redoing the flooring of the house, while adding new design elements to give the rooms character.
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Located within Quinta Patiño, Portugal’s most exclusive and illustrious condominium complex, the home was a “1980s house with very traditional Portuguese architecture”.
Sticking to that sense of classicism, Jorge de Carvalho used black and white marbled tiles to make an impactful visual statement at the entrance area. A 1993 glossy black Felt lounge chair from Italian furniture maker Cappellini as well as a vintage ‘90s chandelier designed by Jacopo Foggini are among the chic accents in the space.