About the Project:
For this unique property, we were commissioned by the seller, a New Yorker living in Malveira da Serra, to elevate its historical charm with our Transformation Package. Blending the seller’s own furnishings with select staging pieces, we transformed each space with thoughtful styling and carefully chosen decor, all while honoring the property’s architectural heritage. Since the seller resides in the home during the sale, we strategically integrated her belongings, enhancing the look and feel for a standout photoshoot. In this blog, we’ll take you inside the architectural details that make this home so extraordinary, showing how it embodies Portugal’s rich design heritage with a modern, luxurious twist.
The Architectural Allure of Malveira da Serra’s Mid-Century Homes
Malveira da Serra is celebrated for its high-end properties that blend rustic charm with refined luxury. Homes here often incorporate natural materials like stone, wood, and terracotta, arranged in ways that draw from mid-century design principles. This €7 million property is a perfect example, combining elements of Portuguese heritage with modern touches that elevate its timeless appeal.
1. Brick Walls and Medieval Doors
• An Entrancing Blend of Heritage and Character:
As you step into the home, you’re greeted by brick walls at the entrance, a design choice that carries through to parts of the interior, adding warmth and historical charm. These brick walls evoke a sense of permanence and tradition, giving the entrance a grounded, welcoming feel.
• Medieval Wooden Doors with Iron Details: Adding to the home’s sense of history, medieval-style wooden doors adorn the entryway and certain interior spaces. These doors are both functional and decorative, reinforcing the property’s old-world charm with their heavy, handcrafted look.
• Large Terracotta Pots: Completing the entrance, oversized terracotta ceramic pots add a dramatic, earthy touch. These pots, with their rustic, timeless appearance, make a statement at the entryway and connect with the terracotta tiles inside, furthering the home’s warm, natural aesthetic.
• Brick for Warmth and Texture: Inside, the brick walls add a rustic, textural element, creating continuity between the exterior and interior. This classic choice not only enhances the property’s character but also connects the space with the region’s medieval influences.
Staging the entrance:
The seller agreed to paint the ceiling in the entryway, a choice that makes the space look larger and more open. In the before-and-after photos, you’ll see how the painted ceiling highlights the beautiful wood structure around the staircase, bringing out its color and design. This change allows the staircase to become the main feature of the room without competing with the wooden ceiling. We added simple decor pieces and updated the artwork to create a modern and inviting look that feels fresh and cohesive.
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2. Low-Sloped, Lacquered Wood Ceiling
• Rustic Material with a Modern Finish:
One of the property’s most captivating features is its low-sloped ceiling, crafted from glossy, lacquered wooden slabs. This ceiling design embodies a mid-century approach to traditional Portuguese materials, bringing together rustic warmth and sleek elegance.
Staging the Primary Bedroom
In the primary bedroom, we enhanced the space with carefully chosen decor pieces, including table lamps, vases, cushions, and artwork, to create a more modern and luxurious feel. We kept the rest of the items the same, as the sellers are still living in the home, allowing us to maintain their comfort while updating the overall aesthetic.
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• White Finishes for Brightness and Openness: In some rooms, the ceiling is painted white, adding a fresh, airy feel that enhances the light and openness of the space. This finish, popular in the 1970s and 1980s, adds a modern, polished touch to the natural warmth of the wood
• Low Slope for Visual Depth: The ceiling’s subtle slope draws the eye up without dominating the room, adding architectural interest. This low-slope design fits within mid-century style, focusing on clean lines and understated elegance that align well with the home’s other rustic yet refined elements.
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3. Grand Rock-Wall Fireplace: A Timeless Mid-Century Focal Point
• Purpose and Aesthetic: Thick brick or stone walls are a defining feature of these Malveira da Serra homes, reminiscent of medieval castles. These walls are typically built with natural stones like limestone or granite, chosen for their durability and natural look. The thick construction provides insulation, keeping interiors cool in summer and warm in winter—a natural adaptation to Portugal’s varying climate. To soften the masculine feel of the stone, we added pastel-toned artwork and pink hortensia flowers, bringing a feminine touch and a sense of balance to the space.
• Visual Impact: These walls lend an earthy, timeless look, with uneven textures and visible grout, often paired with arched doorways that enhance the medieval feel. Some homes - like this one - may feature exposed stone walls on the interior, creating a warm, rustic ambiance.
The large, rock-wall fireplace is both functional and visually striking. It serves as the heart of the living area, embodying the solidity and warmth characteristic of mid-century luxury homes.
The columns complement the architectural theme, blending Roman and Portuguese influences. This design choice ties the home’s style to Mediterranean roots, which were historically influenced by Roman and classical architecture. It’s an artistic way to bridge Portugal’s own architectural traditions with a classical European heritage
Living Room Staging: Creating Flow and Functionality in an Occupied Home
Staging a living room in a home where the sellers still live presents unique challenges, as each piece of furniture is used daily. For this project, we aimed to work with the seller’s existing furniture as much as possible while reimagining the layout for a more open, inviting feel.
The initial setup had the blue sofa positioned with its back to us when looking at the fireplace, creating a sense of blockage and making the space feel divided. To improve flow, we moved the blue sofa against the wall and turned the linen white sofa to face the fireplace. This new arrangement created a conversational area around the fireplace and opened up the room, making it feel welcoming and connected.
For a family-friendly touch, we added a simple, durable wooden coffee table from IKEA, chosen specifically with the family’s toddler in mind. Instead of opting for glass or marble with sharp corners, we chose a table that the little one can use freely, knowing it’s safe and can withstand playtime activities.
To bring balance and warmth to the room, we added decor pieces that introduced soft colors and cozy textures. Additionally, we used one of our favorite stager’s tricks: mirrors. Placing mirrors on either side of the fireplace reflects light, brightening and enlarging the space, while also covering parts of the brick wall for a polished, designer touch. This careful staging made the living room feel both functional and stylish, perfect for daily family life and a welcoming environment for potential buyers.
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• A Mid-Century Design Influence: Embracing natural materials in grand statements, like the rock-wall fireplace, became popular in the 1970s and 1980s. This fireplace adds a rustic, grounded feel, creating a stunning focal point that complements the polished wood ceiling.
Staging the Garden-Facing Living Space
Since we turned the white sofa around to face the fireplace, the garden-facing living room—also the toddler’s amazing play area—was left without a sofa. Fortunately, we had an extra sofa in the chalet that we hadn’t planned to use there, so we brought it into the main house to complete a cozy, conversational setup.
We positioned the lounger to face the coffee table, creating a welcoming arrangement. With added decor, cushions, and a soft, furry blanket, the space gained both warmth and style. The final touch, a golden bowl, added a hint of luxury, giving this family-friendly area a refined yet comfortable feel.
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4. Terracotta Tile Floors
Warmth and Heritage in Every Step: Terracotta tiles, known for their warm, earthy tones, are a classic choice in Portuguese homes. These tiles give the home a rustic charm while offering practical benefits suited to the climate and lifestyle in Malveira da Serra.
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• Climate Adaptability: Terracotta’s natural insulating properties make it a smart choice for Portugal’s mild climate. It keeps interiors cool in summer and can retain warmth in winter, especially when paired with radiant heating.
• Aging Gracefully Over Time: Terracotta floors develop a patina as they age, enhancing their beauty and contributing to the home’s timeless character. This natural aging process complements the mid-century design ethos, which values materials that grow richer with time.
5. Travertine Bathrooms: A Touch of Spa-Like Luxury
The bathrooms in this property are finished in travertine, a natural stone known for its understated elegance. Travertine complements the home’s mix of rustic and refined elements, adding a modern, spa-like ambiance to the space.
• Elegant Simplicity: Travertine’s warm, neutral tones and soft texture create a soothing environment, perfect for a luxury bathroom. It enhances the overall feeling of understated luxury, fitting seamlessly with the rustic terracotta and stone in other areas.
• Durability for Long-Lasting Style: As a natural stone, travertine is highly durable and low-maintenance, making it a practical choice for bathrooms. Its resilience ensures that the space remains beautiful and functional over time.
6. Terraced Gardens and Outdoor Spaces
• Seamless Integration with Nature:
In Malveira da Serra, outdoor living spaces are as carefully designed as the interiors. The property’s terraced gardens are landscaped with native plants and feature stone pathways that capture the beauty of the natural surroundings.
• Indoor-Outdoor Connection: The tiled terraces extend the earthy tones of the interior outdoors, creating a cohesive aesthetic. These spaces invite relaxation, providing a tranquil retreat that highlights the stunning landscape of Malveira da Serra.
Conclusion: A €7 Million Mid-Century Gem in Malveira da Serra
Staging this €7 million mid-century luxury home allowed us to celebrate Malveira da Serra’s unique architectural style. With its blend of rustic materials, such as stone and terracotta, and refined finishes like lacquered wood and travertine, this property perfectly embodies Portugal’s ability to harmonize tradition and luxury.
This property is currently for sale with The Agency.
How we can help:
Do you have a property that needs an update, renovation, staging, or restyling? Or are you considering a move to Portugal and looking for the perfect home to reflect its unique architectural heritage? We’d be delighted to help you bring your vision to life. Contact us to explore how we can make your property truly exceptional.