A pool area with a view
Cover A pool area with a view

Maison Amarande fuse art and comfort into this Lisbon home with a Japanese-inspired spa

Graced with a view befitting a beachside town located just twenty minutes from Lisbon’s city centre, this 3-storey, 7,000 sq ft house is a tropical haven that resides within a sleepy residence at Paço d’Arcos.

Owned by a Belgian couple with three grown-up children who have lived in Asia for 25 years, the couple purchased this home after moving from Hong Kong to Lisbon. Unsatisfied by its original interior, the couple engaged with Maison Amarande to refresh the house they had bought upon this move.

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Entryway is spacious and graphic with both voids and staircase leading up to bedroom floor
Above Entryway is spacious and graphic with both voids and staircase leading up to bedroom floor
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Blue skies and greenery frame the pool area
Above Blue skies and greenery frame the pool area

“During my first visit, I really fell in love with the house,” says Laurence Beysecker, founder and designer half of Maison Amarande. “Having this luxurious view on the first floor of the ocean framed by lush greenery was breathtaking. The house was well-designed that you could enjoy this fantastic view from all its rooms.”

“Immediately, I felt that we could optimise the space and modernise its design, creating a better connection between the interior and exterior of the house.”

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Photo 1 of 4 Grey and white hues provide a relaxing ambiance in the open living room
Photo 2 of 4 Enjoy the tropical views of this quiet Portugal town
Photo 3 of 4 Open living room
Photo 4 of 4 Tekna spotlights create the illusion of a floating staircase

One of the first things Maison Amarande did was inspect the house’s structure and evaluate how it could be adapted to their clients’ needs. As their clients wanted to create two ensuite spaces for their daughters and incorporate a large spa space in the basement, the original living space was compartmentalised to create a more open and well-ventilated layout.

Several key elements, such as the fireplace between the dining and living room and the windows for the basement area, were modified to create an environment suitable for these changes.

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Photo 1 of 2 Dining area
Photo 2 of 2 Kitchen

“Since our clients had big ideas with how to utilise the basement space, we knocked down walls to expand the basement area,” informs Beysecker. “We went with a lot of bright wood tones to create a Japanese-style spa as our clients are very familiar with Asian spas and love visiting them whenever they can.”

“I think we really succeeded in creating a comforting ambience akin to a warm hug thanks to the wall design of wood slate panels. The Bisazza mosaics in the steam room are inspired by nature colours to really connect it with the beautiful garden views outside,” reminisces Beysecker. 

“This was our first time creating a spa. It was a really joyful and enlightening experience to the process involved.”

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Flute glass panels allow access to more natural light to the reading nook, graced by Bellini’s Camaleonda
Above Flute glass panels allow access to more natural light to the reading nook, graced by Bellini’s Camaleonda

“Our clients are big art collectors, so we also needed to make sure that the house was the perfect shell to highlight the furniture and artwork they wanted to incorporate into the overall space,” comments Beysecker. “That’s why we went with a very neutral colour palette to avoid clashing with their colourful art collection.” 

Shades of white, beige, and grey are complemented with a few touches of soft colours like peach, dark blue, and green, reminiscent of the house’s exterior space to keep the design coherent.

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Photo 1 of 3 This basement spa transports you to another universe
Photo 2 of 3 Frameless full-height doors in the sauna give a clean look to the doorway
Photo 3 of 3 Wooden panelling blends in seamlessly with accent pieces in this washroom

“For the kitchen, we designed a generous island bench ending with a bar table and nice bar stools from Verpan facing the pool,” notes Beysecker. “We’re fans of mixing materials to give cosiness and warmth to the spaces we design. For this particular area, we mix walnut, cappuccino lacquer, and grey composite stone by Dekton. The wooden lights from Secto tie all the elements together.”

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Photo 1 of 3 Guest bedroom
Photo 2 of 3 Guest bedroom
Photo 3 of 3 Accent wall in guest bedroom

“Since our client desired a wooden screen to be used as a headboard for the guest bedroom, we proposed this graphic design of triangles and rectangles made of oak stripes. These were custom-made, and we love how impactful the results ended up being,” remarks Beysecker.

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Jack and Jill bathroom
Above Jack and Jill bathroom

When asked about her personal design philosophy that guides her work, Beysecker replies, “I like to study the details of the environment when it comes to specific projects to create peaceful and elegant spaces.” 

“I consider art pieces to be a key element that defines the style and soul of a home. In a way, I liken myself to an artist who’s making a painting. All the materials and pieces are carefully selected and placed to create a dialogue that reflects the personality and lifestyle of the owners.”

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Credits

Photography  

João Guimarães

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