Portugal
A private family retreat on Portugal’s Atlantic
Top 50 – Callwey Best of Interior 2026
Selected among the 50 Best Interior Concepts of the Year
On Portugal’s Atlantic coast, set within the landscape of West Cliffs, a private holiday and family home was created as a place to arrive, reconnect and retreat. Designed by Portuguese architect Frederico Valsassina, the villa opens towards the rugged coastal landscape through generous expanses of glass, setting the starting point for the interior.
Our approach was not to compete with the clarity of the architecture, but to bring warmth, texture and personality to it. Wood, natural stone, lime plaster, textiles and bespoke details echo the colours and textures of the surrounding landscape and create an easy flow between indoors and out.
The result is a home with a calm, cosmopolitan character – contemporary yet personal, open to the landscape and designed for a family to come together and spend time here throughout the year.
Landscape as interior
The floor-to-ceiling glass fronts and doors create a seamless connection between the interior and exterior spaces. On more than 360 m2 of living space, the rooms open out into nature, while floor-to-ceiling sliding windows allow the veranda with outdoor kitchen, the garden and the pool to become an integral part of the living area.
Charming interplay
The rugged character of the Atlantic coast is reflected in the architectural design, while the interior exudes a luxurious homeliness that is characterized by the preferences of the client.
Cosmopolitan elegance
The open and spacious living and dining area forms the heart of the house. The carefully selected colors, materials, metalwork, furniture and lighting objects create a cosmopolitan ambiance, in whose lightness and transparency individual elements set elegant accents.
Private oasis of relaxation
Dressing room, bathroom, spa area and bedroom form the spacious room of the master suite. The floor and walls in Bianco Perlino marble as well as the dressing room and washbasin in walnut characterize the elegantly luxurious aesthetics of the interior. The back walls of the bed and seating niche echo the vertical wooden slats in the outdoor area. The metal fittings of the dressing room, the bedside tables and the fittings are made to measure. Nature also provides a special highlight in this room: the floor-to-ceiling glazed window front provides a spectacular panoramic view of the expanse of rolling meadows and the Atlantic Ocean
