The key thing that inspires my aesthetic is…

Contributing to the preservation of crafts which have been honed & developed over generations is the most important thing in my work & what keeps me motivated. I am particularly inspired by the history behind the objects, the textures, the glazes, the colours, the patterns & the memories embedded in them. I love the process of collaboration also, whether that’s with the traditional artisans or with contemporary artists, acting as a creative link to explore the intersection between the old & the new to develop something for today, but with time-old technique.

I’d say my personal design signifier is...

…probably colour. I am very sensitive to different tones & hues & surround myself with them - I’m not much of a minimalist. I love cosy interiors with natural materials, warm lights, books, antiques & works of art. All that mixed with a touch of humour.

Something that attracts me to an interior or space is…

…its light, its closeness to nature & the love put into building & furnishing it.

The last place I went & felt inspired to create was…

…the beautiful natural park of Arrabida - a stone’s throw from Lisbon. The convent there is one of my favourite places in Portugal - the galleries are covered with shells which the monks used to decorate the place & the views of the mountains are dramatic & full of energy. When I’m travelling I love to collect shells & stones found on long walks with my children so in an imaginary world we would create our own house embedded with them too.

A favourite place to visit in Portugal for craft heritage is…

…the Alentejo. From the rug makers of Arraiolos to the potters of Monsaraz - there is much traditional talent to be found there. One of my favourite collaborations I’ve done this year is with my friend & artist Henriette Arcelin. Together we worked with the intricate tapestry with the Manufactura das Tapeçarias de Portalegre to create an intricate rug inspired by the Algarve’s Ria Formosa. We took the shapes, textures & shades of the shells from Henriette’s watercolour & for the same exhibition, created a tapestry with the artisan Emília Cristina in Arraiolos where the style is very different. All the pieces were presented at the Lisbon by Design fair.

If I could travel to any design-era in Portugal, it would be...

…driven by the Portuguese artists I would have loved to meet such as Almada Negreiros, Sarah Affonso, Amadeo de Sousa Cardoso, Maria Keil, Querubim Lapa, Eduardo Viana & Maria Helena Vieira da Silva. Those are some of my favourite artists & they all lived during the 20th century so I’d hop around the decades to make sure I arranged dinner with all of them.

Treasured objects that I found while travelling are…

…usually antiques which I source from flea markets around Portugal - we often plan specific buying trips when I’m working on a project. Nothing brings me more pleasure than picking up gems & imagining the stories behind them. When travelling with family, I like long stays in a place to really have a sense of belonging, go to the produce market almost every day, cook at home, make barbecues with friends & family, take long walks & visit some artisans or local museums - so often I say my most treasured objects are the memories we make along the way.

My one tip for purchasing antiques is…

…make sure it brings you joy. Never be guided by a trend or a design style, just go with what makes you happy.

Making a house a home…

If money was no object, my dream home to design & decorate in Portugal would be.....

…hard to choose between a home filled with history in either Sintra or Arrábida. There are some incredible sleeping beauties for sale in these parts & I have a wishlist where I keep them all until we can finally make the dream a reality…

The one artist whose work I would fill the house with would be...

…José de Almada Negreiros. But it’s very hard to choose only one, you have to understand!

Where is home for you?

Our very well-loved & lived house in Lisbon with our four kids. I always look forward to coming home after travelling to see them & also to being back in my own bed.

My favourite room in my house is...

…my own little studio where I am surrounded by my books, memories, photos & favourite objects.

Stay at Felipa’s house…

Discover Casa dos Brejos, a house Felipa designed in collaboration with her mother in Comporta, Portugal. She was also part of the São Lourenço do Barrocal hotel in the Alentejo with her previous business AnahoryAlmeida.