Palacete Soares Mendes

That is exactly what the Portuguese interior designer, João Pombeiro, did with the Soares Mendes Palacete, by adding his tasteful and inherent understanding of color to the project. Being a house designed for himself, the process as well as the outcome, came to him very naturally, and the idea behind it was indeed very clear: “The new should not hide the past nor should it be the other way around”, says João. When the Portuguese interior designer bought the house, it was in very bad condition. “It had been neglected for a long time, so my priority was to bring back its soul and reinstate the details that once made it so noble”, he explains. 

Maintaining the essence of a building is part of João’s perspective on architecture: “I love the juxtaposition of the different layers of time and I really try to embrace that”. Respecting the original materials and architecture was essential: “Window frames were replaced with timber as before, the ceilings were restored with the same plaster technique, and so on”. While he honored the true form of the house, he also instated his undefeatable touch to the renovation, adding the missing element: “It is the layout and the comfort of the house that makes up the contemporary layer”. In this sense, the interior designer accentuated the fluidity of the space by removing closed doors: “Collectively, all the rooms are now part of a large and unique living space”.

Instead, every different territory of the house is separated by its own character: “While I always search for a bigger fluidity throughout the whole house, I also believe that each room must tell its own story”. This is precisely why Joao’s interior design proposal is so unique, the color is as a way to grant each room its own story. “I use color according to the feeling I want to express in a space: whether it should be more or less dramatic, and the intimacy of each room”, he notes. As a result, he painted each room with a single shade, playing with another very important factor: light. As he defines it, “natural light is the ultimate luxury in any space”, he adds, “light is truth and simplicity”.

By using a sole color for each room, he allowed “the different shades and textures of each volume to create their own playfulness and shine for themselves”. The original materials and architecture, combined with the improvisation of light and the sentiment of each tone, create its own decorative experience in every room. The kitchen is the perfect example of this mixture: “It comprises a single freestanding stainless steel volume in the middle of the room, with the ghost of the past visible on the surrounding walls and in the original open fireplace”. A ghost of the past that is still present, and that is ennobled through new touches. 

Not only is the Soares Mendes Palacete special for its past, but also for its layout: 600 m2 with only 3 bedrooms and one small 5-meter long corridor. As Joao puts it, “the circulation and connections are predominately made from room to room, which provides an idiosyncratic experience”. A unique and personal project, by and for the Portuguese interior designer himself. “I am a very spontaneous person and I never overthink, I always embrace accidents and surprises, and this house is a result of all that”.

That’s how he conceives the process of interior design. By taking risks, one is able to discover and to rediscover: “I look at the process like driving on unfamiliar roads, sometimes you need to get lost in order to be surprised and have the chance to experience new places”. Tired of the beige world, João’s interpretation of interior design is full of character and personality, and it is moved by challenges, all of which merge into the most vibrant simplicity. A skill that he takes from his country of origin: “Portugal is a very old country, full of history”, he continues, “there is a lot of passion here, while at the same time there is an appreciation for simplicity”. In this sense, he states: “We have the tendency to make something beautiful with the little resources available, which is something I love in interior design”. Spaces with character but never pretentious.

With every project being distinctive, the interior designer believes that a space should give a sense of freedom to the inhabitant and enhance their personality. Because of this, “instead of keeping to a specific style, I always try to look for the individual quirks of a space and try to enhance those features”. The Soares Mendes Palacete is “the result of many ideas and an accumulation of furniture that I’ve been collecting since a young age”. It’s the expression of his own character:“It’s a combination of my own personal current reality and relationship to spaces”, he points out. “Perhaps if I were to do it in 2026, it would be something completely different”. I guess we will never find out, but what we do know is that Joâo is the representation of a youthful and unfrightened approach towards respectful renovation.