Interior design, remodeling, and comprehensive support for international homeowners looking to transform their home in Portugal.
For many international clients, buying a home in Portugal marks the beginning of a new chapter. It may be a permanent residence, a second home in Lisbon, Cascais, or Estoril, or a property purchased as an investment.
But turning that property into a home that truly feels like your own can be a challenge, especially when you live outside of Portugal.
How do you choose the right professionals? How do you oversee a renovation from afar? Who handles the materials, suppliers, furniture, and construction work? And how do you ensure that the final result matches what you envisioned?
At Margarida Bugarim Interiores, we work with international clients who have purchased properties in Portugal, developing customized architectural and interior design projects and coordinating the various steps needed to transform a property into a complete, sophisticated home tailored to those who will live there.
Um imóvel pode ter uma localização privilegiada, uma arquitetura extraordinária ou um enorme potencial, mas nem sempre corresponde às necessidades de quem o compra.
Um apartamento em Lisboa pode precisar de uma remodelação integral. Uma moradia em Cascais pode beneficiar de uma nova distribuição dos espaços. Uma propriedade antiga pode ter elementos arquitetónicos que merecem ser preservados, enquanto cozinha, casas de banho, iluminação e pavimentos precisam de ser atualizados.
Um projeto de arquitetura de interiores e decoração assinado por Margarida Bugarim faz a diferença.
Mais do que escolher mobiliário, cores e padrões, o trabalho do atelier começapor compreender o imóvel, o seu potencial e a forma como o cliente pretende utilizá-lo. A partir daí, desenvolvemos uma solução coerente que pode integrar arquitetura de interiores, remodelação, ou projeto de decoração.
Convidamo-lo a conhecer alguns dos nossos projetos de design de interiores e perceber como diferentes propriedades podem ganhar uma identidade completamente distinta através do projeto.
Yes. An interior design project can be developed and overseen even when the homeowner does not reside in Portugal.
Meetings can be held remotely, and the various proposals, materials, and solutions are presented to the client for review and approval. At the same time, the studio’s presence in Portugal allows us to personally oversee the entire progress of the work and report to the client on the project’s progress.
For those living abroad, this combination of remote oversight and local presence is particularly important. The goal is not to shift the responsibility of coordinating a network of professionals remotely onto the client. It is precisely the opposite: to create an organized process in which the studio takes full responsibility for coordinating the various stages and keeps the client informed about relevant decisions.
In a larger-scale project, in addition to the interior designer, multidisciplinary construction teams, flooring and wallpaper installers, carpenters, upholsterers, and other specialists may be involved.
Coordinating all these areas is an essential part of the job.
In an interior remodeling and interior design project, Margarida Bugarim Interiores oversees the project from the planning and selection of materials through to execution, coordinating all teams and final finishes.
For a client living outside Portugal, having a single point of contact responsible for ensuring the project’s overall vision is realized and executed makes a significant difference in terms of peace of mind and control.
"Without a doubt, Margarida Bugarim delivered a result that was even more beautiful than we had imagined. The woodworking is impeccable, with an excellent finish. The good taste evident in the decorative pieces is also worth noting. With her professionalism and elegant design suggestions, she exceeded our expectations, and we therefore highly recommend her."
João Bechara, international client
Portugal has a particularly rich architectural heritage. In Lisbon and other historic areas, it’s common to find apartments and houses with old floors, shutters, doors, tiles, ornate ceilings and walls, or other elements that contribute to the property’s character.
When renovating, not everything needs to be replaced.
One of the challenges of an interior design project is determining what deserves to be preserved, restored, or transformed.
A historic home does not need to remain stuck in the past to preserve its identity. On the contrary, the combination of original elements and contemporary solutions can create very interesting interiors.
A well-executed interior design project can maintain and restore certain existing elements while reimagining the layout, lighting, kitchen, bathrooms, or storage areas.
It is this balance between heritage, comfort, and modernity that can transform a Portuguese property into a truly unique home.
For those living abroad, the ability to combine different services into a single project is particularly important.
Depending on the property’s needs, the project may include:
Space analysis, layout planning, drawings, materials, lighting, and supervision of construction. When necessary, the project may include a complete renovation of the property.
Personalization doesn’t end with architecture. The studio also offers Home Couture solutions and custom furniture, including closets, kitchens, bathroom fixtures, furniture, upholstery, curtains, lampshades, and other elements designed specifically for each project.
The selection of furniture, fabrics, rugs, lighting, decorative pieces, and works of art allows you to add the finishing touches to the project and give the space its own personality.
An interior design project for international clients should not result in a generic home, designed solely to meet the property’s characteristics or current trends.
It should reflect who the owners are, how they live, and what they value.
At Margarida Bugarim Interiores, each project is developed on a personalized basis, guiding the client through key decisions and coordinating the various professionals needed to achieve the final result.
With over 25 years of experience, the studio undertakes projects in Portugal and for international clients, maintaining a close working relationship even when geographical distance is part of the challenge. The portfolio includes projects of various scales and types, such as apartments, single-family homes, hotels, and other spaces.
If you’ve bought a home in Lisbon, Cascais, Estoril, or another region of Portugal and are looking for a team to develop your interior architecture and design project, we can help you.
From a complete renovation to the creation of a fully furnished and decorated interior, our studio can coordinate the project from the initial concept through to its completion.
For clients living abroad, distance doesn’t have to be an obstacle to creating a home in Portugal with the quality, personality, and attention to detail you’re looking for.
Learn more about our interior design service for expats in Lisbon or contact us to discuss your project.
Yes. It is entirely possible to carry out an interior design project in Portugal even when the homeowner lives in another country. The process can be managed remotely through online meetings, project presentations, and regular communication with the studio. The team at Margarida Bugarim Interiores handles the various stages of the project, construction, and installation on-site, allowing the client to be involved in key decisions without having to be in Portugal all the time.
Yes. A project can be carried out in a structured manner even without the client’s constant presence in Lisbon. Once the client’s needs and expectations have been defined, the studio develops the concept, presents proposals, and oversees the various phases for approval. During construction, regular communication keeps the client informed about the progress of the work, materials, and necessary decisions, ensuring close oversight even from a distance.
Yes. The service can cover the entire process, from architectural and interior design to construction, furniture, lighting, decoration, and the final preparation of the home. The goal of a turnkey project is to bring together and coordinate the different stages and stakeholders, providing the homeowner with a single point of contact and greater peace of mind—which is particularly important when the client lives outside Portugal.
Yes. Lisbon has a very diverse housing heritage, including old apartments and properties with architectural features that can be enhanced through a carefully planned renovation. Each property is analyzed based on its condition, characteristics, and potential. The renovation can combine the preservation of architecturally significant elements with new solutions for layout, materials, lighting, and comfort, creating a contemporary home without losing its identity.
The scope depends on the needs of each property and client. An interior design project typically includes defining layouts, materials, and finishes; selecting lighting fixtures; choosing furniture and designing custom furniture (if necessary); proposing textiles (upholstery, curtains, pillows, bedspreads, etc.); selecting rugs; choosing decorative pieces; and curating art. In a comprehensive service, all these areas are considered in a coordinated manner so that the final result achieves aesthetic, functional, and architectural coherence.
There is no set timeframe, as the duration depends on the size and condition of the property, the complexity of the project, the necessary plans, and the level of customization desired. A complete renovation involves several phases, from the development and approval of the plans to the construction work and final installation. Rigorous planning from the outset allows you to anticipate decisions, coordinate teams and contractors, and make the process more predictable.
The cost depends on several factors, including the property’s size and condition, the scope of the remodeling, the materials and finishes chosen, the furniture, and the degree of customization. In a high-end interior design project, each solution is tailored to the property and the client’s needs. Therefore, the quote is always customized after analyzing the project and the scope of the work.
