Don't ask, we won't do it! Interior Design Renovation experiences in Lisbon and impossible requests that can turn into Non-Negotiables
- itsk.studio Office
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Over the past fifteen years, we’ve designed homes for newcomers to Portugal who have lived across continents. Some arrive with refined expectations and with references shaped by Miami, London, Dubai, or Berlin. Yet one lesson quickly becomes clear: what feels right in a high-rise in Miami might not always work in a century-old Lisbon apartment. Moving and removing walls might seem easy and logical when imagining the project, but the reality of the constructions in Lisbon often doesn't allow the latter.
Designing here means learning to read the city before drawing the floor plan.
Sun, Wind, Tiles… and Lisbon Cultural Memory in Interior Design
For both aesthetic and thermal reasons, colorful tiles (azulejos) cover Lisbon’s façades. Introduced over 500 years ago from different parts of the Iberian Peninsula, tiles were once a statement of wealth. Today, they are an unmistakable signature of Portuguese architecture and aesthetics.
Beyond beauty, tiles act as thermal regulators, reflecting sunlight while protecting masonry from humidity and temperature swings, a crucial adaptation in a city shaped by Atlantic winds and strong sun.
"For expats, Lisbon or Portugal is equal to tiles and tile façades. They often want to bring this back into interiors as a statement of heritage. And if there's original tiles, we never remove them, that would be a shame.” — Kurt de Leeuw, Creative Director at itsk.studio
For interior designers, tiles become a bridge between past and present: sometimes restored, sometimes echoed through texture, color, or geometry, but always respected.
FE18 PROJECT
Discover a Lisbon renovation where historic tiles reclaim their rightful place within the design story.
History Leaves Structural Traces
Walking through Lisbon, you encounter two cities at once. On one side: narrow alleys, small rooms, layered walls, spatial logic rooted in the 17th century. On the other: wide avenues and taller buildings were born from reconstruction.
This contrast is the architectural aftershock of the 1755 earthquake, which destroyed much of the city and forced a radical rethink of urban design. Streets widened, façades aligned, and most importantly, buildings were re-engineered to move rather than resist. That legacy directly affects how interiors are designed today
“The basic rule is to protect cultural heritage. We try to keep the static structure of the apartment: not to change it completely. It’s not about creating something totally new, but keeping the history of the building.” — Amanda Galvão, Architect & Interior Designer at itsk.studio
Inside the Walls: The Tabique System
Many historic buildings in Lisbon use tabique construction, a wooden structural system developed after the earthquake to absorb seismic impact.
“Tabique is a building technique where almost the whole structure is wood. It absorbs impact, it moves with the earth. That’s why buildings still shift slightly every day.” — Amanda Galvão, Architect & Interior Designer at itsk.studio
This flexibility was revolutionary for its time. But it comes with vulnerabilities:
Sensitivity to humidity
Susceptibility to insects
Internal walls that may be hollow, weakened, or deteriorated
“Sometimes you touch a wall, and it just turns to powder. You need to know what’s inside before designing, and sometimes reinforce with pillars or supports.” — Kurt de Leeuw, Creative Director at itsk.studio
For designers, this means that what you don’t see matters more than what you do.
Renovation: Not Everything Can (or Should) Be Changed
Designing within limits: Colors, materials, and light can radically transform how a space feels, but certain boundaries are non-negotiable.
“The basic rule is to protect cultural heritage on the outside, and not forget about it indoors, because it connects to the surroundings.” — Amanda Galvão, Architect & Interior Designer at itsk.studio
In Lisbon’s historic center, renovation projects require licensing and careful planning. Structural changes are restricted, especially in older buildings where altering walls may compromise stability.
“You cannot completely change an old structure. Most of the construction is tabique; you can’t just create large open spaces.” — Kurt de Leeuw, Creative Director at itsk.studio
Design here becomes an exercise in intelligent adaptation, not demolition.
Open Space in an Old Lisbon City
Open-plan living dominates contemporary design culture, but Lisbon resists this trend.
“Everyone wants open space, everything connected. But we’re not in a new city.” — Amanda Galvão, Architect & Interior Designer at itsk.studio
Walls in older buildings were often load-bearing, smaller rooms helped regulate temperature, and spatial separation reflected different lifestyles. Removing them is frequently impossible.
“If you cannot open a wall, you design around it. You use interior design decisions to make the space feel larger or smarter.” — Kurt de Leeuw, Creative Director at itsk.studio
This is where professional interior design truly matters:
Strategic lighting instead of demolition
Material continuity to visually extend space
Custom storage replacing lost square meters
Color palettes that enhance depth and flow
In Lisbon, constraint becomes creativity.
SANTOANDRE70
Explore the final results of a project where thoughtful choices in lighting, form, and color made all the difference.
One City, Three Layers
A designer’s responsibility with Renovation and Interior Design in Lisbon
“Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in Europe. We have the medieval city, the post-earthquake city, and the river city, all connected, all different.” — Amanda Galvão, Architect & Interior Designer at itsk.studio
Designing here requires more than taste. It demands:
Historical literacy
Structural awareness
Cultural sensitivity
The goal is not to impose a global aesthetic but to translate Lisbon into livable interiors, where past and present coexist comfortably.
Because in this city, good design doesn’t fight history. It listens to it.
Original design views: A Lisbon residence where a 1970s Maria José Salavisa artwork intersects with a contemporary renovation by itsk.studio. Development in progress (2026–2027) Curious to follow this project’s evolution? Stay tuned for updates. If you’d like to learn more about how we can support your own space, get in touch and book a 15-minute discovery call.
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