Light, Space and Delightful Use of Color: Renovated Home in Portugal

Aging homes that are in the need of a makeover do not always end up being better with just a rear extension that ventures into the backyard. You need careful planning and proper execution where understanding the needs of the homeowner and what the original house can handle is an essential part of it all. Nestled in a busy neighborhood filled with houses from the 70’s and the 80s’ in Coimbra, Portugal is the AA8 Small House that was renovated by Branco-DelRio Arquitectos with smart, space-savvy features and a touch of quirkiness. The 112-square meter home has a new interior that is fresh, colorful and filled with ample natural light.

Bright purple rug in the living room and yellow accents in the dining room add color to the interior








The makeover focused on three main goals which included the creation of a new bedroom and full bathroom on the upper floor and a home with a better indoor-outdoor interplay. This saw extensive use of wood in every room of the house with walls, shelves and cabinets being draped in the material. This presents a contrast to the lovely concrete finishes that already existed and glass walls and sliding glass doors that connect it with the backyard.

Balance between neutral backdrop and bold colors inside the house
Dining area and workspace rolled into one inside the house
Modular, flexible systems bring new space and ventilation into AA8 small home in Portugal
Small stairway leading to the upper level of the house
Walls and ceiling bring wood to the lovely interior where space is cleverly maximized
Wood, light and spacious interior revamped AA8 Small House in Portugal

An easily noticeable feature of the house is the delightful pops of yellow in every room of the house that bring vibrant charm to an otherwise neutral setting. Elegant, efficient and functional, this revamp is as much about economy as it is about aesthetics. [Photography: do mal o menos]

Wooden ceiling and headboard wall in the bedroom balance the elegant use of white
Yellow doors and window frames bring color to the exterior of the house in white
Backyard of the house is connected with the interior using sliding glass doors that have a bright yellow frame
Little yellow accents bring brightness to the revamped Portuguese home

You’re reading Light, Space and Delightful Use of Color: Renovated Home in Portugal, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Similar Posts

  • Villa Tonden: Modern Dutch Cabin in the Woods Brings Modernity to Classic Form

    A beautiful vacation home that takes you away from all the rush and surrounds you with greenery, Villa Tonden in Netherlands by HofmanDujardin brings modern comfort to vernacular design that is all too common in this region of the world. This lovely holiday retreat was designed as an amalgamation of three individual units with traditional […]

    You’re reading Villa Tonden: Modern Dutch Cabin in the Woods Brings Modernity to Classic Form, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

  • Creating a Private Home Within a Home: Chic Attic Apartment in Madrid

    There are plenty of different ways in which we have already seen attics being revamped to meet the demands of homeowners who wish to utilize the additional space. But this attic apartment renovation in Madrid is something truly exceptional and showcases an entirely new possibility. Designed by Marcos Duffo and Mariana de Delás, the apartment […]

    You’re reading Creating a Private Home Within a Home: Chic Attic Apartment in Madrid, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

  • Music Box Residence

    The Music Box Residence was designed around the intimate and communal qualities of music and family. The steep lot, with views towards Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier dictated a multi-level structure. On the lowest level, surrounded by concrete walls, resides the timpani rehearsal room. The husband, a member of the Oregon Symphony, required space and acoustic separation for practice. On the main level sits the piano studio where the wife’s students come to learn and play. Her studio opens onto the main living room and covered outdoor living area for recitals and parties. The upper level houses the couple’s children, parents, and guests. Continue up and an electronic roof hatch pivots open, revealing a rooftop deck, complete with commanding views of forest park, the city and mountains beyond. The “U” shaped plan has large volumes on both sides with a glassy two-story entry space in the middle. A long bridge, with a bamboo forest below, leads from the sidewalk to the main entry. The exterior, clad in black stained siding; reminiscent of “shosugi ban,” or charred wood, pays homage to their Japanese ancestry.