Feeling good in our home is perhaps one of the best sensations we can ever experience. This is why it is so important to invest in high-quality and tailor-made interior design. However, not everyone understands many of these concepts. Personally, I do not. That’s why having someone you can trust when you need to breathe new life into your home is key.


Background


Susana Guerreiro is originally from Lisbon but came to the Algarve with her family when she was young. After this she decided to start studying law, but soon her true passion was stronger, and she started to dedicate herself to interior design - this was the beginning of a journey of hard, but rewarding work. More than 20 years later, Susana Guerreiro now gives her name to a successful interior design company based in Almancil.

"I studied law for two years and ended up swapping law for design. I took a technical course in interior decoration at the time, and then a degree in interior design in England. I started by having my own atelier here in Almancil. Then, 17 or 18 years ago, I ended up opening this space here - always focusing on interior design and architecture, as well as renovation”, she told The Portugal News.


Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client;

However, even with all these years of experience and a successful company, she does not stop and continues to grow and learn more about interior design, new products, and different ways of doing things. She and her team of architects never stop studying. This way of thinking has already earned Susana Guerreiro an Algarve Business Award. In addition, they were named as the Interior Design Agency of the year in 2021-2022 by CorporateLiveWire.


Trends


When I asked Susana what clients are looking for, she told me that contemporary is in fashion. "Contemporary style is always the trend. The minimalist is rare."

However, if the contemporary can sometimes be a little cold, that's not the case in Susana Guerreiros' projects. "Here in the Algarve there is a tendency to make environments comfortable, but at the same time contemporary, so we add a little more colour or other types of materials that are not so cold (with textures) to give a certain level of comfort to the spaces," Susana Guerreiro said.


From the paper to your house


Susana Guerreiro not only designs your dream home, she delivers it to you. She has partnerships with architects, builders, and many suppliers of various brands to really bring to life what she has designed. She creates a project according to each client's budget and from there you can leave everything with her, including ordering the material and installation.


Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client;


In this sense, everything starts with a first meeting where the client will show the house they want to remodel. "After a conversation with the client and after we have visited the property, we are able to understand the profile of the house, of the client, and what the client's objective is - if it is for renting, if it is a second home, first home - and it is based on all this that we make the proposal and the selection of materials and start sketching."


Making a house special


Although it always depends on the specific preference of the client, Susana told me that location and light are very important factors for a successful project. That’s why she likes to start from the beginning.

"I love renovations. I think it's a challenge. Very old houses that need total intervention, to remove walls, build others, create bathrooms where they didn't exist before or completely change the position of the kitchen," she added. That's what she really enjoys doing.


Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client;

Pipeline


The future seems bright and holds so many surprises. Susana says she would like to create a new brand. "I would like to have a furniture and lighting brand with the company's signature, with my name. We do tailor-made furniture, but it doesn't have our stamp on it. It won't happen soon, but it's a goal."

What's more, she said that in so many years of experience, she has never decorated a boat. So, if there is anyone out there who is planning to buy one and needs to decorate it, Susana Guerreiro will be happy to accept the challenge.

For further information, please visit Susana Guerreiro website at https://www.susanaguerreiro.com/en/home/


Author

Paula Martins is a fully qualified journalist, who finds writing a means of self-expression. She studied Journalism and Communication at University of Coimbra and recently Law in the Algarve. Press card: 8252

Paula Martins