GRAPHĒ

At Lisbon Design Week, Designers From All Over Grappled With Portuguese Design’s Identity

Eighty exhibitions provided more than enough space for makers to reinterpret the country’s craft traditions—or offer a new vision entirely.

When I walked into Lisbon’s Palacete Gomes Freire—a 19th-century palace painted a pastel but punchy shade of yellow—the first thing that my eyes fell on were five wall sculptures made of what appeared to be straw. They hung above the landing of a grand split staircase, an organic, earthy rebuttal to a space that represented the architectural opulence of another era. I’d soon learn that these sculptures are made of bulrush, a tall grass that’s native to Portugal. A chair sitting to the left of the sculptures features a back made of the same material, spun into a nautilus-like swirl, but paired with a clean-lined galvanized iron frame and seat. Though the wall sculptures first attracted my attention, the Cadeira chair is where my eyes rested, called to the pairing of these contrasting materials.

The bunho technique used for Macheia’s Bulrush collection is a traditional Portuguese basketry method that only two artisans in Europe still practice, per the design studio.
Photo courtesy Lisbon by Design

The pieces are by Macheia, a studio led by Lucrezia Papillo and Iany Gayo, who are following in the craft traditions of the country they both now call home, but with a contemporary lens. (Papillo is Italian-German, and Gayo is from Mozambique, but is part Portuguese.) The designers worked with local artisans Manuel Ferreira and Paulo Sousa on the sculptures and Cadeira chair, specifically using the Portuguese bunho technique that’s historically been used for basketry. With these pieces they want to bring the technique to a new context and audience without watering down the organic beauty that’s inherent to the traditional craft.

For the Cadeira chair, Macheia founders Papillo and Gayo collaborated with a blacksmith and a bunho artisan.
Photo courtesy Lisbon by Design

The chair and sculptures are just one example of the direction the country’s design scene seems to be headed in. While its identity has long been wrapped up in centuries-old craft traditions like tilework and embroidery, at Lisbon By Design, or Lisbon Design Week, which runs concurrently with a total of 80 exhibitions featuring work by over 150 makers across 11 neighborhoods, it seemed that the country’s designers—whether native-born or immigrant—were grappling with how exactly to create a new era for the Portugal design scene without abandoning the country’s rich design history.

The work of Grau Ceramica was displayed alongside furniture by Martinho Pita Studio on the upper floor of the palace.
Photo courtesy Lisbon by Design

See the full story on Dwell.com: At Lisbon Design Week, Designers From All Over Grappled With Portuguese Design’s Identity
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Before & After: How a Couple Reimagined Their Minnesota Ranch House With Japanese Design Principles

"The goal was to look at things from 500, 700, 800 years ago that are still useful," says homeowner Wes Crouch. "Simple, purposeful spaces will always be in style."

Seeking a more comfortable, livable home isn’t always about square footage. Sometimes, it’s about pace and quality of life. For Wes and Tara Crouch, that realization took shape after living in Seattle for years. With the arrival of their third son, suburban Minneapolis—where Tara had grown up—began to feel like the right place to build a more grounded life close to family. "We had these lives to steward," Wes says. "The desire to be intentional about our home and the space we live in became important."

Before: Exterior

Before: Homeowners Wes and Tara Crouch were drawn to the practical design of the mid-1960s ranch in Saint Paul, Minnesota. "My grandfather built a house close to Seattle, and it was a brick ranch house," Wes says. "I always had fond memories of, gosh, this is highly functional…the fact that the main floor is the main floor."
Photo courtesy of Keep

That philosophy resonated deeply with Wes, who lived in Japan for three years early in his career as an operations manager for an apparel manufacturer. While there, he developed an appreciation for Japanese design and its emphasis on intentionality and restraint. "I loved the architecture and simplicity," he says, fondly recalling a coworker’s 16th-century house in the mountains with no electricity and no running water. "It’s where we would go hang out on the weekends."

After: Exterior

Excavating the lower level allowed the design team to install large windows facing a nature preserve and lake in Wes’s office. Although a handful of windows—including these—and the sliding glass doors off the main living area are new, most of the home’s existing windows were retained as part of the renovation.
Photo by Wing Ho

But the search for a home close to Tara’s family proved unexpectedly difficult. "Everything was a split-level or 5,000 or 7,000 square feet," Wes says with a laugh. "We didn’t need a sport court."

What they wanted wasn’t necessarily a larger house, but one that aligned more closely with how they hoped to live. "It was about quality over quantity—and something we could make our own that didn’t necessarily need to be perfect," Wes says.

The raised, covered porch is reminiscent of a Japanese <i>engawa</i>, a veranda-like transitional space that connects the home to the landscape. The renovation expanded views to the lake with new windows in the primary bedroom and bath, and sliders that replaced a standard solid door in the living area. — The raised, covered porch is reminiscent of a Japanese *engawa*, a veranda-like transitional space that connects the home to the landscape. The renovation expanded views to the lake with new windows in the primary bedroom and bath, and sliders that replaced a standard solid door in the living area.
Photo by Wing Ho

See the full story on Dwell.com: Before & After: How a Couple Reimagined Their Minnesota Ranch House With Japanese Design Principles
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Sliding Window Shields Adjust Sunlight at This Scottish Country Home

The batten louvers temper heat for a new dual-gable extension that expands the residence.

Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners. Have one to share? Post it here.

Project Details:

Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Architect: Moxon Architects / @moxonarchitects

Footprint: 1,185 square feet

Builder: Brudon Joinery

Structural Engineer: Graeme Craig Consulting Engineers

From the Architect: "Moxon Architects has completed an extension to a rural home near Sauchen in Aberdeenshire. The scheme is designed to enhance light, views, and connection to the surrounding agricultural landscape while significantly improving overall environmental performance. The project expands an existing high-performance house with a new living and dining space, office, a principal bedroom suite, and a new entry hallway. The newly created spaces are accommodated within two, single-story pitched-roof volumes, linked by a biodiverse green roof planted with native wildflowers, creating ecological continuity between old and new while strengthening the building’s relationship with the landscape. The resulting architectural composition recalls traditional farms, where the main house forms a tight cluster with a barn and other outbuildings.

"Generous glazing and carefully positioned roof lights align with key points of arrival and movement through the house, drawing daylight deep into the plan and framing long views across the surrounding fields. Beyond providing additional accommodation, the extension unlocks the existing plan, establishing uninterrupted lines of sight through the house and enhancing clarity of movement and space. Built-in storage and window seats complement the light-filled interior and offer the residents practicality and comfort.

"A cost-effective cladding strategy repurposes angled battens, typically used as support, reducing material processing while introducing subtle variation across the façade. Sliding external louvres, informed by nearby farm structures, provide solar shading to the large windows and help prevent overheating without compromising openness or views. A slate roof and galvanized trough-style gutters offer further contemporary reinterpretation of local building traditions.

"From the outset, performance and sustainability have been central to the project, which has been designed to Passive House standards, and which has raised the home’s EPC rating from B to A. High levels of insulation, triple-glazed south-facing windows, louvers, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and other services are integrated seamlessly into the architecture and work together to maximize comfort and minimize energy demand. Material selection prioritized low embodied carbon and local procurement, with the timber kit, doors, and bespoke plywood furniture fabricated within 10 miles of the site, supporting regional manufacturing and reducing transport emissions."

See the full story on Dwell.com: Sliding Window Shields Adjust Sunlight at This Scottish Country Home
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Camp Is in Session at This $1.9M Michigan Getaway

With a triple bunk bed, a pool, and patio seating for 10, this home near Lake Michigan is basically built for long summer days.

The home is a 10-minute walk from the local beach, and comes with a gunite pool in the backyard.

Location: 13892 Rea Avenue, Harbert, Michigan

Price: $1,895,000

Year Built: 2022

Architect: UrbanLab Architects

Footprint: 3,000 Square Feet (4 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms)

Lot Size: 0.49 Acres

From the Agent: "Designed by UrbanLab Architects, the four-bedroom, four-bath home is centered around a private courtyard oasis featuring a gunite pool, eight-person hot tub, firepit, and beautifully landscaped grounds. Large windows and oversize sliding doors flood the home with natural light while framing views from nearly every room. The living area is anchored by a kitchen with custom terrazzo counters, premium appliances, and a large island with bar seating. A dining area with seating for 10 and a comfortable lounge open directly to the courtyard. Built-ins, radiant heated concrete floors, custom lighting, and a sleek gas fireplace complete the space. The thoughtfully designed multiwing layout offers exceptional privacy, with four en suite bedrooms positioned to overlook the courtyard. A custom-built triple bunk room adds a fun and functional touch. A den with expansive windows offers a perfect space for work, relaxation, or games. Additional amenities include a three-sided screened porch with second fireplace, outdoor shower, barbecue grill, Tesla charger, spacious lawn, and mature landscaping. Technical amenities include zoned radiant heating throughout, additional three-zone cooling, and on-demand water heating."

With a triple bunk bed, a pool, and patio seating for 10, this home near Lake Michigan is basically built for long summer days.
Photo by Erin Watson

See the full story on Dwell.com: Camp Is in Session at This $1.9M Michigan Getaway
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This $1.2M Oregon Retreat Is Part Homestead, Part Tuscan Villa

Set beyond a gated drive, the 35-acre property has a pool, a barn, and an apple orchard, plus a backstory featuring cows, friars, and an owner-builder with a thing for arches.

Location: 57255 North Bank Rd, McKenzie Bridge, Oregon

Price: $1,195,000

Year Built: 1978

Last Renovated: 2020

Footprint: 2,913 Square Feet (4 Beds, 2.5 Baths)

Lot Size: 35 Acres

From the Agent: "In the heart of McKenzie Bridge, Oregon, this 35-acre property unfolds: a Mediterranean-style home, swimming pool and hot tub, barn, seasonal pond, and additional structures set within an open clearing. Private, expansive, and connected to the landscape, it’s a place for gathering and retreat, and it’s open to what comes next. Shaped over time by those who have lived, built, and passed through, it carries a quiet sense of history, from its original maker to stories embedded in the land itself. Emerging from the surrounding forest, the home and outbuildings sit intentionally within the clearing, forming the beginnings of a small compound. The architecture stands apart from its surroundings, a Mediterranean vision rarely found in the Pacific Northwest. The original builder began with the pool and signature arches, shaping the experience of the land first and the home around it. That intention continues to define how the property lives today. It’s set within one of the region’s most expansive landscapes, with access to the McKenzie River, Clear Lake, and Hoodoo Recreation Area, which places fishing, hiking, mountain biking, off-roading, golf, and seasonal recreation within easy reach. A local fixture, the McKenzie General Store and Obsidian Grill, sits just down the road. With 35 acres, a barn, orchard, and additional structures already in place, the property also offers forested acreage and timber, creating opportunities for stewardship, use, and long-term value."

The covered terrace (complete with a hot tub) frames the pool and forest through a row of white arches. According to the current owners, the original owner-builder constructed the pool and the arches before the house itself — The covered terrace (complete with a built-in hot tub) frames the pool and forest through a row of white arches. According to the current owners, the original owner-builder constructed the pool and the arches before building the house itself.
Photo by Bryan Daugherty

The main living area opens directly to the terrace and pool, with arched views visible through the sliding glass doors. A breeze-block divider separates it from the kitchen. — The main living area opens directly to the terrace and pool, visible through sliding glass doors. The room also has one of the home’s two fireplaces.
Photo by Bryan Daugherty

See the full story on Dwell.com: This $1.2M Oregon Retreat Is Part Homestead, Part Tuscan Villa
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Spend Quiet Days by the Water in This Gabled Niagara Escarpment Retreat, Asking $1.4M

Towering trees, curated landscaping, and open clearings create a sense of balance between refinement and wilderness.

120 Mimi Cres in Meaford, Ontario, is currently listed at $1,454,148 by Kevin McLoughlin and Kerri-Ann Brownlee at Sotheby’s International Realty Canada.

Set within the prestigious enclave of Rockcliffe Estates, this property spans approximately three acres of beautifully varied landscape, offering a rare combination of privacy, natural beauty, and breathtaking Georgian Bay views. With its pie-shaped configuration and ideal western exposure, the setting is designed to capture golden afternoon light and sunsets over the Bay.

Surrounded by mature forest, the property feels deeply connected to its natural surroundings. Towering trees, curated landscaping, and open clearings create a sense of balance between refinement and wilderness—offering both peaceful seclusion and inviting outdoor space to enjoy throughout the seasons.

A defining feature of the land is Waterton Creek, a living waterway that winds through the lower portion of the property. This tranquil, ever-changing natural element brings with it the gentle sound of flowing water, abundant wildlife, and a sense of calm that is impossible to replicate. Accessible via a scenic descent through the treed hillside, the creek and its surrounding lands extend the usable footprint of the property and create a truly unique recreational retreat.

Just moments from the shoreline, the property also offers immediate access to southern Georgian Bay. A short walk or quick drive leads to a shallow, rocky beach—perfect for launching a paddle board, enjoying a swim, or spending quiet days by the water.

With ample space for future enhancements such as a detached garage, pool, or additional outdoor living areas, the property presents both a finished vision and an opportunity to further personalize. Whether enjoyed as a peaceful year-round residence or a four-season escape, this is a setting that captures the very essence of life along the Niagara Escarpment and Georgian Bay.

Crafted with a focus on enduring quality and understated luxury, this newly built residence by J.M. Hartman Holdings Inc. showcases a thoughtful blend of refined materials, advanced building practices, and timeless design. At the heart of the home, the main living space is anchored by a striking Rumford wood-burning fireplace, clad in a French country blend stone and detailed with a classic herringbone brick firebox—both a visual centerpiece and a highly efficient source of radiant warmth.

Surrounding it, engineered white oak flooring in a sophisticated chevron pattern brings warmth, texture, and continuity throughout the main level. The kitchen is equally impressive, appointed with Nile Gold sintered stone countertops and backsplash—an ultra-durable, heat- and stain-resistant surface—paired with a fully integrated JennAir NOIR appliance suite. Custom millwork and cabinetry, carried throughout the home in white oak and walnut tones, reflect a consistent attention to detail and craftsmanship.

Designed for comfort in every season, the home features a hydronic in-floor radiant heating system on the main level, delivering consistent, energy-efficient warmth, while a separate forced-air system services the upper level with both heating and air conditioning. Additional electric in-floor heating in the upper bathrooms enhances everyday comfort.

Built with performance in mind, the home is fully insulated with closed-cell spray foam, achieving superior thermal efficiency and air sealing well above standard construction requirements. A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) and integrated humidification system ensure balanced air quality and year-round comfort.

The exterior reflects the same commitment to longevity and design, with pre-aged white cedar cladding, a durable corrugated metal roof, and a combination of large-format aluminum and vinyl windows that maximize natural light while framing the surrounding landscape.

Further enhancing the home’s functionality are thoughtfully integrated systems including a 4,000-gallon cistern water supply with advanced filtration and UV purification, low-voltage Lutron lighting throughout, and a pre-planned elevator shaft for future accessibility.

Listing Details

Bedrooms: 4

Baths: 3 full

Square Feet: 3,781

Plot Size: 3 acres

Courtesy of Sotheby's International Realty Canada

See the full story on Dwell.com: Spend Quiet Days by the Water in This Gabled Niagara Escarpment Retreat, Asking $1.4M
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Risa Boyer Revamped This $2.8M Portland Midcentury From Top to Bottom

The down-to-the-studs renovation sought to preserve the 1957 home’s character while introducing upgraded systems, new finishes, and a high-performance building envelope.

Originally built in 1957, the recent renovation, which was completed in just 10 months, sought to preserve the midcentury-modern details while dramatically updating the home's performance for contemporary living.

Location: 6055 SW 90th Ave, Portland, Oregon

Price: $2,850,000

Year Built: 1957

Renovation Architect: Risa Boyer Architecture

Footprint: 4,083 square feet (5 beds, 4 baths)

Lot Size: 0.36 acres

From the Agent: "After more than two decades working at Nike, Chris and Megan Carle began imagining a home that reflected their active Pacific Northwest lifestyle and the architectural influences they had admired while traveling the world. Drawn to the philosophy of midcentury developer Joseph Eichler, they began searching Portland’s limited inventory of authentic midcentury homes. They eventually discovered a 1957 post-and-beam house tucked into a former fruit orchard, surrounded by massive heritage oak trees. Portland architect Risa Boyer helped guide the design, while high-performance builder Josh Salinger advised on achieving a durable, energy-efficient building envelope. Rather than altering the footprint or layout, the renovation focused on rebuilding the home from the inside out while preserving its defining architectural features, including the dramatic vaulted post-and-beam ceilings that greet visitors upon entry. Taken down to the studs, the home was reconstructed with meticulous attention to performance and comfort. At the heart of the house sits a generous chef’s kitchen, equipped with Miele appliances and Sub-Zero refrigeration surrounding a large central island. A reengineered rear wall introduces a large multislider door system, opening the kitchen and living room to a courtyard backyard and pool. Stephanie Kjar Roth of Foxy Den advised on optimizing the interior material palette, ensuring a cohesive balance of woods, ceramics, and natural textures. Curated with interior designer Allie McGory of Lille House, the interiors blend Scandinavian restraint with midcentury icons, including Eames and De La Espada pieces, and a vintage DK3 shelving system."

Much of the tile throughout the home is by Heath Ceramics. The custom walnut and oak cabinetry is by Artisan Woodworking.
Photo by Justin Jones, Jones Media Shop

See the full story on Dwell.com: Risa Boyer Revamped This $2.8M Portland Midcentury From Top to Bottom
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