Amazing spaces

JADE PASSEY, INTERIOR DESIGNER, STYLIST AND FOUNDER OF ESCOLHIDO, COMBINES EXPERTISE AND VISION TO CREATE A VERY SPECIAL ENVIRONMENT.

CASA ALMARGENS IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF HER INSPIRED THINKING

LET’S TALK first about the owners: there’s a group of them – Meredith and Kyle McAllister, Trevor and Audrey Welch and Kate and Chris Matsch, a spirited bunch of Americans who have started multiple companies in the service industry, or worked in the hospitality sector for much of their careers. In the US, Trevor and Audrey and Chris and Kate founded Ibis Bakery, Messenger Coffee, and are current owners of Marion Milling; Meredith and Kyle founded Compost Collective and are current owners of Marma.

In 2018, Trevor and Audrey rented a 1980 Vanagon and drove it down the west coast of Portugal and headed for Carrapateira, which restaurant owner friends in Lisbon had recommended. “We loved the vibe, the relaxed pace, and the creative people living there,” says Trevor. “We started looking for a place then, and found this property, Casa Almargens, in 2021. Buying a house abroad had been a long-held and oft-discussed dream shared by the six of us, and this home was a natural fit due to its location and beauty.”

Now about the property: Casa Almargens is right on the edge of town and surrounded by farmland, a lovely home in a beautiful setting. Nestled within rolling hills and dunes, it is a contemporary Portuguese beach house, sitting peacefully just a stone’s throw away from the wild Atlantic coast. Carrapateira’s natural backdrop and laidback energy sets the village apart. It is commonplace to see locals gathered in the square, meeting for their morning coffee, or awaiting the fish van to arrive. “Being amongst such beautiful nature and people, the location allows you to immerse yourself in the simple life and recharge. Walking, exploring beaches, reading and cooking delicious local produce are the things we love to do when retreating to Casa Almargens,” says Trevor. The three-bedroon house, so enjoyed by the owners themselves and by friends and family

Jade Passey is single-minded in her approach. Always creative, always original, and always looking for local craftspeople who share her passion for high-end statement finishes who have stayed there, is now available on a bed and breakfast basis to those who want a calm, quiet and certainly special experience.

And the design and development of the building, the aesthetics and the landscaping? Algarve-based interior designer and stylist, Jade Passey from escolhido, was commissioned to remodel the property to create a space that feels design-led but authentic (an ethos that is always at the forefront of her projects, alongside her detailed and sustainable approach to designing and sourcing objects). And she worked with a local landscaper to create the gardens around the house, introducing locally-grown plants, including wild flowers that bloom in the spring and wild orchids that come to life in the summer months, as well as edible plants and herbs.

And on to Jade and escolhido: Since moving to the Algarve from London, Jade has been passionate about discovering Portuguese artists, makers, artisans and tradespeople, and she’s spent the past four years building relationships with an ever-growing network of specialist talent. “Finding plumbers, electricians, carpenters and builders when taking on a renovation can be a challenge,” she says. “I feel lucky to work with individuals who are communicative and who share a passion for creating a beautiful, high-end finish – something that I value highly.

“At escolhido, we work with our clients to create a home or a space with integrity and impact that works rhythmically with one’s lifestyle and values. Our homes are most likely to be the biggest investment that we make, so we

Soft natural colours and a mix of textures are very much part of the personality of Casa Almargens. The whole look is refreshing, and honest, telling a story of design caring should reflect us and who we are, tell a story and elevate our lives. They should evoke desired emotions and be our sanctuary.

“When it comes to interior design, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Whether you’re planning a full renovation project or simply looking to refresh an existing space, we tailor our services with a considered, design-led approach.”

To highlight Casa Almargens inherent connection to the outdoors, natural and organic elements and materials were used for the interiors and furnishings. The accent stone wall in the living area influenced the foundations of the colour palette, and the primary materials that are repeated throughout the house are wood, stone, marble, iron, ceramics, cottons and linens. “The underlying thread was to ensure that the design and materials used were timeless and had a long life, so that the clients could simply add objects to their collection,” says Jade.

A Mediterranean-influenced fireplace is the focal point of the open-plan living area, with design-led, cosy seating surrounding it.

Marble was introduced to create a modest mantel and a Faro-based, skilled brother-and-sister duo of tile makers, continuing the traditions of the family business, were commissioned to handmake a small selection of tiles using recycled clay for the hearth.

Together with Western Algarve stone mason, Paulo Caneco, Jade designed a simple, yet stunning marble coffee table for Casa Almargens, which sits in front of the large contemporary sofa. “Including Portuguese-sourced marble was always at the forefront of the design decisions for the property. This table and the others designed for the Casa will live to tell many stories as they pass on to owners in the future.”

A team of talented local craftsmen created the high-end, inspired and tactile desired finish in the kitchen design. The combination of chestnut wood kitchen cabinets and shelves, white quartz countertops, and Portuguese ceramic tiles with accents of locally sourced ceramics and objects deeply embedded in Portuguese history were the key ingredients in this space.

Photography by Sergiy Barchuk, a friend of the clients, is featured throughout the house. Two pieces inspired by natural elements hang gracefully above the wooden shelves holding collections of handmade crockery, ceramics, objects and glassware.

In the dining area, with views of the rolling hills, is a large inviting refurbished wooden dining table surrounded with preloved

Portuguese black iron feature chairs at either end with cushions made from vintage Hungarian grain sacks.

As sustainability continues to be at the forefront of design decisions and ensuring not to waste any leftover material, two wooden plinths were created from the spare material from the oversized pergola built on the decking.

Jade commissioned a Lisbon-based artist to create a piece of sculptural art for the wall. Being drawn in by Krus’ abstract use of materials to create texture, a brief was given to the artist to capture the surroundings of the property where the dramatic sand dunes meet rugged cliff edges while the Atlantic ocean glistens with the sun’s reflection. Epoxy Resin was used to mimic the sea with plywood and plaster capturing the coast.

Casa Almargens bedrooms feature sturdy handmade beds dressed with softly draped cottons and linens, offering the ingredients for a restful sleep. There are handcrafted marble bedside tables, designed by escolhido and locally-sourced earthy accents; a delicate rice paper shade hangs above the bed, whilst natural white curtains allow the soft light to filter in throughout the day. Fabric rests upon locally-made iron curtain rods with the signature swirl finial at either end that you see replicated throughout the house. On the walls, you will find framed art by one of the talented artists or photographers who were commissioned for the project.

Says Trevor: “We love our house and we want to continue sharing the beautiful coast with friends and family. We are still getting settled in Portugal and learning our way around. We can’t wait to immerse ourselves fully and discover more about the culture and beauty of the western Algarve. We love to have our family and friends utilise the space and experience the beautiful town so we’ve had a lot of our close contacts staying in the house since we completed the renovation. We have also had a number of guests from across Europe looking for extended stays in tranquil locations who either discover us through Instagram, our website, or through word of mouth.

Says Jade: “My plans and dreams for the future are to continue creating spaces that enhance my clients’ lives, to be commissioned to do the interior design for a beautiful boutique hotel here in Portugal, to build a collection of escolhido properties and to open an escolhido showroom full of hand selected objects and furniture and my own home collection working with talented artists and makers.”