LICENCE TO THRILL

Sixties chic meets James Bond cool in Carmo’s coastal home, which boasts an edgy mix of design classic furniture and out-there art

Iconic Sixties pieces and blown-up photographic art take one’s breath away in Carmo’s portuguese bolt hole

Welcome to an ocean-side hideout that would make even the steeliest Bond villain go weak at the knees. Sexy Sixties furniture, check. Pop-art patterns with heady hints of Emilio Pucci, check. And an array of plush sofas that are perfect for stretching out and dreaming up a plan for world domination – well, maybe, after another cocktail…

Carmo Mexia’s weekend hangout is both authentically modern, yet draws on the classic aspects of Sixties film chic. ‘I do love the idea of that whole era,’ confesses Carmo with an easy laugh. ‘I grew up with Sixties film re-runs on TV and it seemed like a time of such energy. Movies were glamorous, fashion was changing and artists were free to experiment with colour and pattern.’

This lofty proportioned home on the Portuguese coast may be inspired by iconic designs of the past, but it also serves as a contemporary arena for Carmo to play around with her own decorating ideas. Artwork riffs on the retro feel, including a Seventies sun-worshipper on her lounger, slowly basting in full make-up and false eyelashes (see the kitchen). A less coiffured, slightlier sweatier version of a Slim Aaron scene, if you like. ‘It sums up that European “tan at any cost” culture – even if your make-up is melting!’ Carmo adds. ‘Mind you, if you head over to Marbella, that look is still going strong...’

But here, in this quieter coastal nook tucked into an inlet south of Lisbon, things are done rather differently. When Carmo and her then-husband found this spot, all that stood here was a derelict building that was surrounded by craggy cork oaks; it was ripe for remodelling. The couple’s brief to their architect was straightforward: ‘We told him we wanted height and space – and lots of it,’ says Carmo. ‘Our aim was to have a large central living area where everything happens. There aren’t any bedrooms upstairs, just a mezzanine. It’s a fantastic, large-scale space, but set out in a balanced way to create harmony.’ As a pianist, Carmo had another motive for wanting to superscale this house. ‘I have a grand piano here – and the acoustics are fantastic,’ she says.

The concert-hall proportions have been adapted to everyday life with the help of Carmo’s collection of iconic Sixties and Seventies furniture, a complementary mix of contemporary Italian designs and an array of vibrant rugs made by the company she runs with her old friend Nuno Benito. ‘In this large space, the rugs help to define each area, but also unite the look,’ she says.

Carmo and Nuno started the company when neither of them could find carpets designed in Portugal that were creative or interesting enough to make the right impact – importing from elsewhere in Europe or the US was their only option. Hinting at their tongue-in-cheek approach, they named it Carpet Diem. ‘Nuno is the man with the puns,’ Carmo says. Yet their aim remains thoughtful and measured. ‘We both feel a carpet is a key element in a space,’ she says. ‘It can change the entire mood of a room.’

Inspiration for their pieces can come from ‘anywhere in the world around us,’ says Carmo, although many have a Sixties glam edge, reflected in the design names – you can pick from Barbarella, Biarritz, Palm Beach or Pasadena.

With carpets that function as artwork gracing the floors, Carmo opted for blown-up photos rather than canvases on the walls. The large image of palm trees, however, is more India than Ipanema. ‘It was taken in Goa, where my mother is from,’ explains Carmo. ‘It’s a lovely reminder of a beautiful place. My daughter has been to northern India – which I love too for its heady colours and fabrics – but I’m looking forward to taking her to Goa and showing her the more relaxed side of the country.’

At weekends, things are already pretty laid back and groovy at Carmo’s pad, with Josef Hoffmann’s prescient Kubus sofa – a vision of space-age genius designed in 1918 – Tom Dixon’s Mirror Ball pendants and Willy Rizzo’s revolving coffee table. And, up above the living space, there’s simply light and height. ‘It feels very free sitting in here,’ says Carmo. ‘It’s almost as if there’s no ceiling above you. It gives you a feeling of release at the end of a busy working week.’

It’s almost as good, she says, as the first dive into the azure pool in the garden. ‘Diving into the water, or sitting and just looking up and up – both give you that feeling of, “Ahhh… Now I can relax”.’

Check out more of Carmo’s rug designs at carpetdiem.pt

‘I’m a great admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture – my dream would be to live in one of his homes’

‘I like to play around, have fun and mix up styles in this big space – we rarely light a fire in summer, so the fireplace doubles as a library shelf’

Kitchen A Michelangelo Antonioni-inspired blow-up of a vintage photograph presides over the sleek kitchen. Get the look The kitchen is by Spanish company Santos. These are Tom Dixon’s Mirror Ball pendants.

terrace ‘We spend almost all our time outside in the summer,’ says Carmo. Get the look These are Panton S chairs by Verner Panton for Vitra.

Living area ‘The walls of my home in Lisbon are lined with paintings, so I wanted a complete contrast here,’ says Carmo. Get the look The Lounge Chair and Ottoman are by Charles and Ray Eames for Vitra. The rug is by Carpet Diem. The photographs are...

Living area The room’s double-height is emphasised by upper and lower sections of glazing, while the floor space is zoned by rugs. The gilt table was inherited from Carmo’s mother. ‘Its style is completely different, but that’s why I love it,’ she...

Dining area Diaphanous floor-toceiling curtains screen off this part of the ground floor when required. Get the look These are Eames DSW and DAW chairs for Vitra. The bespoke table is made out of reclaimed timber. This is the Gino Sarfatti pendant...

terrace Carmo’s villa sits between the rolling Portuguese hills and the Pacific coast.

Living area Organic Sixties pieces and curvaceous shapes lend a retro feel to this part of the living space. ‘I lean towards more organic designs when it comes to my work,’ says Carmo. Get the look The coffee table is by Willy Rizzo. The armchair is...

Pool The long lozenge of inviting water is shaded by ancient cork oak trees. It has a view of meadows beyond, where cicadas do their thing all day long.

Master Bedroom the large picture window frames views of the woodland outside. Get the look The bed is by Zanotta. This is an Hermès blanket. The red cushion is from Nobilis. This is Eero Saarinen’s side table for Knoll.