MADE TO MEASURE

Inside and out, the bespoke and crafted elements of this Lisbon abode make for a home like no other

- Ellen Finch

At first glance, the Canadian granite kitchen splashback of this Lisbon home is simply a beautifully carved piece of stone. Actually, it's been shaped to reflect the sound waves of the owner's voice - one of the magical intricacies of this apartment, and a testament to both the creativity of its designer, João Gameiro, and the power of a great designer-client relationship.

The story of the splashback was a long-running joke during the project. "The client had certain sayings he would repeat, such as, "Trust doesn't avoid control", says João. 'We recorded it and modelled the splashback on the sound waves.' In the garden, a column is modelled on a recording of the studio's name. We wanted to add in these little surprises-elements that no one would know about unless the client told them."