A Historic Lisbon Home Designed for a New Life Abroad

Leaving New York for Lisbon meant starting fresh, but for this couple, it also meant wanting to arrive somewhere that already felt settled and personal. Not a temporary landing pad or a blank slate, but a home that could offer a sense of grounding from the moment they walked through the door.

They turned to interior designer Katrina Boschenko, an American living in Portugal herself, who understood that feeling instinctively. “I deeply understand the desire to feel grounded and at home in a new country,” Katrina says. “They trusted me to design the home before they arrived, which allowed me to create a space that felt personal, finished, and connected to Lisbon from day one.” The long-distance process gave her the freedom to shape a space that felt intentional and complete, one that honored the couple’s creative identities while reflecting the spirit of their new city.

Design: Katrina Boschenko Interiors | Photography: Luis Nobre Guedes + Francisco Rivotti

A Living Room Designed for Arrival

The living room sets the tone the moment you enter: quiet, warm, and grounded. Painted entirely in a bright white base, the space sheds the heavier beige it once wore, allowing light to bounce easily across its historic details. Curved marble steps and iron-framed doors nod to the building’s past, while low, sculptural seating and soft upholstery bring a sense of ease to the present.

A Kitchen That Holds Its Own

A built-in once finished in dark brown was repainted in a soft pink to complement the dining room mural, lifting the space and subtly echoing tones found elsewhere in the home. The shift feels light and modern without breaking from the home’s overall restraint, allowing the kitchen to feel connected to the rest of the space.

A detail we love: copper hardware for the kitchen cabinetry.

A Watercolor Mural in the Dining Room

Just beyond the kitchen, the dining room becomes the home’s most expressive moment. A sweeping watercolor-inspired mural by Brooklyn-based studio Eskayel wraps the walls, bringing movement and warmth to the space. Drawn from original artwork, the mural carries particular resonance for one of the homeowners, a watercolor artist herself.

Craftsmanship Woven Throughout

Throughout the home, Katrina leaned into craftsmanship to give the space depth and soul. Custom ceramic pieces by local artisan Maud Tephany and handwoven textiles by Fanta Sque appear quietly across rooms, grounding the interiors in place and process. Rather than relying on big gestures, the home’s character reveals itself in smaller moments and materials, the kind you start to notice and appreciate once you’ve had time to settle in.

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