Living in Portugal and Angola, Lili Miranda professionally develops a passion that she has carried with her since she was a child: that of creating beautiful and elegant environments, worthy of admiration. Her passion for horses and the Alentejoprovides some of her sources of inspiration, fuelling her desire to continue creating and embracing new challenges.
Tell us a little about your background and how this passion for interior
design came about.
My passion for interior design has always been very much a part of my
life. I’ve always been fascinated by beautiful and elegant spaces and this
meant that, in my head, I was able to immerse myself in this universe that I
had so much admiration for. I have always known that I wanted to do something
that involved creating environments where I could put all my imagination into
practice. And, as such, I ended up enrolling into ESAD to do a degree in
Interior Design, although my studies were interrupted because I had to dedicate
myself to a new chapter in my life – becoming a mother. At the time, it was
irrelevant whether I finish the course or not, because, as a matter of fact,
the ideas and the taste had always been there in me and I was gaining more and
more in flair in the projects I was developing. At that time, I opened my shop
in Lousada.
Is the Lili Miranda INTERIORES
project a dream come true?
Yes, but above all else it is a project
that is constantly evolving and developing. The more projects I develop, the
more I need to create, imagine and, above all else, lift the brand more and
more to a level of elegance and comfort that I consider to be the perfect
symbiosis. It’s a dream that I want to take further, a dream that I want to
grow more. I want to achieve greater renown for my name and I know I’m going to
succeed.
What distinguishes the Lili Miranda brand from others in the same
industry?
For me, direct contact with my clients is very important. There isn’t a
single project in which I am not present and where I am not the one who does
the necessary briefings, before they are then passed on to my team. The most
enjoyable thing for me is the contact. Feeling and understanding what the
client wants and being able to provide them with the enthusiasm, expectation
and fulfilment of making their dream come true. Turning my client’s project into
my project. Today, for example, we are doing this interview in a house whose
owners have become my friends. In 60% of cases, I become friends with the
clients and that’s very rewarding.
What kind of projects do you work on? Are there any that you particularly
enjoyed thinking about?
Mostly I work on residential projects. At the moment, I’m in a
marvellous place, embracing very interesting projects in different niches. I’m
going to develop a shop project in Oporto, and I’m also going to do the design for
a boutique hotel. But among the many projects that have given me immense
pleasure, there was one in Luanda where the client gave me total freedom to
dream and design what in my mind would suit the space, the location and the
essence of the family. That job gave me a huge adrenaline rush and a great deal
of satisfaction.
Do you also work in the international market?
Yes, as I said, I also work in Luanda. I first entered
the Angolan market in 2007 and have had great pleasure in working on projects
for people who, as well as being clients, I’m very proud to call friends and,
some of them, also business partners.
Do you think there has been any change in
recent years in people’s perspective on what interior design is? Is there a
greater focus on aesthetics and the organisation of the space in which we live
and work?
Without a doubt, there has been a drastic
change in the way people view interior design. These days, an interior design
project is a sine qua non of an architectural project. This implies a
greater attention to detail, as well as a concern with combining elegance and
comfort.
Is it
easier or more difficult to develop a project for the luxury market?
This
is a very double-edged issue. On the one hand, because the luxury market allows
access to more exclusive and unique pieces, which will set the project apart.
But on the other hand, I’m fully aware that the research, my client’s demands
and the dynamics of working on certain projects in this echelon end up being
more rigorous and detailed.
Is
opulence what makes a space luxurious or isluxury, in fact, the very thing that
is not obvious?
On
that question, what I have to say is «less is more», always.
Tell
us about the Alentejo, as your home...
Oh,
the Alentejo... This place that fills my soul, that inspires me and that I can
no longer live without. Above all, I like to explore the Portugal’s interior,
those endless landscapes. This is where I often isolate myself, where I share
laughs with my family and friends, it’s the place that makes me feel that life
is light and where I always leave with a soul revived. For me, the fact that I
can find refuge in my home in the Alentejo is a privilege, it’s a constant
encounter with myself, it’s where I free myself from everything and embrace my
essence and, above all else, find the creativity I need for my projects.
You
often express your passion for horses on your social networks... Is horse
riding a way of connecting with yourself?
Riding
and horses have been part of my life for so many years. Actually, I really want
to have the opportunity to have horses in the Alentejo. For me, riding every
week is part of my routine, it’s when I take time out for myself and connect
with a gentle being with a deep gaze and a free spirit. My children, Rita and
Hugo, started riding and competing from the age of 7. My son, who is now 25,
works as an international show jumper in Switzerland, which is why I constantly
share this passion on my social networks.
Where
do you draw your inspiration from?
I find it in the streets, in the Alentejo, in conversations with people
that inspire, that add and, most of the time, in the simplest things in life,
where I can connect in my own solitude, which is the essence, for ideas to
constantly bubble up in my head.
