For years I?ve admired the work of Swiss designer Kerstin Greve through her leather goods brand Anve, so when she invited me for tea at her flat in Lisbon, I was as curious to see the interiors as I was to meet her.
Greve lives with her husband Carlos and their young son, Camille, in a historic four-story building in the Principe Real district of Lisbon. The mansion was built at the end of the 19th century by Eduardo Coelho, the founder of the Dario de Notícias, the first modern newspaper in Portugal (it was rumored to have been built for his lover, who later ran off with the chauffeur). During Coelho?s residency, the ground floor functioned as a meeting place and salon for writers, artists, and intellectuals.
The Greve family now lives on the second story, or andar nobre as it?s called in Portuguese. You enter into a grand parlor with a mix of period details: etched mirrors, panels of woodland narratives, elaborate Victorian wainscoting, and eclectic parquet floors. ?When we moved in, we did not change anything; the apartment speaks for itself,? says Greve. ?My interior style is a mix of selected flea market pieces, finds from the street, and a few designer items.? Join us here for a tour. Photography by Antonio Cardoso, courtesy of Kerstin Greve.

Above: The untouched 19th-century staircase complete with floral ceiling trim, an antique bench, and religious paintings.

Above: In the parlor entry is a midcentury desk that Greve rescued from the street while traveling in G...