Inside a sun-filled flat in Madeira by up-and-coming designer Jacquelyn Scalamera

Jacquelyn is no stranger to the world of design, having worked as a stylist for Wallpaper* magazine in London before relocating to Portugal, but the project marked a new professional chapter for her, as she took on the interiors herself. ‘I knew it was always going to be me designing it,’ she says. ‘This flat is my first full project, so I was incredibly excited when I started. I had so many ideas and I was starting from scratch, which made it fun and rewarding.’

The opportunity did not come without challenges, such as bringing a lived-in and welcoming atmosphere into what, at the time, was little more than a blank box. ‘Madeira has this sunny, almost year-round climate, so the interiors needed to feel fresh, but also rooted in the Portuguese crafts tradition,’ she explains. 'The whole architectural shell had been renovated, so the risk was that it could feel brand new.’

Jacquelyn and her family in the light-filled living area, surrounded by soft textures and layered details, including a Gong light suspended from the tall ceiling.

Luis Nobre Guedes

The building’s most distinctive architectural feature – its castellated façade, painted in a bright shade of yellow – became the starting point for the decorative scheme. ‘Its strong tone set a mood,’ she says, ‘but inside I brought in colour more through the furnishings than through paint.’ Jacquelyn chose simple white walls to let the natural light bounce through the flat and provide a neutral, relaxed background for a considered mix of art, vintage, and custom-made pieces.

In the light-filled living area, the sofa was made by local craftsmen in Madeira. Upholstered in white linen, it pairs with a pouffe covered in a traditional Hayden fabric by Colefax & Fowler. ‘It’s a fabric I’ve always really loved,’ explains Jacquelyn, who has discreetly used patterns throughout to bring a richer texture and layered feel to the flat’s muted decorative scheme. ‘In the ensuite bathroom, I used a Svenskt Tenn wallpaper I’ve always wanted to try and it looks so beautiful in that space.’

White walls set the tone for a considered mix of vintage and contemporary pieces.

Luis Nobre Guedes

Pieces were sourced gradually from markets, galleries, and online auctions, chosen to integrate seamlessly with one another. Vintage chairs for the dining area, scouted on Pamono, complement the round wooden table made by artisans in Madeira.

Among the most personal additions are two pieces Jacquelyn designed herself — a bench and a stool — whose cut-out motif derives from the building’s façade. ‘I was inspired for that detail by the castellation that you can see on the balcony,’ she explains. ‘It was important for me to draw on that architectural detail as it is so distinctive.’ Both pieces are part of Forma, the furniture brand Jacquelyn co-founded with Rodrigo and designer Andrew Figueira. ‘The three of us each have a different role: I’m the creative lead, Rodrigo takes care of the business side, and Andrew focuses on the technical design.’

Another view of the living area, featuring a Gong light, an armchair upholstered in James Hare’s Lismore Linen, and a rug by Nordic Knots.

Luis Nobre Guedes

Reflecting on the project, Jacquelyn sees it as something deeply personal — shaped as much by lived experience as by taste. ‘I lived in the UK for a long time,’ she says, ‘but I also really love European design and furniture — so I think this place speaks to both influences. I love homes that feel lived-in and that reference tradition with layers and textures, while mixing in fresh, newer pieces with a bit of fun.’

It may have been her first complete project, but it has already laid the foundations for what comes next. ‘Decorating is something I want to do more and more of,’ Jacquelyn says — and in this quietly expressive flat, full of personal references and lived-in charm, that desire feels not only natural, but inevitable.

formacollective.net | @jacqui_scalamera