Patrícia Coelho

Patrícia is the face of Rondinart, a brand that epitomises the luxury furniture segment in Portugal. Incorporating a contemporary design, its decorative pieces stand out for the sustainable textures they incorporate; after all, it has been more than two decades of experience gathered by the designer, who seeks to keep exclusivity on her side. Today, she talks to TRENDS, first, about her brand and, then, about an approach related to outdoor living spaces, an aspect that she hopes to focus on in the future.

For those who are not yet familiar with your work, how would you define it?
My work is based on the curiosity for the mixture of comfort materials, such as wool and the soft and refined lines in wood and stone, with the aim of creating lightness in the pieces, along with a huge concern in designing pieces loaded with character, which coexist harmoniously with others and manage to mark the identity of the project, becoming an integral part of people’s lives.  
Rondinart’s main goal is to create versatile design pieces that become "customised suits”, allowing the exclusivity of some pieces.  

You founded Rondinart, a premium furniture brand, at the end of 2022. What is its concept and how does it differ from the national market?
I founded Rondinart on 29 December, 2022, with the ambition of being able to add quality and high standards to our market when choosing materials. Creating synergies between the various materials and daring in their uses also proved to be priorities, bringing a story to each piece, where the tradition of what has been done so well in Portugal is combined with the construction of a modern and differentiating design concept, which makes it possible to elevate furniture design to an artistic eye. We want to create a collective where furniture communicates with the various artistic aspects, from painting, sculpture, music and photography to gastronomy. 
Rondinart wants to walk alongside national art, while at the same time wanting to convey, in each piece, a story with a concern, both in terms of design and in relation to the function of each of the creations.  

If we were to enter your mind during the creative process, what would we find?
You would see a fast and abrupt conveyor belt of constructed and finished pieces, which come to me all the time. It’s even hard to stop that visualisation in time to put it down on paper!  

What makes a piece of furniture a success? 
A piece of furniture, to be a success, has to possess strong personality traits, tell a beautiful story and be guided by the quality of execution and materials, reflecting the identity of those who created it. Linked to all this is also the primordial relationship between design and function.  

"There is a tendency (...) to keep only the essential”

Although your work is centred on the interior of the house, have you ever thought about committing to outdoor furniture?
Throughout my professional life, I have made some attempts to transport the comfort I was creating inside the house to the outside, in order to produce a similar language. I must confess that outdoor furniture has different requirements, so it has to be carefully studied to contain resistance and durability in the face of aggressive outdoor conditions. But of course, I will be interested in addressing outdoor furniture in the future.  

In your opinion, in an outdoor project, how do you eliminate the superfluous and leave the essential?
I think that, as in an interior project, there is a social trend to keep only the essential, without too much information, focusing on quality materials and simple lines, which embrace and encourage well-being. Outdoors, it is important to pay attention to the behaviour of the decoration and its maintenance.  

To what extent does outdoor furniture fulfil a social function?
Outdoor furniture, like indoor furniture, goes hand in hand with social function, as both are dedicated to welcoming and providing a stage for long conversations and sharing in the enjoyment of their comfort.  

What is your favourite piece from Rondinart? The Rondina chair. 
Which style is best suited to a family outdoor space? It will always be the one that best identifies with the family that will use it.  
What are the most sustainable and durable materials for the exterior? Ecogranite, bamboo and natural fibres.  
Hanging armchair or hammock? Hanging armchair. 
Awning or parasol? A beautiful pergola. 
Solar lights or lanterns? Lanterns and solar lights. 
Garden fences: yes or no? Only if they are made of greenery.