Seven years ago, Alvaro De Ferranti, CEO & co-founder of Tabula Rasa Retreat in Portugal was a highly functioning addict, spending his nights sitting in his potting shed, aptly named ’The Sugar Hut’ after The Only Way is Essex, getting high on crack cocaine (and spending 50k plus per annum on his habit). At the same time, he managed to run three successful London based interiors and architectural businesses and his customers included oligarchs, rock royalty and film stars, these clients still seek his experience and expertise today.
The 52-year-old, from the privileged middle-class De Ferranti family, was born in London and moved to Portugal in 1973. The family home on a hill had splendid views over Lisbon towards the Tagus River and ocean. It was a time of civil unrest in Portugal (pre-1974 revolution) and Alvaro had many friends across different classes, from his local neighbourhood to...
