An Artist's Retreat – Vivenda Esperança in the Algarve

Away from the coast, and the so-called 'glamour' of the major tourist resorts, here we have a property which follows its own path, one of intrinsic Portuguese traditionalism, moulded to modern needs yet entirely relaxed in its historic past.

Vivenda Esperança

Madelon Kunst, the marketing manager with Algarve real estate specialists, Neubersch Mediação Imobiliaria (Richard Neubersch) , gives PropertyIndex.com a peek behind the doors of Vivenda Esperança - a country property in Vale Judeu, in the hills behind the Vilamoura coastline...

A traditional farmhouse restored to its former glory...

A dramatic source of artistic inspiration for its owner, artist Pedro Leitão, Vivenda Esperança has served memorably as an idyllic summer and winter retreat for two decades, when it was originally renovated.

The artistic drive behind a fledgling Quinta do Lago in the early 70s, Pedro Leitão drew back into the rural calm of the Algarve's rolling countryside in the 80s, having discovered a delightful house in ruins, begging to be restored to its former glory.

Using his creative powers to the full, the portrait painter and interior designer kept to the original footprint of this former farmhouse, adding a first floor - enhancing the views down to the coast - and a new inventive slant to traditional country living, where new and refreshing uses are made of the available space.

Letting the light in...

Imagining the property through an artist's eye, light is a clear and central theme – drawing the Algarve's magnificent light into the house through unusual skylights and broad windows.

Two focal points on the property's ground floor seem to suck in light from the outside, filtering it through to the rest of the house: an interior courtyard, now covered, yet opened with a large roof window; and a broad gallery, joining the lounge to the dining room, now illuminated by a large rectangular skylight.

On the first floor, the spacious atelier has light sources on three of its four sides, letting the countryside rush in.

A social hub...

The property can equally be called a social hub – the ideal venue for gatherings, with guests spilling out from the gallery and dining room areas, onto a romantic flower-covered terrace, or along the cobbled alleyway passing between the house and the pool area below, guarded by an imposing palm tree.

A man of some social repute, the current owner has created a welcoming and charming retreat for his guests, with rustic undertones joined by classic comfort.

A rural sanctuary...

The farmhouse's more intimate side is a vital ingredient to this rural sanctuary. Retiring to the homely lounge, with its grand open fireplace, is an appealing and heart-warming thought, reflecting the property's aptitude to adapt to the changing seasons.

Indeed, outdoor charm experienced in well-structured gardens, cobbled expanses, a large pool area and a scattering of roof terraces, is balanced by a sense of relaxed cosiness in the bedrooms and living quarters, producing an environment where you can easily imagine living unfettered of urban concerns, a place you would love to be invited and where you instantly feel at ease.

A prime example of artistic flair...

Of course, as an artist's summer residence, it's no surprise that some imaginative flair has been passed on into the very substance of the property. Indoor rock fountains and tiled murals are some of the more obvious artistic flurries inside, while outdoors, everything seems to be touched by a magical brush – a confident stroke of rustic informality, daubed with the vivid and unexpected and an overall feel of sedate simplicity.

Put simply - Vivenda Esperança is a classic, rambling farmhouse just waiting to be loved.

Click here to read more about Vivenda Esperança.

Information provided by Neubersch Mediação Imobiliaria (Richard Neubersch); real estate experts specialising in the sale of exclusive properties, projects and developments in the Algarve.

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