This modernist residence, built in 1967 near the Portuguese fishing village of Carvoeiro, has recently been restored by studioarte, one of our favorite design groups, headed up by creative director Arnold Aarssen. Located on a hillside with views across the rolling hills to the ocean, its striking white forms and pool deck sit on top of a series of terraces.

Aarssen and his team have taken the original mid-century design and given it a contemporary update, adding functional but visually delightful features like glass shutters opening from the kitchen onto the dining patio, a large rotating glass door linking the living room with the roof terrace, a retractable wall separating the kitchen and lounge areas, and a white tile roof replacing the traditional red tiles.

There are so many pleasing features to this home, it's hard to know where to start. All of the above, plus the exterior staircases leading up to the roof terrace, the curved walls that wrap around the wooden deck and the circular pool, the vivid tiling, and the L-shaped concrete kitchen. This villa for rent in Portugal is a design delight.

Part of the appeal is that interiors are blended with exteriors. The light-filled living room is connected to a spacious terrace with huge views, taking in the village, the greenery surrounding it, and the ocean beyond it all. The terrace links to the roof terrace via an exterior staircase. The kitchen has large folding windows onto the patio. 

This patio space is the heart of the home, with a barbecue and a large family dining table seating 12 guests on brilliant blue chairs and a black-and-white inlaid tile floor. Then there's the play area – the large, enclosed pool has a jet stream, springboard and light-up fountains, and as if that's not enough to keep the kids amused, there's also a Moroccan safari tent with four beds under it.

Downstairs there is a separate guest apartment with private terrace, and the whole property includes 6,000sqm of private land.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

This villa for rent in Portugal has a total of four bedrooms and four bathrooms; however, one of these is a separate guest apartment with its own bathroom that can accommodate four guests (on a large double bed and a good quality sofa bed). The basic price is based on a maximum of six people (for the main villa with three en-suite bedrooms), at which point the guesthouse remains closed (and not rented out). When booking 7 to 10 guests, the guest apartment is automatically included.

AROUND

The house is located within walking distance of the beach and the heart of the fishing village of Carvoeiro, with its excellent restaurants and cafes. There are supermarkets within easy driving distance, as well as shopping centers and golf courses. 

The beaches nearby are among the best in the Algarve. Recommended local activities include a boat trip to Benagil Caves (the most popular and therefore busiest marine caves in Portugal), hiking the Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos route that follows the coast from Carvoeiro to Praia da Marinha, exploring the Algar Seco Park with its spectacular cliffs on the Carvoeiro boardwalk, and a visit to the nearby town of Silves.

LOCATION

Carvoeiro, Algarve, Portugal. Nearest airport: Faro (45 mins).

BEST TIME TO VISIT: There is no real rainy season, making this a great year-round destination. May to September is high season, and the rest of the year is much quieter.