Ferragudo, Algarve, Portugal

One of the most comfortable houses in the old village of Ferragudo

Here you can enjoy the village life of Ferragudo to the fullest all year round. The house with a floor area of 220 m2 also offers 90 m2 of sheltered terraces for living outdoors almost always. A few years ago the house was completely rebuilt and renewed, both architecturally and in terms of installations. For the colder winter months there is water based underfloor heating which is heated by an energy efficient heat pump and there is a homely wood burning fireplace in the living room. The almost one metre deep plunge pool is also pleasantly heated by a heat pump. The house has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. One bedroom with an en-suite bathroom is located on the ground floor. Although the house stands in the historic village, it can be reached by car at the back via the only car-accessible village street. Traditional elements, such as the colourful tile panels inside and outside, have been preserved and even strengthened during the renovation, so that you can also taste the warm Portuguese charm in this modern house. The tile panel above the front door describes and depicts the name of the house, ´Onda Azul´ (Blue Wave). This is one of the most beautiful and comfortable houses in the charming old village of Ferragudo.

Location
The front door is on a pedestrian-only street with houses, shops and cafes. 100 metres further, the street ends up at the well-known central square of the village with cafés and restaurants. For example, to unload groceries, the car can be parked temporarily 50 metres from the front door. At the back of the house, on the only street accessible by car, a gatehouse leads to the sheltered outdoor area. The gatehouse offers space for garden furniture, bicycles, surfboards and golf bags. Parking spaces are available 100 metres from the house. You don't really need the car in the village: all desired amenities are within walking distance. The beach is only a 500 metre walk through the village.

Ground floor
The front door opens into an open hallway that, a few steps higher, leads into the spacious living room with maximum ceiling height. Daylight enters through an opening window in the 60 cm thick facade and two large opening tilt windows in the roof. The characteristic wood-burning fireplace has been given a built-in fan so that the heated air is 'blown' into the room.
A round opening is an iconic optical division between the living and dining areas. This is open to the spacious fully-fitted kitchen with breakfast bar which continues into the second sitting room with a window to the front, and which is again connected to the living room by a double door. In fact, the ground floor consists of a ´tour through´ the different rooms.
Behind a hard-glass wall in the second sitting room is a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. Next to it is the room for the washing machine and the hot water installation.
The dining room has a door to an external staircase leading to the patio. Behind the dining room is a lovely spacious bathroom with a shower and bathtub with artistic unique images on the wall tiles.

First floor
From the living room, an open staircase with hardwood steps leads to a mezzanine that turns into a room now furnished as an office with generous storage cupboards under the sloping roof. Opposite the office space is a bedroom behind a hard glass wall. Double hardwood doors open to the third bedroom with, again, storage cupboards under the sloping roof. This bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe and a bathroom that can be closed off with frosted glass sliding doors. The rooms in this part of the house have solid wooden floors and large tilt windows through which daylight enters.
From the mezzanine, a small passageway leads to the cozy master bedroom with a sliding door to the patio terrace. A large wardrobe and the en-suite bathroom have sliding frosted glass doors again.

Outdoor area
The outdoor area is accessible through the master bedroom or through the outside door to the dining room. There you will find a staircase that has been designed as a work of art with a variety of hand-painted tiles. The sheltered patio of about 70 m2 consists of a tiled terrace on the bedroom side, a hardwood terrace with an impressive palm tree in the middle and a heated swimming pool of about 2,5 m x 3 m with a depth of 90 cm. At the back of the patio is the approximately 7 m2 gatehouse with an external door.
From the patio a staircase leads to the upper approximately 18 m2 roof terrace with views over the roofs of the old village. The balustrades of the staircase and the roof terrace are made of stainless steel posts and railings with hard glass in between. The roof terrace is now furnished as a lovely lounge area with also ample space for sun loungers. If desired, a shade cloth can be hung from the wooden pergola.

Technology and installations
During the renovation, electrical and water pipes and connections were renewed. All wooden doors and windows have been replaced with solid Kambala hardwood and double glazing. The roof has been completely renewed and insulated and provided with six opening tilt windows through which light enters and with natural ventilation the temperature control is supported. Water-based underfloor heating has been installed under all stone floors, with thermostats for the various rooms. The heating of the water for the house and the underfloor heating is provided by an energy-efficient heat pump, and in case of higher than normal demand, there is an electric boiler as backup. For the plunge pool there is a separate heat pump that can be used as required. There is a pre-installation for air conditioning in the living room and two rooms upstairs. The owner has not felt the need to actually install it.