When friends of mine returned from a trip to southern Portugal last month, they told me all about their secret find: Casa Modesta, a rural guest house on the Ria Formosa Nature Park in the Algarve. Before owner Carlos Fernandes and his sister, Vânia Brito Fernandes, inherited the house from their grandparents, it was a small 1940s house typical of the region. Vânia, who is an architect and a partner at PAr, a women-run design firm in Lisbon, renovated the house into a modernist white stucco retreat. Carlos named it after their mother, Modesta Maria, and worked with Albio Nascimento and Kathi Stertzig of The Home Project to design the interiors of the nine guest rooms. Contact Casa Modesta for booking information.
Photography by Alex Reyto for the Perfect Hideaway, unless otherwise noted, all courtesy of Casa Modesta.
![the long house has nine guest rooms, each with its own private patio. 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-1-733x489.jpg)
![architect vânia brito fernandes worked with her partners joana carmo sim&# 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-2-733x489.jpg)
![the communal kitchen is used for cook ins, culinary classes, and workshops. 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-3-733x489.jpg)
![the architects built a kitchen island from canadian douglas fir from lacecal ha 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-4-733x489.jpg)
![glass bottles are encased in colorful crochet, casa modesta offers workshops on 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-5-733x489.jpg)
![the kitchen has a traditional woodstove. the dark cork pendant light is by the 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-6-733x489.jpg)
![the dining room table and shelves are made from canadian douglas fir from lacec 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-7-733x489.jpg)
![the brass swing arm sconces are designed by par. 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-8-733x489.jpg)
![in the communal living room, furniture by par is inspired by the architect and 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-9-733x489.jpg)
![the hotelier’s counter and front of house area. 26](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-10-733x489.jpg)
![a view of the brick path connecting the two white buildings. 27](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-11-733x489.jpg)
![traditional terracotta pots abound. 28](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-12-733x1100.jpg)
![a view of one of the bedrooms with a canadian douglas fir panel headboard and c 29](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-13-733x489.jpg)
![the bedroom lights, sconces, and pendants are made of cork and brass by the hom 30](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-14-733x489.jpg)
![the shower is clad in handmade matte white porcelain tiles. the brass shower fi 31](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/casa-modesta-par-architects-algarve-portugal-12-1-733x1100.jpg)
![a view into the bedroom from the bath, privacy is afforded via a pocket door de 32](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/casa-modesta-par-architects-algarve-portugal-13-1-733x489.jpg)
![the faucets, as before, are from bruma. the brass pendant light is by the home 33](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-15-733x1100.jpg)
![the guest bedrooms have headboards made of cork. 34](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-16-733x1100.jpg)
![traditional woven caps in the entryway are on offer for guests. 35](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-17-733x1100.jpg)
![casa modesta’s terracotta wine cave. 36](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/casa-modesta-par-architects-algarve-portugal-7-1-733x489.jpg)
![a compact spa room. 37](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-18-733x489.jpg)
![the pool surround is made of terracotta tile. 38](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-20-733x489.jpg)
![portuguese arcalo gonçalo chairs and arcalo plain table in white 39](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-21-733x1100.jpg)
![a view across the building\2\17;s rooftop. in the distance: the individu 40](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-19-733x489.jpg)
![the property sits on acres of almond and olive trees near the ria formosa 41](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/alex-reyto-casa-modesta-algarve-portugal-22-733x489.jpg)
Casa Modesta is located at Quatrim Do Sul, 8700-128 Olhão, Algarve, in Portugal.
For more rentals in Portugal, see our posts:
- Elegant Minimalism in Lisbon: Santa Clara 1728
- Casa No Tempo: A Minimalist Retreat in the Portuguese Countryside
- The Lisboans: Apartments in Portugal with Vintage Style, Breakfast Included
- Uva do Monte: Undone Chic on the Portuguese Coast
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