This post features a gifted press stay c/o iescape!
For the last leg of our trip in Portugal we headed to the ridiculously beautiful Farmhouse Of The Palms. Similar to the first hotel we stayed at, the hosts here are a couple with a young son who moved to Portugal for a new quality of life. They were so lovely to talk to, and you can really see how much love and detail has been breathed into the whitewashed walls of this mini paradise…
Frank and Veronique were so welcome and equal parts stylish. I was definitely inspired to come home and declutter my little Manchester abode after experiencing the minimal interiors of their farmhouse. Frank told us how they discovered the two hundred year old farmhouse and decided to renovate it and move their family over from Antwerp. It was important to them that a lot of the original features remained, and you really get a sense of this when you walk around. This place was just a forty minute taxi ride from Conversas de Alpendre, but completely different in terms of aesthetic…
There’s lots of surrounding greenery filled with palms and cosy nooks to read or have your morning coffee. The pool was definitely the showstopper for me though – the unique black tiles make it look like a little slice of the sea amongst the tranquil gardens. It also looks out over the São Brás de Alportel valley which was pretty impressive. The glass bottles and flowers just transform this space into the chicest pool I’ve ever seen. I’m sad that it wasn’t warm enough to swim on our last day, but it means I definitely have an excuse to head back…
In each bedroom you can expect woven baskets, herringbone blankets, and little sprigs of lavender by the bed. I really fell in love with how much thought had gone into the whole renovation process of this place, and I can really see how a project like this is so much more rewarding at the end of it all. I’d love to buy a piece of property and renovate it one day. I’m certain it takes a lot of patience and hard work, but at the end of it you’re left with something so personal born out of such an intimate passion project…
I really felt inspired to work and write once we reached Farmhouse Of The Palms – although it’s a peaceful atmosphere that definitely encourages you to switch off, it also has a lot of open space filled with books and objects that inspired me to create. Theres a couple of really nice lounge areas, and a huge wooden table where you can take your laptop and catch up on some life admin whilst looking out over the pool. I feel like this is somewhere I’d happily head to on my own if I fancied a few days of reading and writing with no distractions – sort of like my own little writers retreat…
It’s always interesting to me how travelling can affect my style too. All weekend I just wanted to wear stonewash linen and really chic tailored pieces. There’s something about dressing super minimally that makes me feel quite calm on the inside. I really feel as though my wardrobe is a strong mix of prints and neutrals, so sometimes it’s fun to really just play up the neutral side and be completely pattern free. We managed to shoot a couple of outfits here and I’m really excited to show you as they are some of my favourite summer looks yet!
Unfortunately we didn’t really venture out of the hotel grounds due to time and workload, but the local town isn’t far away at all! In fact, we got a taxi to a local supermarket and it took round five/ten minutes in total. We got back to our room with bread and cheese in hand, and just spent the evening winding down and watching a film. The weather had taken a bit of a turn towards the end of the week, and we were pretty shattered from cramming in all the shooting that needed to be done…
Farmhouse Of The Palms has five rooms in total so they get booked up pretty fast. I think the fact it only has the five rooms makes it completely different to anywhere else I’ve been before – it’s quiet and could easily feel like you have the place totally to yourself…
Each room also comes with a generous terrace area which was such a lovely surprise – I think it makes such a difference when you have your own little outdoor space. Ours came complete with deck chairs so we could watch the sun go down and reflect on a very memorable week…
I also managed to read ‘Hot Milk’ by Deborah Levy whilst I was away – I couldn’t recommend her writing enough if you’re looking for some new summer reads. Her work was pretty much all I read last summer, and ‘Hot Milk’ made for the ideal poolside read on those sun drenched afternoons in Portugal. I really feel as though I mastered a work/play balance on this trip – something which is completely new for me and never really seems to happen. It’s safe to say I’m already planning my next getaway…
Photographs of me taken by Catherine Booty | Scenic images taken by me on an Olympus MJU II
It looks so beautiful!
Mariya | https://www.brunetteondemand.com/