Hi there! We are Marianne and Vitor, a Swiss/Portuguese couple with two little ones. For years, we dreamed about renovating a holiday home, and at the end of 2021, we finally took the plunge. We started searching for old houses that were begging for a makeover.

When we first saw Javalina, the garden was overgrown with invasive plants, and the house did not look very appealing. However, the big pinheiro manso, granite boulders, and great sun exposure of this simple yet beautiful house made us fall in love instantly. A quick look into each other’s eyes, and we knew we felt the same.

We bought the house at the beginning of 2022. Initially, we were overwhelmed by the workload, but our vision of what Javalina could become kept us motivated through an unforgettable two years of ups and downs. During the week, Vitor and his team renovated the house, paying attention to every detail to keep it as original as possible. On weekends, we visited antique fairs, hunting for unique pieces. For the interior design, we focused on natural materials with a touch of color and patterns to add interest while keeping it calm, creating a truly relaxing and inspiring space.

The result is what we call our third baby, a stone cottage with the charm of an old house and the comfort of a new one.