Values & Goods
What we appreciate
Casa Utspan is not a luxury vacation rental. We are not professional hosts. We like to share with you our private vacation home including the things we personally value. Our vacation home is filled with pieces we cherish, from antique ceramics collected over the years at local flea markets, furniture we move around with us since decades, little pieces collected on travels to contemporary pieces from local crafts people and small brands whom we would like to introduce here.
Rowse Amenities
Our bathroom amenities come from Rowse, a brand rooted in plant-based beauty with a purpose. Suitable for all types of skin, this collection has been mindfully crafted in Spain using 100% natural, vegan, and cruelty-free ingredients, these essentials nourish, hydrate, and repair, leaving both body and hair refreshed. Guided by a commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing, Rowse works with small independent labs and responsibly selected ingredients to create products that care for both the planet and your well-being.
Monterosa Olive Oil & Marisol Flor de Sel
We offer our guests Monterosa Extra Virgin Olive Oil, produced on a 15-hectare farm with olive groves very close to Casa Utspan in Moncarapacho. Handpicked and pressed on-site, their award-winning oils are regarded as some of the best in Portugal, capturing the freshness and intensity of the region while reflecting a commitment to quality and sustainability.
Another staple in our kitchen for your use, Marisol Flor de Sal is hand-harvested from the artisanal salt pans of the Ria Formosa nature reserves.
Housewine from Morgado do Quintão
At Casa Utspan, our wine bar features a selection of wines from Morgado do Quintão, a historic family estate in the Serra de Monchique, Algarve. Founded in the early 19th century, this quinta has remained with the same family for four generations. Today, Morgado do Quintão’s stewards are dedicated to revitalizing Algarvian wine heritage, reconnecting winemaking with its deep regional roots where vines first arrived on the Iberian Peninsula. As a welcome, we provide our guests with their first bottle on the house, with further bottles available on an honor system.
Tapestry by Fabricaal
Our main bedroom features a custom-made tapestry from "Fabricaal", Fábrica Alentejana de Lanifícios, inspired by the traditional wool blankets of Alentejo. Initially used by shepherds for warmth in the fields, these blankets have evolved into essential pieces of house linen. Fabricaal preserves the region's rich cultural heritage through traditional craftsmanship, employing time-honored techniques on old looms and skilled artisans to create hand-crafted products from merino wool, ensuring sustainability and quality in every piece.
Ceramics by Persson & Miller
Our collection features ceramics from Persson & Miller, created by Bryony Persson and Wanda Miller in their Lisbon studio in the Santos/Madragoa neighborhood.
Wanda hand built the minimalistic and beautifully glazed wall lights specifically for Casa Utspan, while Bryony made some of the bowls and cups you´ll find in our kitchen. Both artists draw inspiration from nature, balancing simplicity with subtle, organic forms, they are also two very cool women and we are happy to call them our friends.
Ceramics by Maria Ulecia
Our friendship and creative connection with Maria have flourished for over 15 years through various collaborative projects. A multidisciplinary artist based in Porto, she works with ceramics, drawings, and embroidery, drawing inspiration from nature, botany, and the passage of time. Maria has crafted the sinks and lights in our downstairs bathroom, two unique azulejo outdoor tables for Casa Utspan, along with our dinnerware. She was our first guests at the still “raw" Casa Utspan, where she tiled the table, and we shared some wonderful days together.
Bloodbrothers Skateboards
The two skateboards we offer for our guests are custom-made for Casa Utspan by Bloodbrothers. Born from a brotherhood spirit between two childhood friends from Setúbal, Bloodbrothers blends urban skate culture with surf-inspired craftsmanship. Now based in Fonte da Telha, the brand has evolved with a focus on sustainability, creating eco-conscious boards while staying true to its underground roots.
Rosa e Manuel Cesteiros
Our ceiling lights are made by Rosa and Manuel. Working from their workshop in Braga, this artisan couple employs ancestral techniques passed down through generations, producing each piece entirely by hand. Their commitment to sustainable practices is evident, as they use local plant fibers while blending traditional basket weaving with a contemporary aesthetic. With over 40 years of history, Rosa e Manuel Cesteiros is a family business that creates wicker pieces in various shapes and sizes.
Palm Weaving from Loulé Criativo
Several of our baskets are crafted by artisans from Loulé, who skillfully weave palm, a native plant of the Iberian Peninsula, into various objects like baskets and carry cots.
Supported by 'Loulé Criativo', an initiative focused on promoting the identity of this Algarve municipality, these artisans benefit from training and resources that revitalize traditional arts and crafts while fostering creativity and innovation in the region. The initiative also offfers workshop and other creative experiences in Loulé, just a 20 minutes drive from Casa Utspan.
Ghome
We love our little LUZ made of cork by Ghome. We are also big fans of Ghome´s designer and founder Gonçalo Prudêncio: "I am convinced that design is the right tool to add value to both the essential qualities of the Portuguese natural raw materials and to a unique set of local skills, in order to transform those resources into products with a strong identity with the potential to become national tokens for global economical and sustainable strategies. Ghome is the objectification of this vision.”