The house is every bit as lovely as it seems from the pictures. Located in Banzao, Colares it is perfectly located between Sintra and the beaches. More or less next door is the stop for the antique tram, the best supermarket in the area, a really good restaurant (Look up Restaurante Central on Tripadvisor) and the famous Colares winery.
The house is spacious and has every amenity you need, from washing machine and clean towels to a variety of fine dinnerware. Ricarda's mother-in-law Graça lives next door and was as sweet as could be to us, making us feel welcome and at home.
The house has a fenced-in yard where children can roam around and play safely. The front lawn was perfect for family football.
It seems as though every other house in the area had its own guard dog though, which contributes to a bit of barking noise. I guess that's the price you pay for staying in a nice and non-touristy neighbourhood in Portugal. People protect their properties. We quickly got used to it.
I should also mention that absolutely everything in the house was sparkling clean when we arrived. And that the bookshelves are filled with books from a late English author who once owned the house. If the weather fails, don't hesitate to stay in and explore the shelves.
Definitely recommended!