I was asked to suggest some dining tables from portuguese brands. I was happy to oblige, as these kind of requests are fun to answer and always lead me to new discoveries. I presented five of my choices in the Portuguese Homeware Instagram account. This post summarises it all, with two extra findings as a bonus.
These are 7 dinner tables by portuguese brands you should keep an eye on!
Christmas countdown is definitely on! We are busy finding the right presents, the ones that are useful and will make the receiver happy. Sometimes, we get tired from the people in the streets and the shopping malls. Some, as myself and all the expats, are hoping their favourite producers sell online, as that will avoid packing stuff on already overflowing luggage. It can be stressful! Warm wine or hot chocolate, some christmas carols and snow help to change the mood and help us focusing on what is important.
No matter what, just remember, the best present you can offer is mindful time spend with the ones you love, it is an open smile to a stranger, it is an homemade cake or an old photo printed from the archives.
I have hesitated to make yet another list of Christmas present ideas, but if you are looking homeware gifts , reasonably priced and possible to be bought online, this may be a little help.
Autumn has settled and Halloween mood was at its strongest in the beginning of the month. I could not resist to do a little round up of Spooky Homeware in Facebook and Instagram. Look for #spookyportuguesehomeware in case you missed it. I picked up some old favourites as the Naughty Crow from Laboratório d’Estórias, but also a surreal tile from Surrealejos and the figurative ceramics of Bordalo Pinheiro.
As Autumn settles in and the cold, rainy weather slowly arrives, I started dreaming about nesting in my sofa. Although in reality I seldom get the chance to do it, I cannot stop thinking about warm blankets, a nice cup of tea and a good book.
The drama when we move into a new apartment is that we seldom look up!
I mean, we make our best to have where to sleep, seat and eat but it can go months or even years before the ceiling lights get the proper cover up. I know from experience how hard can it be the find a fitting lamp: to our taste, to our budget, to our light needs, to our space.
I have been collecting some inspiration on Pinterest and I wanted to share with you some alternative, quirky lamps made by young portuguese brands. They will not make your living room look serious if that is what you are looking for, but they will make it nice, cozy and may be a great conversation starter.
Portugal is definitely in the cutting edge of cutlery, with modern brands, producing state of the art design pieces that still find a place in a common table. It is not easy to talk about cutlery, as it is by definition, made of many small components and several collections. On top, I always think photos do not make a fair compliment to the pieces themselves. They are made to be hold, so the bearer may feel the weight and how the shape cuddles in one´s hands.
Cutipol and Herdmar produce articles tailored to dress up any table. We are not the only ones noticing. Instagramers worldwide sport the beautiful forks and knives in their food and table styling photos and press icons, such as Wallpaper Magazine or Remodelista, did not miss to mention them.
This post could be called “Back to School: take 2”. I have already mentioned how much I like the period of back to school. As the life in the city awakes from summer stillness, buzzing with activity and new (school) year resolutions, I could not resist to share some minimalist desks, ideal for small spaces and great thoughts.
Whether on a train, at our dining room table or with feet high up in our sofa, one must say that the best office is anywhere we can put the greatest ideas to work. Nevertheless, a neat desk and a pretty notebook allow for no excuse to start moving all the ideas that flew through our heads during the slow pace of summer months.
This time, I decided to go for minimalist desks, with a preference for those not taking much visual and physical space. They would look great with these bookshelves, by the way.
Summer break is slowly coming to an end and with it, the beginning of thes chool year is fast approaching. Although I am not (yet!) directly impacted by it, I always feel an urge, at this time of the year, to get new pens and pencils, notebooks and organising boxes.
It is also the perfect excuse to empty the bookshelves, to discover some forgotten books and to give the living room (or office) a much required organisation boost and facelift.
I find bookshelves tend to be that last piece of furniture we replace from our student years. I speak for myself! Priorities went to the bed, sofa and other big buys. We ended-up with a little fade, old-looking bookshelf in the corner of the room, hidden by books and begging to be replaced.
With this in mind, I picked my five favourite bookshelves, made in Portugal.
A friend looking to furnish her recently acquired apartment and wanting to escape the mass market furniture distributors, asked me to recommend her a Portuguese furniture brand.
I have chosen We Wood because I have been following their work for a while. Their wide range of objects make them a nice destination point if you have an empty apartment and you are looking for good quality, modern furniture. On top, I appreciate the craftsmanship, natural materials and the sort of retro look with a modern twist.
PORTUGUESE HOMEWARE 