I spent a week navigating the retail outlets of Northern Portugal, driving between Caminha and Porto to find the 'American equivalents' of "Home Depot" and "Pier One."
My week back in Portugal after Thanksgiving, all irony intended, was to go on a shopping spree. Not that I was buying anything at all - yet. Rather, I was orienting myself to understand what kinds of housewares, furniture, appliances, and fixtures are available for purchase in our area. This, as our architect and I, start to design the villa's spaces - inside and out.
I gave myself a wide berth, driving nearly a hundred miles and visiting 24 stores in 24 hours. I took two thousand pictures of everything that remotely caught my eye...including prices and sku numbers. This library of information would serve me well as I returned to my drawing board back in the United States and I start to assemble the interiors and contents of the house. I was looking at everything: from toilets and refrigerators - to sofas and plateware. Everything we'd need to outfit this house.
There were the international standards, like IKEA. And I found the "Home Depot" of Portugal, Leroy Merlin. I also found a few gems: notably an antique store specializing in treasures from estate sales across the Mediterranean. Their Carrara marble gazebos for 20k EUR were well out of our league, but were certainly a dare-to-dream. Another antique emporium near Caminha held much more reasonably priced, and less lofty, treasures for consumption.
A few interesting notes: metal plates for electrical outlets are illegal in Portugal - plastic only. Washing machines hold the equivalent of a basketball-size of clothes, though you can find slightly larger machines. Refrigerator-freezers are, on average, slightly larger than that of a hotel minibar. And don't even try for an ice-maker! Those are a bit rarer to come by! Overall, however, high-end European appliances like "Bosch"are significantly less expensive than those in the US, a most welcome discovery.
A helpful and curated list of design and houseware shops in Northern Portugal:
Prontatro - Vila Praia de Ancora - a discreet, reasonably-priced antique emporium.
JOM - Viana do Castelo - a furniture emporium.
CASA - Viana do Castelo - small shop of housewares.
MaxMat - Viana do Castelo - a mini "Home Depot."
Casa Peixoto - Viana do Castelo - a gem of a find, with designer fixtures, tiles, and appliances.
Curiosidades Barao VII - Povoa de Varzim - a spectacular discovery, with priceless antiques from across the Mediterranean.
Conforama - Matosinhos, Porto - a large furniture emporium.
Homa - Matosinhos, Porto - the "Pier One" of Portugal.
Lamerinho - Matosinhos, Porto - for quality linens.
MediaMarkt - Matosinhos, Porto - the "Circuit City" or "Best Buy" of Portugal.
Feira dos Sofas - Matosinhos, Porto - the place for high-quality sofas, made in Portugal.
Espaco Casa - Matosinhos, Porto - housewares and decor.
IKEA - Matosinhos, Porto - self explanatory.
Leroy Merlin - Matosinhos, Porto - the "Home Depot" of Portugal, with even more designer goods from housewares to fixtures.
ZARA Home - Norte Shopping, Porto - limited housewares.
AREA - Norte Shopping, Porto - a "Design within Reach"-like store with high quality furnishings.
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