a nossa
Casa Grande
Renovating our rural casa
in Central Portugal
We’re nestled in the heart of Central Portugal. Casa Grande stands as a testament to timeless beauty and schist grandeur. The journey of renovating this rural Portuguese property, lovingly named A Nossa Casa Grande – Our Big House, is an adventure filled with challenges, triumphs, and the discovery of the rich cultural heritage that surrounds it.
What’s been happening at a nossa Casa Grande?
As the restoration of our Portugues house unfolds, each piece of hand-cut stone reveals tales of a bygone era, providing a glimpse into the history of this rural part of Portugal. Casa Grande was close to total ruin when we found it and we are by no means professionals when it comes to renovating property. However, the desire to respect the original fabric of the building and its architecture, while incorporating modern comforts into our home design, has been the driving force behind the Casa Grande project to date. So follow our journey as the story of renovating our house in Portugal continues here and also on our social channels Facebook, Instagram and TikTok
Laying our first limecrete floor
It's time to get get on with work in the adega area to get our main bathroom installed. First though we'll need something to walk on! This is the story of laying our first limecrete floor.From rubble to a bathroom floorWe lost count of the number of times we have...
From prison bars to a new window
Instalar a nossa nova janela de casa de banhoThis is how we changed from prison bars to a new window. To the rear of a nossa Casa Grande, we have several windows in the adega that make the house look like a prison. Traditionally the adega was an open space area used...
Concrete Spiral Staircase
Nossa escada em caracolFollowers on Facebook and Instagram may already have seen a few images of our concrete spiral staircase project in recent stories. It's been a busy time for us preparing to start this part of the restoration. Actually, this isn't about...
We are switched on
Getting electricity in PortugalIf you've recently purchased a property in Portugal and you need to get connected to the electricity network, then this article will help. It's been quite a journey for us to get our ‘starter’ electricity supply installed at Casa Grande....
Feliz Ano Novo
Happy New YearFeliz Ano Novo! A Very Happy New Year from both of us to all of our friends, family and followers. Looking back, it's fair to say that towards the end of 2022 we struggled somewhat to get anything meaningful done on our renovation. Weeks of heavy, rainy...
The arched windows
As with our entrance door, we've battled with the best way to approach window (janela) replacement at Casa Grande. Currently the entire house has some 27 windows to replace including the marquise windows / doors, new building work we have planned and the barn and...
Days in the sun
It’s not all about living a renovation life in Portugal. As we work to make Case Grande our home, we will also explore nature, discover fascinating places to visit, learn a new language and immerse ourselves in a warm and historic Portuguese culture. Over time we’ll share our experiences and hope that we inspire you to visit Portugal one day and perhaps call by and enjoy a glass of wine with us.
Mata do Buçaco
Mata do Buçaco (Bussaco National Forest) is home to one of Portugal’s finest national monuments – O Palácio do Buçaco
Portugal dos Pequenitos
Today we crossed the Mondego at Coimbra and headed into Santa Clara to visit a miniature village – Portugal dos Pequenitos.
Palheiros Costa Nova
A day trip out to the Atlantic coastal town of Costa Nova where the palheiros houses wear pyjamas!
Gary & Julie
As we settle into our new life in Portugal, our main focus will be our house renovation, but we also have other projects and business interests that we will continue to nurture and grow. Watch this space.
Our Creative Work
Gary is a professional graphic designer, photographer and web site developer.
As well as the casa’s renovation work, Gary provides creative services to clients in the UK and Europe and is continuing to grow his impressionist fine art print business, Linescape Arte e Fotografia
Julie is a retired English and Maths tutor and has a degree in English Literature and Post Graduate Certificate in Education.
Julie is currently designing and organising creative writing courses and planning to offer retreat accommodation here at Casa Grande. She is also starting a new business in Portugal, making her unique brand of handbags and purses.
Casa Grande Renovation
In 2021 we sold our city house in the UK & headed for a life in rural, central Portugal.
We literally have years of renovation work ahead of us. We will be restoring this beautiful old Portuguese house and outbuildings using a great deal of hard work (to the best of our aging abilities), an abundance of love and affection, and with an ever growing respect for nature and the rural life that now surrounds us.
Exploring Portugal
Gary has worked with his friend and business partner Tony Oswin (author of the A to Z Greece Travel Guides), for over 10 years.
Tony is a British Expat living on the Greek island of Thassos, and anually revises and publishes his A to Z Travel Guides to Kos, Rhodes, Thassos and Santorini.
To expand the A to Z catalogue further, we will be writing an A to Z Travel Guide to now cover Central Portugal (due to be published 2023/4).
Watch this space!