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
Entrance Door Restoration
I've struggled so far with decisions that need to be made on the subject of our window and entrance door restoration and replacement. Julie and I have had many, many conversations. I think she may be getting tired of my procrastination. A legacy effect of when I made...
Casa Grande First Look
I realised today that although we've been posting pictures and musings as we've worked, we've never actually given you a Casa Grande first look. So here it is! There are a some key areas that we have defined and as we've worked through these first few months here in...
The Barn Restoration
The Beginning (o início) The Middle (o meio) The End (o fim) As I start writing this article, it's very windy in the mountains, and the unsettled weather spell is continuing this morning, prompting me to think about the barn restoration. Another project we need to...
Building gabion walls
This week at Casa Grande we have been building gabion walls to create a retaining boundary for a patio and planting area. This patio is to the rear of the bread oven. We want to use and save water effectively and efficiently at Casa Grande. As well as beautiful...
Revealing the bread oven
Julie's on a mission this week, revealing the bread oven and living her best life tackling poke salad roots that are off the scale!! This room is (will be) fantastic and the oven itself seems to be in a pretty decent condition, although we have no roof, floor or...
Casa Grande logo
Today is a rainy day. I have therefore been working on some design visuals for a nossa Casa Grande logo. We've recently been excavating a part of the casa that will eventually become known to our guests as Spare 'oom (C.S. Lewis lovers will appreciate). When we...
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.
Historic Tomar
Historic Tomar is in the Ribatejo region of Portugal. The town was founded by the Knights Templar in 1160 under the guidance of Gualdim Pais.
Óbidos
There are some wonderfully exciting and vibrant colours to see walking through the medieval town of Óbidos, Portugal.
Quedas de Água das Paredes
Quedas de Água das Paredes | 500 yards from our casa in Laceiras is the start of the PR1 MRT hiking trail. A woodland river & waterfall walk.
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!