In a world of unoriginal Ikea homes, my ideal home is a combination of modern and traditional. A curated menagerie of family heirlooms, traditional Portuguese items, trinkets from my travels abroad, and some stylish modern pieces. For me, it’s important that I have pieces that speak to tradition in some way: like a piece is made in a traditional manner or with traditional materials. Something that keeps a tradition alive. For Portuguese pieces, I like things that represent elements of our culture. That’s why I was really excited to come across a website where you can buy gorgeous products that will both add a Portuguese flair to your home and are made to stand the test of time.
Portuguese Treasures has a little bit of everything: homeware, interior design products, and fashion, making it a one-stop shop for Portuguese goods. I could not have come across this website at a better time: my home was desperately in need of a few new items to level up its style so I could host meals at my place. And my readers know how much I like to buy local Portuguese goods. It was a no-brainer. I treated myself to some pieces that were particularly beautiful (and functional). Here’s my unboxing video when the items arrived.
I really wanted some cool, neutral placemats, and Portuguese Treasures had exactly the right solution for me. These swirly cork placemats were neutral enough to go with my various plate sets in different colors. What I really like about these is that if the swirls are too much for you, you can always flip them over for a different, more familiar cork style, which essentially meant I was getting two sets for the price of one. I loved that I was able to get some matching coasters (and yes, these flip over for the more neutral cork style too). In keeping with the swirly cork style, I got a super cute fish trivet. And I’d like to take a moment to fully appreciate just how quintessentially Portuguese this is. It combines cork, fish motifs, and facilitates family style eating. I actually think this trivet is perfect in any home, but particularly cute if you have a beach house or if you’re serving up a fish dish. I also got 2 very practical liquor pourers with lid, made from stainless steel and cork, to elevate (and facilitate) my pouring experiences.
Portuguese Treasures also have some beautiful olive wood pieces. I got the olive wood rectangular serving board and the olive wood rustic tapas dish: perfect for nuts, berries, olives and other snacks. It’s almost a shame to cover these pieces with food, because it hides their stunning, wavy grain (Portuguese people don’t need an excuse to eat, but revealing this beautiful wood as you nibble at the food is a great reason to keep snacking).
Aside from homewares, Portuguese Treasures also sells clothing accessories. Think traditional sheepskin slippers, boots (Portuguese footwear is widely regarded as second in quality only to Italian footwear), and straw bags. You can also get sustainable cork products such as yoga mats, massage rollers and balls… in my humble opinion, so much better than polyurethane and PVC mats, which are terrible for the environment.
As everyone who has read this blog knows, I’m a huge fan of azulejos. And wouldn’t you know it? You can find some beautiful Portuguese tiles on their website too. I’m pretty sure this is what I’ll be getting from them next.
I’m so happy with how these items elevated my dining table and brought more Portuguese products into my home. Aside from the compliments from family and friends, I’m really pleased with how they blend the traditional motifs and materials with modern design. So if, like me, you’re always on the lookout for a gift from Portugal for yourself or a loved one, look no further than Portuguese Treasures.
