CITY GUIDE - LISBON

Shopping in Lisbon is a great experience. Portugal was one of the European nations hardest hit by the economic crisis, but the economy has now grown for 13 successive quarters. And it shows. (No alternative to austerity eh?)

Just walk around the narrow streets of the old city quarters and you'll come across dozens of sumptuously ornamented shops that sell some of the most carefully packaged goods you've ever seen. At reasonable prices. If you are going for vacation, you'll return with a suitcase stuffed with treasures.

A VIDA PORTUGHESA

www.avidaportuguesa.com

THE CHOICE: RUGS

Carpets are the universal way to warm floors and rooms and to decorate homes since the dawn of times... but an original Persian rug is simply something else: it adds an incomparable touch of elegance to any space and it's a timeless classic. 

A fine antique carpet gives the owner the same pleasure than possessing a precious piece of art.

BEFORE & AFTER: KITCHEN MAKEOVER

There had been nothing really wrong with the kitchen that we bought with our apartment, it was just a bit tacky and poorly assembled. The main idea behind this renovation was to create a solid, uniform, almost monolithic base and leave the rest of the room uncluttered, bright and airy.

PARIS FLEA MARKET - MARCHE' AUX PUCES DE ST-OUEN

If you are planning to travel to Paris, you must go to one of its flea markets. Forget about broken picture frames, faded cushions and chipped glasses: the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen looks more like a well organized museum... where you can buy everything you see!

Off the main street rue des Rosiers, you can find Marché Malassis (toys, vintage cameras and furniture), Marché Dauphine (furniture, ceramics), Marché Biron (lighting, furniture and objets) and Marché Vernaison (more varied, with fashion, books, prints and kitchenware). 

Marché Paul Bert is owned by the Duke of Westminster and has some beautiful 19th- and 20th-century furniture. Let's have a look of it first...

Enjoy your bargain, in french!