If you are reading this blog, chances are you have felt the "call" of Mexico. You may plan to travel to Mexico soon, or perhaps expect to be moving there. Perhaps your plan is to establish an investment property in Mexico and you need to furnish it right now. But not for yourself, rather for your tenants.  Some of our clients begin their moving to Mexico process quite early. It is wise to do so. They visit, they decide on a place they love, they purchase a property. This gives them a place to vacation throughout the year. The rest of the t...

  At the turn of a new year, I get excited to find out what the new interior design and furniture trends will be. I'm not sure if it is because by that time most of the USA is parched for color, for the flowers and the birds to return with the spring, or simply because I love perusing the changes, the trends, and what it could mean about our societies. For me, color, design and new style trends are some of the most fun aspects of owning Gringo Furniture. Other than the chance to travel to Mexico, that is, but for obvious reasons that oppo...

  This morning I have been contemplating the many changes we have observed over the past ten years in Mexican style and furniture design. Ten years ago, most of our clients wanted our help to furnish their homes in Mexico using Mexican rustic furniture. I still remember fondly one of our very first clients, a delightful couple with 2 children who had purchased a home in Mexico for 30,000 US. They were planning to vacation there several times a year and rent it the rest of the time. We helped them completely furnish their home at that time...

  One of the joys we find in our Gringo Furniture business is the ability to travel while we work … and to work while we travel. We have had some amazing trips to Mexico throughout the years, including our exciting and beautiful month in San Miguel de Allende last year. Part of the fun of it was getting furniture inspiration, meeting new artisans, enjoying sights, new food and making new friends. It’s probably what you enjoy as well, when you travel to Mexico or decide to buy a home in Mexico. Our business allows us to work hard and ...

It is no longer to soon to be talking about your holiday entertainment plans. With foliage and a change in the light and in air temperature, many of us are thinking about the holidays. And for some, that means traveling to your home or condo in Mexico where you will welcome (some very lucky) guests who will get to enjoy the sunshine, the ocean, the Mexican holiday foods and costumes with you. A holiday season to remember! So now is the time to begin thinking of that additional bed or sofa, those gorgeous regal looking hacienda arm chairs ...

Is it a tree? Is it a table? It’s parota!! A lovely warm Mexican wood starts taking center stage in furniture We have been hearing about parota wood for many years in our Mexican travels. And in fact there exists a kind of “lore” about it. I remember that the first time I heard about parota I was sitting in the gorgeous Mexican living room of a dear friend near Cuernavaca. She told me, "In my beach condo in Puerto Vallarta, the furniture is all parota.” But it’s tough to find artisans who make it because they can end up getting sick unle...

On a recent Sunday in Mexico, on a whim, we decided to go to the park. And wow, it proved to be a great decision because we really had no idea all the wonderful surprises that were in store for us. One of the most amazing ones was seeing the park come alive with people young and old .... together .... celebrating life. A Japanese garden, children painting the littlest sweetest furniture pieces, dancers performing, ice cream and popcorn vendors, toddlers running around, young lovers holding hands,  ... you get the picture. Whether at a park...

Owning a condo or rental property in Mexico can be a great opportunity to recreate what you love in your home in Canada or the US, or perhaps, better yet, to do things differently!  Some of us like a home that can be cozy and warm and then, for example a lake or coastal property that is minimalist, all white for example, to invite simplicity and to help us feel that we are "off the grid" or on vacation as soon as we arrive. However you decide to approach it, these tips and tricks can help you create a wonderful living room in Mexico. ...

The land of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula is dotted with amazing pools and swimming holes called cenotes. Most cenotes have originated from underwater cave systems that have filled with water over time. The first time I saw a photo of one I thought I was dreaming, or reading about some Mexican author’s magical realism flight of fancy. But it is true. Cenotes are real and they are spectacular! It is said that there are over 5,000 cenotes in the Yucatan and many are open to the public. You can find them all around Mexico’s Riviera Maya: around Puert...

  I don’t know about you but I truly love outdoor markets. Such a beautiful array of foods, spices, flowers, people, herbs, vegetables and fruits … and the hubbub and pulse of a place and its people. They go by many names: Mercado de artesanias (handicrafts), flea market, farmers markets … I love them all.  In Canada and the US, most of these markets are seasonal, open from early to late summer. In Mexico, most of them are open year-round. Here are a few of our favorite Mexican market experiences. In San Miguel de Allende, on a Satu...