I wanted to give a general update since it’s been a few months. I wanted to talk about one big thing that has taken place since my last post, as of June 22nd of this year, we have officially been here full time for 2 years. Crazy to think about it, and how much has taken place in that time. We have gotten to know many more locals, and what our town has to offer. We have learned more about processes and local laws, or ways of doing things, and we have learned a little more Spanish. We still feel horrible that it’s been so long and our verbal skills are still lacking, but between working and life it’s been a slow process. I understand a lot more than I speak, my Spanish speaking skills are MAL (BAD) HAHA!
The house has come a long way, we swapped our sitting room and bedroom and added a new door making our room a true primary suite. We really like it and it fits how we live and use our space. We are finally wrapping up our outdoor projects, the pergolas have shade cloth and fans are getting installed. The next is having the patio around the pool treated with acid to make it less slippery when wet.
We planted our back space behind the yard leading down to the lagoon and its growing in nicely, we had our stairs leading down to the lagoon refinished and a hand rail added so mom can go down when she wants.
I designed two pieces of furniture for house a bar / beverage area and a storage cabinet for dishes and cooking items we don’t use often. I also designed a new armoire for our primary bedroom, to hold a new fireplace and additional clothing. I know sounds like a strange combination but again it works for us. (haha)
The dogs are doing great they love it here, walked on the beach in the mornings, and sleepy days by the pool in the afternoon when its not to hot! The vet here is amazing really never thought we would find another vet like our long time vet and friend Jameson, we spent years visiting vet after vet and just hating each experience. Found a vet here they spend no less than 1 hour with you each visit talking about the dogs and playing with them, examining them. The experience is so refreshing and I feel like we are so lucky to have found them. They are also very heavily involved with the local rescue wish is essential to the town in helping with all the stray and uncared for animals.
I recently wrapped up a large project I was working on in CA, it was about a 2.5yr project for very dear friends and clients creating a wonderful dream home on the coast. I truly loved it getting to create it for them and making it a place they will spend time and love. I drove out a few times through the process, making sure things were on course, that said it was a learning curve being a country away, when I am usually so hands on. However, everything, well almost everything worked out perfectly and we only have a few small details we are still working out.
I am still working on a project in FL that is for a large residential project in Palm Beach, where I am just creating and 3D renderings and photo realistic imagery for the architects and designers, for their clients. I really am enjoying the project, just wish we could get it pass the approval committee!! I have never seen so many sticks in the mud! HAHA
So whats next.. I don’t know. What was that quote.. “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.”
I do think I will be posting more now that life is kind of evening out and things are calming down around here. We are going to start focusing more on us I think, and spending time just enjoying it here.
I think when people from the States think of furniture from Mexico we tend to think of the more traditional aesthetic that we see in the southwestern United States. This aesthetic, is prolific in southern Arizona, New Mexico, Southern California, and Texas. Commonly known as Mexican Colonial style it varies from super rustic to a little less so, but always carries through with more traditional appeal.
The style is usually denoted by its use of natural materials, leather, wood, metal, and some fabrics, bright colors sometimes as well. You will also find various levels of carving depending on the piece itself. Much of this is also driven by where the piece was made in Mexico. The Mexican Colonial style started shortly after the Mexican Revolution and has remained popular both in and out of Mexico. There is a lot of literature and articles that would go deeper into detail of the this style of furniture if you wanted to know more.
Now if you are looking for these piece, you really do not have to look far, sometimes being sold out of trucks along the roadside, in furniture stores, and online in Mexico. You can find many of these pieces in second hand stores in the states, and even some new production pieces and knock offs of various levels of visual interest in new furniture stores as well.
I really want to focus on the modernist movement in Mexico. This technically started toward the end of the 70’s, early 80’s however in the early 2000’s really took hold putting Mexico on map for handmade, modern furniture pieces. What I love about modern furniture coming out of Mexico is that it still embodies some of the important characteristics of the early Mexican furniture. The use of natural materials, wood, metal, leather, fabrics and modern takes on Mexicos heritage and design sensibilities.
How does this tie into Puerto Peñasco and design style here. Well while you will find this modern style throughout Guadalajara, Mexico City, Hermosillo and other large cities in Mexico it’s a little less prevalent here in our town. That is mostly driven by distance from where this furniture is produced, the cost of transportation, likely due to wage levels and purchasing power as well. The influx of US expats who are still so familiar with Mexican Colonial Styling, probably also drives some of its popularity. I would imagine that most expats unless they have spent time other parts of Mexico are still very much influenced by the prolific styling of the colonial period and even some of the other periods prior to the current Modernist movement.
Modernist furniture in Mexico, to me it is some of the most beautiful furniture I have seen and some of the most comfortable. The leathers in Mexico, I think are just as nice if not nicer than some of the finest leather coming out of Italy. Mexico also has some incredible new green “leathers” coming to market. Check out this company it is pretty amazing https://desserto.com.mx . Checkout some very interesting information about Mexico manufacturing here. https://napsintl.com/manufacturing-in-mexico/industries-in-mexico/furniture-manufacturing-in-mexico/
So, to the story of our furniture, the links, contacts, and experience..
When we started our building process we knew that we wanted to support the country we were going to be living in, just like we did when living in the US. We had expressed our desire to purchase local goods when possible to our builder. Our builder was already doing this so it was a good fit for us, cabinets, and interior doors, made by a local company. Windows and Exterior doors also by local company. The flooring we went with was brought up from Durango, purchased from a quarry I was familiar with from my work in the states. Our proximity to the US though influences things because we are so close many things are imported, because its more cost effective, this can be good and bad.
We did look into purchasing furniture in the US and having it shipped down, not our first choice but still explored that option. We then looked into buying furniture here in Penasco, we predominately found only a few options, imported furniture from the US (Mostly made in China), and the more traditional colonial style furniture of Mexico, and I believe furniture made in China but imported for Mexico. None of these are bad options, some of the pieces are nice aesthetically, we just wanted something different for our home.
Our builder knowing we wanted to buy in Mexico, suggested checking out Guadalajara as they were very familiar with options offered there. I planned a trip down to Guadalajara for a few days to hopefully find our furniture. I had an advantage in that our builder was in Guadalajara and so we went together shopping and hit up all the hot spots and some really incredible stores!
Important to remember! Bed sizes in Mexico and US are different so you have to make sure when purchasing bed frames and mattresses make sure they match! Sam’s in Peñasco used to carry both sizes, not sure right now. Muebles Coloniales, they carry Mexico sizes, and Ashley’s – Hacienda Del Sol also carries both I believe.
Guadalajara Information & Contacts
The first store I would recommend if you like the more modern furniture like we do is Moragrega. They have two locations, one in Mexico City and the one I went to in Guadalajara. I truly loved this store, everything was customizable and as a designer those are the sweetest words to hear. (HAHA!). The sofa I had them change return sides, and lengths of side as well as picking the leather and firmness of cushions. The leather is just incredible 2 years in and we use the sofa everyday and the leather is still immaculate. The marble side tables and coffee table, you can customize the size finish of marble and base color. The chairs we picked what wood species, stain color, fabric choices etc.. I even designed 2 very specific custom pieces for our home and they were made mm perfect and came out so amazing!
Moragrega Casa. – https://www.facebook.com/MoragregaCASA/ I recommend working with Mónica Chavez, she is amazing to work with, very responsive, fun, and just a great person. The best way to reach her is via WhatsApp – +52 33 1048 8616, tell her George sent you.
Next on the list of places to check out is Tlaquepaque, not a store but an area. There are some really fantastic stores here, though the style tends to be a little more colonial style, you will find some really unique items that work well in a modern design. You will also find great accessories and house ware items here. I truly enjoyed this area, you park, and then it’s a lot of walking, tons of stores, restaurants, and tequila!!
The first place I recommend checking out is Galería Imperial, they have a nice selection of house goods, accessories and furniture. I wouldn’t say modern pieces but it’s nice to bring in some more classic pieces into a modern space just to keep things interesting to the eye. I didnt get much here but I found an incredible lamp, and a few accessories. https://galeriaimperial.com
The next place I sorta went a little crazy in was Colección Arte de Mexico.. I truly could have spent a lot more than I did, but I stuck to what I knew I needed. I still might go back and get a few more pieces this year. They have wonderful accessories, incredible glass work, lights, art, just some amazing pieces. https://www.facebook.com/coleccionartedemexico/
Let’s say you have purchased your furniture in Guadalajara and are now wondering how do I get my stuff to Puerto Peñasco!? Good news I have someone for that as well. Very reasonable, he has brought things for me twice form Guadalajara, and he is a really great guy.
Miguel +52 33 1614 2969
Peñasco Information & Contacts
Peñasco, has plenty of options, offering varying qualities of furniture at various pricing points.
Ashleys-Hacienda Del Sol, they carry as you might expect Ashleys furniture, now these pieces are imported from the states, so pricing will higher than the states pricing. This is due to the fact that they had pay for importation and everything that goes with getting that furniture here. That said you can get some items here and if you do go in ask for Erika Aranda – +52 638 388 0545 – haciendadelsol.sales@gmail.com – https://style.ashleyfurniture.com.mx/
Muebles Coloniales, they carry items from all over including imports from china. I believe more of their furniture comes within Mexico or China so you wont be paying the additional 19% importation that you find at Ashleys, that said I don’t think it’s drastically cheaper as I recall. https://mueblescoloniales.mx
There are also various other stores as well as some roadside vendors that sell more of the Mexican Colonial style.
Esthilo – +52 638 383 8327, this is a great contact for window treatments, high end quality as good or better than comparable products in the US. I have used them a lot and referred them always great to work with. They truly stand behind their products!
This pretty much wraps up my thoughts and how we did things and contacts I know and use and recommend. I hope this helps everyone that might be looking and have questions about furniture and moving to Peñasco.
Ok, we live in the Sea of Cortez, we are on the leeward side of cholla bay. We still receive high winds and surf during storms but due to our location we are protected and get much less than areas south of us. Islas Del Mar the neighborhood we live in contains the largest ecological certified beach in northern Mexico. The community also contains a large salt water marsh estuary, breeding areas for Herons and several breeding Osprey pairs.
We live on essentially a peninsula, the front of our home faces west and the Sea of Cortez, and the back or our home faces east and the salt water lagoons. The lagoons are where we watch the Osprey fish all day catching fairly large fish everything from 8”-20”. The most common fish here in the lagoons are what locals call Lisa, (Liza Aurata) they are most similar to Sea Bass or so I have been told. I have not had any luck catching them so far… though I have researched what they like bait wise! Just haven’t gotten the lures to try yet.
The Tides, well I think most visitors are confused by the drastic tidal swings. Some California beaches , tidal swings are 4-8ft roughly. Some beaches in Florida beaches, tidal swings are 2-4ft. Here our tidal swings are 6-24ft. depending on time of year and lunar cycle, but the tidal swing is dramatic compared to most beaches I have ever been to, all over the world.
Our tidal swings allow for some very impressive photo opportunities as well as exploring tidal pools, sand flats, breakwaters and just some very unique sights. Now if you are a beach for beach sake kinda person then the bay is probably not your thing. The waves are not always at the beach, some times they are 3/4mile out at the break water, however the diversity of sea life and experiences are so much fun. I love taking photos both at high tide and low!
I will do a photography post of various times of the year… these are just some over the last year, pretty random just showing you the various tidal heights. I hope you enjoy I will post more about the various sights like the estuary once I kayak down there or take a long hike.
The next post I think will be all about photos to sure some of the amazing sights over the last year, they will be mostly natural images. I was hopping ti maybe do a Dia De Muertos post.. but we are having a lot of work done around the house so I am not sure we will get to do all what we were hoping for this year!
Mexico Beach Adventure 