Is the Shopping Better in Britain...or am I just living in the Sticks??

Buying a house inevitably entails buying things for it.  Some things like Liquid Nails and paint are not so terribly exciting, although they do promise change for the better. Other things like sofas and chandeliers are utterly thrilling (at least to me) and merit considerable thought and planning.

 

Given our budget for furnishings, it's a good thing that I adore old stuff and that the prospect of weilding sand paper and a paint brush around a bedside cabinet purchased for 4 euros from the car boot sale deprives me of sleep through sheer excitement.  I didn't realise, though, that my passion for brocante, chineur, vide grenier, Emmaus, skip trawling etc. was also going to be practically my only choice for furnishing our home - apart from Ikea, that is. 

Much as I love and admire Ikea, and am terribly grateful there is one a 30 minute hop down the road, I don't want an entire house decked out courtesy of our Swedish ally.  I want choice, the ability to select from a range of suppliers and outlets, the possibility of comparing one rug / dining chair / console with another.  I would like a broad spectrum of bedding options and kick-ass kitchen ware selections. I'd prefer the idea of choosing between roman blinds, shutters, curtains, sheers, panel glides, venetians etc. to be a clear and present challenge rather than a distant memory.  In my personal opinion fabric should be offered in more than toile, stripes and 80's florals.

 

I never thought I would actively miss Pillow Talk, Freedom, Domayne, Kitchen World and Spotlight quite so acutely.  Not to mention Rugs-a-Million!! What I wouldn't give for a Rugs-a-Million now.  And these are Australian shops. I couldn't even begin to list the home furnishing options on offer in the UK - there, it's best to decide on your decorating style before leaving home in order to thus target the appropriate retailers, never mind wondering if there will be any duvet covers on the shelves actually available to buy as I do here. 

I like Maisons du Monde, I really do.  The furniture section of Galeries Lafayette is lovely for lofts and hotel particuliers.  A store called But presents an impressive selection of items almost exclusively upholstered in Union Jacks and Eiffel towers.  The rugs at 

Décor are all polypropelene and they had NO hall runners.  I am not fond of pimp style leather furniture so that elimiates Chateau d'Ax.  Where else do I go? I am sure there are places I don't yet know about or have not heard of.  I am becoming prepared to drive to Lyon or Marseille for a shopping fix and would hire a van, too!  I realise of course the plethora of possibility available on line and may just have to settle for that, although it's quite nice to wander around a few department stores and then have a sustaining snack, something on line won't ever supply. 

 

 

Shopping isn't all furniture and homewares, either.  Clothes are nice to buy. Alex needs new clothes to match his new slimline shape.  And shoes. His feet haven't changed size but co-ordinating shoes are good.  Mercifully the clothing options are marginally better here and Odysseum or Polygone can usually drum up some interesting offers.  But don't go looking for singlets or shorts out of season and put aside all thoughts of stylish, statement shoes of novel design.  Brown and black with laces rule.  Or boots.

I'm going to London soon.  I can feel a lengthy visit to Top Shop, Heals and Habitat coming on.  I might even get on a train and go to the Metro Centre, just down the road from my parent's house near Durham.  Really wish I hadn't booked a baggage free Ryan Air ticket now...