Image: Design Soda

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You may have heard of Homesense in hushed voices before, it’s a bit of a trade secret for interiors addicts and I’ve been meaning to make a trip to the store for a long time. In these busy modern days most of us shop online for a large percentage of our purchases from food to clothes and interiors too. So it takes quite a promise to get me away from a device and to step foot into an actual store. Fabulous set design or artisan wares I haven’t discovered before will usually do it and when I do actually venture into a store I really enjoy the experience of browsing and seeing what takes my fancy. So when Homesense opened nearby this summer, its reputation as an Aladdin’s cave of design preceding it, with brands priced at up to 60% off, I was there! I think most of us know that you can buy headline brands like DKNY or Calvin Klein home at T K Maxx (the sister company of Homesense) and you may presume the same of Homesense, just in far greater quantities. Which is correct in part, you’ll find all of the main brand names here too, but did you also know that Homesense is often dubbed the interior designers secret contact, and with good reason.

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Image: Design Soda

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There are many names familiar to design aficionados that are stocked by Homesense. You can pick up items by classic and contemporary Scandinavian design houses like Normann Copenhagen, Stelton, Hay, Broste, Klippan, or even Austrian brands routinely sold in artisan interiors shops like Riess?  I picked up items by almost all of these companies, some with absolutely crazy reductions, on my recent trip to the new Homesense store in Greenwich. What I really like about Homesense is that stock changes all the time (daily) so it feels like proper shopping here. There’s an element of surprise and you really never know what you may find, sometimes you may leave laden with goodies (as I did on my trip) others with just one or two select items. 

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Image: Design Soda

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I was lured in to see what all the fuss was about after a Christmas (in July!) dinner with Homesense the previous month where I spotted the most beautiful monochrome geometric patterned throw (pictured throughout) in their Christmas Showcase and completely fell in love with it. The team took pity on me and very kindly sent it to me after I enquired about its availability. When I placed it amongst my winter Scandinavian pieces in the bedroom I knew that I had to go and check out the in-branch experience for myself and see what all the fuss was about. I bought some items that I’ve wanted for years, and that’s the beauty of a shopping trip to Homesense, happening upon something you’ve always loved but at really accessible price point. There’s a fair bit of rummaging involved, the stores are understandably piled high with stock, but if you’re prepared to hunt there are some massive treasures to be found. I have a great blogger buddy Mel who swears that she regularly sees things from Jonathan Adler alongside Broste in her local branch. 

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Images: Design Soda

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On my trip I made a bee line for the kitchenwares, not only had I heard they were particularly good, but having just completed our kitchen refresh I wanted some treats for the space. I actually gasped when I found enamel pots by master craftsmen Riess, we have a ladle set from this brand on our kitchen wall and I’ve been coveting the pastel coloured enamel pots in trendy East London stores for years. There was a really great selection of them and glancing at the prices I had to stop myself from buying one of everything. I chose a blue milk pan for £7.99 (RRP £17) and a yellow saucepan for £9.99 (RRP £18). I also came across some beautiful splatter design desert plates (above) from Spanish makers Aparicio which I’ve had on a Pinterest board for years. They were £3.99 each and, although none of my saved links on my ceramics board still work, I know they retailed for well over this price. I also picked up some pretty speckled cream German ceramic bowls which were really understated and perfect for the vibe of our kitchen. The smaller bowl which is great for nibbles cost £1.99 (RRP £5) and the soup bowl was £3.49 (RRP £8.50). The only downside to some of these purchases is that I’d like to have bought more(!), of course things don’t hang around for long at Homesense so next time I go I will be tempted to buy whole sets of the things that I really love. 

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Image: Design Soda

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One thing I really loved and which was the very first thing that caught my eye in store was this mid century style computer chair (above) which would not look out of place in a branch of West Elm. I have been sitting on a £2 Hungarian Mid-century dining chair which was an eBay purchase for nearly two years and whilst it looks great, it’s very uncomfortable. I’d been waiting to find something to replace it with that didn’t cost the earth, was comfortable and wouldn’t look out of place in our modernist study. This beauty ticked all of the boxes and for £75 I had to grab a trolley to put it in – there are stories about furniture in Homesense, missing out within minutes if you find a good piece, so I wasn’t taking any chances.

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Image: Design Soda

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Homesense is also a great place for picking up little items and treats, they stock fabulously fancy food like high end olive oil, chocolate and pasta. The candle range was also seriously impressive, it would be a great place to stock up on holiday gifts. I bought two pretty candles by Sydney Candle Co which you can see in the picture above, they smelled divine but I loved them chiefly for their mark patterned holders and wooden lids which looked worth well over the £6.99 I paid. I also spotted This Works candles and hastily grabbed both a Neroli & Sweet Orange for a friends birthday, and a Vertivert and Lavender to get myself through winter working from home. They were both half price at £12.99 (RRP £25) and I couldn’t resist the beauty oil for £6.99 too. This Works is a brand that I really love so it was a joy to find their products so cheaply, now I’m hoping to find the products I swear by like Sleep Mist & face primer, you never know I may luck out.

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 Image: Design Soda

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I am so happy with all of my purchases, they may have been cheap but none of them were disposable, just a thrifty way of buying great, well-made design. I can see that it may be easy to just buy! buy! buy! here being seduced by all the bargains, and if I’m totally honest I’m not sure I really needed the Normann Copenhagen nutcracker but at £4.99 (RRP £34) I just couldn’t leave it behind, and I’m sure it will come in handy over the festive period. One thing I was really struck by was the blankets on the day I visited, I had a really hard time choosing, there were some great brightly coloured ones from well known design houses but I am so pleased I chose this Swedish Klippan throw for £49, it’s a perfectly pretty, muted and cosy knit that I love for it’s understated style.

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Image: Design Soda

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On the day I visited, I spotted pieces by Churchills, Royal Doulton, Orla Kiely, Alessi, Joseph Joseph and Wedgwood. I can’t wait to go again and see what I find amongst the stock refresh which always promise to run the gamut from the extraordinary to the everyday. Have you been before? Do you have any purchases that would make me green with envy?! 

 

This post was sponsored by Homesense, but it is a true evaluation of my positive experience in store. I only work with carefully selected brands that I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the brands that support me.