Housekeeping is much more enjoyable in Stoneygate, Leicester.
The only problem with loving shopping – assuming you can afford what
you buy – is that you end up with a lot of stuff. One day, you have
plenty of cupboard space and several clear surfaces. The next, you have
loads of pairs of this, several types of that, all the latest
whatchamacallits and a thingummy that’s the same as your other
thingummies, but with a blue light on it.
Frankly, it can get a bit much, so it’s not surprising there
comes a time when many a seasoned shopper thinks: “Enough. I need some
space. Be gone, plethora of modern gubbins. I want to go back to
basics’’.
At times like that, you need a shop such as
Housekeeping, which has
recently brought a stylish slice of yesteryear to Leicestershire.
It sells traditional household cleaning equipment – the type of
your great-grandma would have proudly wielded around her spotless
scullery – and sturdy-looking tableware and cookware in classic designs
that have been around for generations (and, therefore, brim with vintage
appeal without even trying).
There isn’t a plug and cable to be seen among Housekeeping’s wares;
no electronic display panels, no unfathomable buttons nor hi-tech
challenges of any description. Even the price tickets haven’t been near
anything so modern as a printer; they’re handwritten on brown luggage
tags.
There’s iconic blue-and-white enamelware by Falcon, a British
brand established in 1920, and robust-looking glasses by Duralex, which
began in France nearly 70 years ago.
Housekeeping sells a range of stoneware for the table by Swedish company Hoganas Keramik, established for more than 100 years.
But that’s nothing compared to fellow Swedish tableware company
Rorstrand, which was established in 1726. Housekeeping stocks its
Swedish Grace design, which was first unveiled at the Stockholm
Exhibition in 1930, and conveys “the sensation of ears of wheat swaying
in the summer breeze”.
The wooden scrubbing brushes which look so robust they could be
left as heirlooms are by Redecker (established 1935), and the blankets
and cushions are handwoven in Wales by Melin Tregwynt (established, ooh,
yonks ago).
There are wooden dolly pegs, traditional brooms and feather
dusters, glass orange-squeezers, linen cloths for glass and Le Parfait
jars.
For the organised house-spouse, there are notepads and pencils by
American company Field Notes, whose no-frills designs are perfect for
no- nonsense notes about broken light bulbs and when the front step was
last scrubbed.
There are a few smellies too – handcream and candles by
award-winning English company Bailey’s and Savon de Marseille soap among
them,
Our favourite thing was the pastel enamelware by Austrian company
Riess (established, ooh, aeons ago). We’d be cooking non-stop if we had
a collection of its adorable dinky pink saucepans on our shelves. And
purchases are wrapped in brown paper – of course.
If you want some old-fashioned charm in your home, or if you just
love proper cleaning tools, Housekeeping is a must-visit. Find it in
Francis Street, Stoneygate, Leicester. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am
until 5pm.
article by Linda Steelyard - Leicester Mercury: read the article
here
Visit Linda's blog at:
lindashops.wordpress.com
