Our Guest Blogger
Introducing Sarah from @thecopperbeechhouse! We absolutely love Sarah’s style and home decor & invited her to spend a day with us at the Housing Units store. Sarah visited each of our departments, browsed the displays and even enjoyed a mid-shop lunch at The Wickentree Restaurant.
Take a read of Sarah’s ‘A Day at Housing Units‘ blog below & don’t forget to check her out on Instagram!
A Day at Housing Units
As you arrive at Housing Units in Manchester, you’re faced with two beautiful large buildings with flags waving merrily from towering poles. Housing Units is set across two main buildings offering two different shopping and dining experiences with both catering for all your home and furniture needs.
Located to the rear of the car park just past the hand car wash, is the children’s nursery boutique Coo Chi Coo selling everything a parent to-be could ever need! Next to this is the Outlet Store which you should take a trip to if you’re looking for huge savings. It’s fair to say you could easily spend a full day here and, that’s just what I did!
The Home Furnishing Store
First to visit is the ‘Home Furnishing Store’ set over two floors focusing on Modern Living furniture, homewares, lighting, and a stunning Natuzzi Studio filled with contemporary design classics. The main trend here for Autumn is ‘All Things Green’ focusing on soft forest and olive-green tones that provide the perfect neutral backdrop for those of us not wanting to stick to creams and beiges. Alongside the olive-green velvet sofas and on-trend curved walnut sideboards are statement patterned pieces from Orla Kiely certain to add the wow factor to any room.
Here you will also find a vast array of home accessories, from kitchen essentials to home comforts such as cushions and luxurious throws, to the lighting department that has everything from outdoor lights and table lamps and unique pendants certain to create impact in your home. The perfect place to relax and people watch here is Café 1947 with friendly staff serving delicious cakes, breakfasts, salads, sandwiches and much more.
The Emporium
Next up, a few steps across the road is ‘The Emporium Store’ featuring 3 key interior trends for Autumn: French Classicism, Indian Artisan and Luxe Deco all located on the first floor.
On the ground floor is the UK’s Number 1 Fireplace Department showcasing over 200 fires and fireplaces all lit up welcoming you inside. From modern styles to traditional wood burners, there’s something for every taste. Also located on the ground floor is the newly refurbished Bedroom Department selling luxury mattresses and beds in every colour of the rainbow and, don’t forget to check out the classically designed wood framed Ercol designs too – sure to get an interior lover’s heart racing!
The furniture on the first floor is all set out within mini room sets making you feel as though you’ve just walked inside someone’s home which ensures you go away with lots of inspiration and, allows you to get a real sense for how the key pieces and trends could work for yourself.
There’s a broad range of styles on display but my favourite has to be the chunky wood dining tables and chairs. For my family, the dining table is the hub of our house when family visits and we bought ours from here 7 years ago! It still stands the style and quality test of time beautifully.
The staff here are experts, and many have worked at Housing Units for over a decade, what they don’t know isn’t worth knowing and they’ll happily guide you through the many bespoke options on soft furnishings and flooring. The options seem endless!
The Christmas Department
Housing Units have a magical Christmas Department on the ground floor with Elf playing joyously on the mini cinema area for children young and old to enjoy and, don’t forget to visit the singing reindeer at the back of the store for a giggle!
The Wickentree Restaurant
The Wickentree restaurant is on the first floor and provides the ideal place to spend a rainy afternoon offering somewhere to relax after a morning of shopping. I ate here when I visited and ordered a delicious cheese pie generously topped with buttery puff pastry and served with a side salad and of course – chips! I had just enough room left to treat myself to a Bailey’s cheesecake served with a tiny milk chocolate cup filled with caramel and cream.
The restaurant has a lovely atmosphere with groups of friends sitting down mid-shop to enjoy a glass of fizz together or a pot of tea over a spot of lunch. For those celebrating something special, they offer a Private Dining Room set within the restaurant itself.
I spent the whole day at Housing Units, browsing the displays and shopping! I can’t wait to come back with my family very soon. x