The End of Habitat

I remember when I longed to fill my home with exclusive items from Habitat.
Not so long ago, the lighting, the suites, the swivel chairs, the kitchenware and even the rugs promised an enlightened new world of designer charm.

But now it's all gone - apart from the Habitat name which will live on in a few flagship London outlets. So where did it all go wrong and where did Sir.
Terence Conran's iconic 1960s brand lose it's way?

I feel like I should be mentioning Home Insurance here for a moment together with cheap buildings and contents cover but I'm not exactly sure why.

Back to homes and Habitat and why did it all end in loss and liquidation?

Simple.

1. Ikea, and

2. It was too expensive - compared to Ikea which, lets' face it did pretty much the same stuff but cheaper and better.

Don't get me wrong I utterly despise Ikea like any right-minded male but the fact is, if you're prepared to face three hours of utter hell (made just a little bit more bearable by the promise of Swedish Meatballs) then Ikea does have a lot of useful items for your Home (which you should insure of course).

Habitat, on the other hand, was just taking the Mickey, with plastic tables for £400 and rugs (identical to ones from Ikea) for three times the price you'd pay anywhere else. That's not strictly true of course, some interior design shops are simply insane (you know the Harry Enfield sketch about the 'designer' shop called 'I saw you coming' - that sort of thing?)

Anyway. It is a pity it did all have to end like this - another bit of wide eyed hope from the 1960's lying battered by the wayside along with peace, love and Jimi Hendrix.

Perhaps I should stick to writing about cheap home insurance quotes on line and on the telephone.

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