Tell me about quality houseware, items and furnishings. Starting from scratch!

[78thcat]

I hope to be moving into my own home this year after a lifetime of renting. My current rented flat is furnished so I'm going to be starting from scratch when it comes to buying everything I need for the new house. Exciting and daunting! I'm a big fan of the 'buy it once' philosophy and would like to find new or secondhand quality items that last, rather than things that break after 5 mins. I also think there's a real pleasure in using things that are well made.
It would be great to know what brands, items, or types of materials I should be looking out for. What are your favourite items?
Some of the few quality items I own and love are:

-Denby bowls and plates
-French flax linen duvet covers and pillow cases
-Wool filled duvet (from Wool Room)
-Carbon steel frying pan
-Pyrex measuring jug and oven dishes
-Solid wooden chopping boards
-100% wool blanket
-Salter measuring scales (old fashioned sort)

What else should I be looking out for and how can I get better and noticing good quality? Do you have any tips and tricks? Is solid wood furniture better than composites/flat pack? Planning to keep my eyes peeled in charity shops, car boots, shop sales and online, this summer to keep costs low!

Any help appreciated.

Thank you. Definitely in need of glassware. Will check them out.

This sounds brilliant. Thanks. Will bookmark that seller.

La Rochere do very beautiful, sturdy glassware.

We use duralex for everyday drinking. Pretty much unbreakable with a toddler - even with a tiled floor! I wouldn’t use them for special glassware (maybe for water glasses), as they’re very thick. I prefer Riedel for wine glasses as they are very thin. LSA for cocktail glasses. We have good quality hand-made glazed plates from Portugal and I love them. Robert Welch is good for cutlery, they have everything - lobster picks, snail tongs - literally any cutlery item you can think of!!

I really rate Stellar for cutlery and saucepans. They're solid and well made without being crazily expensive. They offer a lifetime guarantee which they honour without question - I had a 10 year old saucepan where a small leak developed around the handle and they replaced it immediately without even asking for proof of purchase.

Agree about soak and sleep towels. My first lot are 7 or 8 years old and still going strong.

I have a Joseph Joseph totem kitchen bin which is nice, has two compartments so you can separate rubbish and recycling.

I don’t know if you’ll need a clothes airer, but I have a minky one that is much sturdier than any I’ve had before.

Ikea does some nice 100% cotton bedding - I have the Ofelia ones which are a textured stripe in white cotton.

If you’re buying appliances look for good guarantees- I’ve been happy with AEG (washer/dryer), Zanussi (fridge freezer) Neff (dishwasher) Bosch (dishwasher).

OXO for 'household tools' (they do loads - really rate their kitchen range) and a brabantia bin (we've had ours about 12 years and it is still going strong. Oh, and Miele appliances.

FB marketplace for dining table/chairs, bedframe, bedside tables, coffee table, bookcases.

We've had some cracking deals - Oak furniture land dresser practically new, retails for £1199, we bought for £300, fantastic Ducal bookcase for £130 (this from BHF charity shop), Laura Ashley dining table and chairs which would have cost £2000 new for which we paid £250.

Barker and Stonehouse display cabinet and coffee table and TV unit.

Also Laura Ashley rug for £60 which had never even been unwrapped and cost £400 new and lots of blinds and curtains - Sanderson fabrics, excellent quality.

Charity shops for crockery and glassware.

IKEA bedding is actually pretty good value - we have several Bergpalm sets which wash well. Our towels were from a hotel supplies company, have lasted years

I'd go with second hand Ercol or G plan perhaps - check local Gumtree or other selling sites . If you are handy , you can recover , the frames are made to last , and reupholster. Linen I buy from a website called Linens direct - they sell end of line sheets /towels etc from good companies . I particularly like Sheridan .
After years of cheap crockery ( no point other whilst children were small) , we went a chose a range we loved , and bought a capsule quantity , then added to it every time there was a big sale . I bought spares too , as in the past when things got broken ( Denby - I'm looking at you ..) the range had been discontinued .
Worth looking at auctions for table and chairs .

H and M Home has some surprisingly high quality textiles.

IKEA stainless steel roasting tins are ace - no Teflon.

Buy everything washable - doormats, placemats, seat cushions - since it keeps them looking trim.

Yes to Brabantia bins.

TK Maxx is worth a look for cutlery sets.

eBay and Etsy. We moved last year into a 1930s house and wanted to get some appropriate for the time period furniture. We bought a teak dining table and chairs on eBay and we've just bought a teak sideboard from Etsy.
I wouldn't have thought of buying furniture from eBay but a friend had bought some amazing things including a Smeg cooker for a fraction of it's retail price.
We bought a couple of Old Boot sofas that would have cost a couple of grand each new and also a teak dining table and chairs that is just beautiful.

Definitely try eBay for furniture. Victorian furniture is beautifully made and lasts so well. Perfect for tables, dressers, sideboards, drawers.

You could also consider built in wardrobes by a decent carpenter. You make the most of your space, reduce dust and cleaning, and have everything set out just how you like it.

Homesense/TK Max is great for finding riedel/Denby/dartington kitchenware.