RIP Terence Conran

Early Habitat would be highly sought after now, I think our generation were all Habitat devotees, it was a look that threw off that dreary post war era. In the eighties I discovered The Conran Shop, which was even better, but a tad on the expensive side!

Some of the younger members of our family chunter on about "mid century furniture" and there was me thinking for a while, they were talking about the 19th century until I realised "oh they mean the 1960s of course" Habitat was bang on trend for that seminal decade and it seems it still is now the furniture from that era appears to be having a revival.

RIP Terence Conran yours was one of the names that exemplified that whole era.

Our first home in 1968 was almost entirely furnished by Habitat. Much of the furniture still survives, used by my sons. We had a huge dining table that has been useful for many a Christmas dinner. I remember we felt vague pity for people we knew whose houses were furnished traditionally - they were young people like us, but their houses looked middle-aged!

Oh yes, the chicken brick. It did make chickens taste vaguely earthy, though.

We had a cream corner suite from Habitat ,against a chocolate brown wall on a Behar brown and cream shag pile carpet .Loved our living room ,Liked to browse Habitat at lunchtime and find wee things for our house before we got married.I remember an assistant being suprised when I asked if a teapot wa a good pourerand she had to fill it up with water to check for me ...lol

Loved Habitat. My first house was furnished from Habitat. We have a large sofa, refurbished and re upholstered, several times ,but originally Habitat . Much admired by friends and loved by us.

Loved Mr Conran's restaurants - Mezzo was our favourite. It is sad and reminds me of the days of staying up in town after work and going to a big buzzy restaurant, seeing lots of famous people. Now those days are long gone sigh! I loved Habitat too - there is nothing like that now - Ikea doesn't even come close.

RIP Mr Conran

I had a chicken brick too!!

When we moved into a new build house (it cost £17,950!!) and had Habitat brown corduroy Scoop chairs in the lounge along with one of those trendy white televisions and a couple of orange sag bags - we were really on trend.

We also had a dinner service from Habitat. It was white with sort of blue and yellow stylised flowers on. I still have the milk jug and I would buy it again like a shot.

I'm now nostalgic for mini skirts, black eyeliner and Twiggy hair.

I worked for him when I was young, Jasper and Sebastian were little boys and there were just a handful of shops. It was such a buzzy company and everyone wanted to work there.( I handled the applications for staff for their new Bromley shop so can well remember the numbers! ) However, life at Head office just off the Tottenham Court Road was very competitive and if you didn't work really hard all of the time, you were out.

My most memorable bits are summer days driving his E-type Jaguar past the Park and down Brompton Road to visit Habitat shops, and much later feeling so sad when I read that Habitat seemed to have gone a bit mad and got into bed with BHS., Ryman, Richard Shops, et al. That was a terrible mistake and as awkward a pairing as a fish on a bicycle. He lost control of his beloved Habitat. But he was a visionary and his life's success was down to sheer hard work, drive - and commitment always to his designs. Sleep well, TOC. You definitely changed design forever.

Absolutely, Kittylester
Paw nd I were lucky enough to live in a brand new hall of residence in our final years at university furnished by Habitat - tiny cell like rooms, but a Habitat desk and chair, easy chair, duvet and bedding and coordinating curtains and bed throw. How I used to fantasise over the Habitat catalogue dreaming of how we would furnish our first flat - we didn’t, but I had the chicken brick, the Provençal pottery and the giant cube glass ashtray! Just a wander round the South Ken store was like interior design porn! I have never quite grown out of Habitat and was thrilled when DD3 started her retail career at their head office (and qualified for the staff discount!)
He was an amazing trendsetter, and for those who like me started their married life in the 70’s, truly aspirational. Truly grateful.

My goodness , another good name dropping out of our lives .
I liked Habitat stuff too, but didn't have money then - have found a few pieces via car boot sales - they're still classy and timeless ! British Home Stores was Conran owned once upon a time too , if I remember correctly ?

Wow. That has brought tears to my eyes. When I got married my first home was almost completely furnished from Habitat. We thought we were so trendy.