One of the things I love about the north of England is the old industrial beauty of some of its buildings. This place used to be a thriving hub for the textile and other industries, and many of the old buildings have been saved and converted – and are still very much loved. I lived in Manchester for several years, firstly in a converted cotton mill and then in a lovely area of the city by its working canal, where the old wharfs now serve restaurant goers and picnickers. Now I live in Leeds I have fallen for buildings like the Corn Exchange, a 150 year old Victorian building which used to be centre for trade and is now a beautiful home for independent shops, delis and cafes. Today I wanted to share another gorgeous building with you – the Salts Mill in Saltaire, which has been converted into an art gallery (featuring David Hockney) and huge open space selling paper, books, stationery – all things I love!
I love the way they use a hotchpotch of furniture – from this designer sofa…
… to this old school desk
… and even a garden bench.
Their displays are wonderful, with everything laid out as if it is in someone’s home being shown to friends.
They sell all sorts of things – from artists’ palettes to potted plants.
If you ever find yourself near Leeds it is definitely worth a visit, and if you are feeling energetic it can be reached by a lovely long cycle up the canal towpath…
Pop back tomorrow to see what gorgeous papery finds I discovered…
