WhyWaitForever - London

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WhyWaitForever - London - Shops for Home

This page contains links to the famous shops and stores useful for furnishing and for looking after homes in London and the UK. Every project needs stationary. Rymans is my favourite for all I need. They may even still do slide rules.

WhyWaitForever - London - Shops has links to clothes, fashion and department stores.

WhyWaitForever - London - Shopping Areas contains images of some of the famous shops and an introduction to the famous shopping areas.

WhyWaitForever - London - Shops for My Lifestyle has links to shops for the activities and passions of Londoners.

Top of page Art houses and crafts

Art London

Galleries with modern and contemporary art.

Britart

Sells art by established and newer artists.

Crafts Council

UK organisation for for the promotion of contemporary crafts.

Easyart

Art prints and frames.

eyestorm

Seller of contemporary art and photography.

Grosvenor House

The major art and antiques fair in the hotel by Hyde Park.

Lisson Gallery

British and international contemporary art.

Olympia Fine Art

Fine art and antiques fairs in the London exhibition hall.

Top of page Auction houses

Bonhams

A long established one. The violins hold a special place of affection.

Christies

For many years the leading fine art auction house.

Hamptons

Fine art and general art auctions.

Phillips

Recently taken over by a French conglomorate.

Sothebys

The one by Bond Street near St Georges Church, Hanover Square.

Auctions

A site of links to auctions in London and elsewhere.

Icollector

A company dedicated to trading antiques and fine art on the Internet.

Invaluable

A large database of auctions.

It is best to find the time and inspect each item in person. Auction houses have viewing days. However prestigious the auction house care should be taken to ensure that the desired item is genuine and that it has verifiable provenance.

Top of page Comparison Services

These sites provide price comparison services and price reductions for group buying. WhyWaitForever - London - Business - Auctions has links to on-line shopping auction sites.

Clever Shopping

They claim a great way to find sales and promotions in your area.

CoShopper

The more people that buy a product the lower the price gets.

Dealtime

Comparison shopping for almost anything.

Kelkoo

Compare prices before you buy.

MobShop

Bringing the price reductions available for large purchasers to small volume buyers.

Pricerunner

THey claim to be the UK's premier independent online and offline price comparison service.

Shopsmart

They claim to list the 100- top online stores and provide a comparison service.

QM4

Suppliers compete for your business, they say.

Top of page Services

DIY Fixit

DIY assistance.

Homepro

The home improvement specialists.

Improveline

Home improvement professionals who are screened and whose work is guaranteed.

I Have Moved

An online change of address service.

Metropolitan

Safe deposits which provide affordable security for special items.

Molly Maid

Professional, affordable cleaning for homes from the large group.

My Home

Home cleaning, laundery and dry cleaning.

KeyHolding

Safe-guards a duplicate set of property keys to allow access to a range of direct shopping, tradesman and home security services.

Removals

The British Association of Removers was formed in 1900 and represents leading removals and storage companies throughout Great Britain.

Top of page Stores for bathrooms

Czech & Speake

Luxury bathroom fittings and accessories from the Jermyn Street shop.

Dolphin

The bathroom speicalists.

Top of page Stores for beds

You spend a thrid of your life in a bed. It needs to be comfortable and comforting. A favourite for bedlinen is The White Company. They used to be round the corner from my choir.

Defy Interior

Chiltern Street, W1.

The Fine Bedding

Duvets, pillow and bedding.

The Iron Bed

Stores in Fulham and Hampstead.

Top of page Stores for carpets, furniture and sofas

Allied Carpets

Carpets, beds, curtains, rugs and floors.

Amazing Emporium

International furniture and bedroom specialists.

Chaplins

Contemporary furniture and accessories.

Clive Christian

Contemporary furniture with a showroom in Knightsbridge.

Conran

Shops and restaurants.

DFS Online

The large chain of stores who claim to be the leading upholstery specialist.

Furniture Craft

The furniture showroom on the North Circular Road.

Habitat

I used to go to the one down Kings Road.

Heal's

Furniture from this major shop chain.

Hülsta

Furniture from Germany at the Bruton Street W1 shop.

IKEA

The scandanavian one.

Magnet

Kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and more.

MFI

A major furniture chain.

New Heights

Furniture which is simple stylish and solid wood.

Ocean

A favourite which designs for contemporary living.

Sharps

Bedrooms and home offices in out of town stores.

Sofa Workshop

Helping to create your ideal sofa.

Sofa Workshop Direct

The store in Croydon.

Viva Sofa

The shop in Notting Hill.

Wesley-Barrell

Classic furniture design since 1895 with a showroom in W1.

Top of page Stores for DIY and gardening

B & Q

DIY large out of town stores.

Focus Do It All

Major DIY and gardening out of town stores.

Homebase

The DIY and gardening out of town stores.

Robert Dyas

A favourite for hardware, gardening and ironmongery.

Timberland

The flooring specialist.

Crocus

A favourite for my garden.

E-Garden

An online garden store and source of gardening information.

Flowers

An organisation for cut flowers and indoor plants.

Gardening365

An extensive gardening site.

Greenfingers

A helping hand for all your gardening needs.

Top of page Stores electrical and home goods

Comet

White and brown boxes with buttons.

CO-OP Electrical Shop

I have always liked the Co-op. The shop in Hoddesdon is excellent.

Currys

Home appliances, cookers and small appliances.

Dixons

Brown boxes with buttons and technical goodies.

Gadget Shop

The shop in Oxford Street.

Gultronics

The shop in Tottenham Court Road.

Jessops

The photographic retailer shop in New Oxford Street.

Maplin Electronics

The store for electronic components.

PC World

Computers, software and support people.

Price Right

Never seen one but I don't shop much.

Procom Direct

The shop in Tottenham Court Road for computers, cameras, phones and office equipment.

RS online

Glorious Radiospares for the best electronic components, tools and more.

Tesco Electrical

Electrical goods at excellent prices from the world leading supermarket.

Top of page Stores for fireplaces

Acquisitions

Fireplaces in Holmes Road, NW5, North London.

Better Hearth

Fireplaces in Holloway Road, North London.

Blazes

Claims to be the UK's largest living flame specialists.

CVO

Modern fireplaces in Great Titchfield Street, W1.

Marble Hill

Period fireplaces in Twickenham, South West London.

Top of page Stores for general goods

Argos

Shopping with a curious double queue approach.

Co-op

Omnipresent in the most unexpected places.

Littlewoods

Littlewoods, Index. Less of an institution than M&S.

Woolworths

The joys of pic n mix and the bright red and white bags.

Top of page Stores for windows

A & A Windows

For PVC & Aluminium Windows, Doors, Conservatories &Porches.

Anglian

Double glazing, replacement windows, conservatories and more.

BAC

They claim high performance at a lower price.

Everest

Home improvments including double glazing.

Top of page Impartial advice

Consumer

UK Government consumer advice.

Just Ask

UK Community Legal Service for information on any legal problem.

NCC

UK National Consumer Council for consumer advice.

OFT

UK Government Office of Fair Trading.

Trading Standards

UK Government Trading Standards.

Which

Provides consumer advice and runs independent tests.

Top of page My ideal home

Until recently there was no doubt in my mind that a Georgian home is the peak of perfection. It's three floors, with basement and attic all perfectly proportioned, are pleasing both to the eye and soul. More recently the large open spaces as typified by loft apartments hark back to pre-roman grand halls and even communal caves. Light and heat is no longer am issue privacy, sound and olfactory might be.