WhyWaitForever - London

Narrow Boat
Fireworks

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.

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.

Sothebys

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

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.

Dealtime

Comparison shopping for almost anything.

Kelkoo

Compare prices before you buy.

Pricerunner

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

Top of page Services

DIY Fixit

DIY assistance.

Homepro

The home improvement specialists.

Homeserve

A fresh approach to building repairs.

Metropolitan

Safe deposits which provide affordable security for special items.

Molly Maid

Professional, affordable cleaning for homes from the large group.

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.

The Fine Bedding

Duvets, pillow and bedding.

Top of page Stores for carpets, furniture and sofas

Chaplins

Contemporary furniture and accessories.

Conran

Shops and restaurants.

DFS Online

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

FCI

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.

New Heights

Furniture which is simple stylish and solid wood.

Sharps

Bedrooms and home offices in out of town stores.

Sofa Workshop

Helping to create your ideal sofa.

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 Flooring

The flooring specialist.

Crocus

A favourite for my garden.

Flowers

An organisation for cut flowers and indoor plants.

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.

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.

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.

Top of page Stores for windows

A & A Windows

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

Anglian

Double glazing, replacement windows, conservatories and more.

Everest

Home improvments including double glazing.

Top of page Impartial advice

Consumer

UK Government consumer advice.

Legal

UK Community Legal Service for information on any legal problem.

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.

Bonhams off Knightsbridge

Bonhams on a sunny May day