This is one huge BandQ centre (one of the biggest for miles around I think)…read more Would definitely say this is a DIY persons personal haven with so much to choose from. the staff provide help with most issues and even with taking down things from above. There is a huge outdoor garden centre too. there are ample car-parks out in the front.

This is a really big B & Q store. It is one of their warehouse stores and stocks just about…read moreeverything you could want for DIY, gardening and home decor. They have lots of nice curtains and wallpaper so you could match the things as you buy them. They sell wood and you can have it cut to size in store. They have a big garden centre bit out the back where you can buy not only plants but fences and bricks and that kind of thing too. The staff are very friendly in there and you can always find someone to help you as there is always someone by the door where you come in who you can ask directions.

A contemporary homewares shop brimming with an imaginative and original array of tableware,…read moreglassware, linens, kitchen accessories and inspirational gifts. I was quite surprised to learn this is the only shop they have at the moment, but they have plans of expansion. I am not surprised because the store is always busy. Some of the brands include designers such as Emma Bridgewater, W2 and Susie Watson. I feel inclined to like their Emma Bridgewater's collection because one of her tea pot and cups range (starting at £14.95) was our first wedding gift. I especially remember the black lace bowl. An intricate ceramic design that has a lace print. The story behind it makes it worth £33. Wonkiware is a South African brand that employs unskilled and uneducated indigenous population. Each piece is individually handmade and of the highest quality. Chip and crack resistant, oven, microwave and dishwasher safe. Many, many reasons to buy it... And I did! Another tiny detail is the newly refurbished little garden at the back which nestles a range of unusual and funky items for the garden.

Call me pumice, pumice wall. I love this store and the paint colors they have for homes. I went…read morethere thinking I was going to spend a fortune but it wasn't, compared to a Luxe paint the difference is probably like £2 or £3. Not a lot when you consider that you are getting premium quality for your money. Think about it how many times can you paint your house in a lifetime, a couple, so you want the best stuff too last a long time. Oh and pumice is the color I bought for my house, and after months I'm still enjoying my color decision.

I would have never have thought there could be a shop dedicated solely to tiles. Floor tiles, wall…read moretiles, bathroom tiles, kitchen tiles and work tops (almost all tiles, as they also do paint and hand woven rugs). Its quite unique. They pride themselves in having their products hand made, on the most part, in the UK and Europe. It is part of their 'green' commitment. They also source their wood and glass (for their mosaic collection) from sustainable forests, 86% of their glass is recycled. The most educational part of my visit to the store was their fully fitted 'library' it had paint samples, tiles, rugs and wood sample that you can also experiment with and mix and match, very hands on. Products are displayed concisely and intelligently in what can only be described as a quality environment. I am contemplating showing them my hand made tile collection, it would be amazing to have my creations alongside theirs.

Oh IKEA. How can you be so, so rubbish at organising deliveries!?…read more I can't really be bothered to type up an angry rant about how truly rubbish IKEA call centre staff, IKEA twitter staff and IKEA delivery staff are. They like to lie and pretend things are on the way to ensure you have to take unnecessary time off work. My advice for yelpers is not to attempt using their expensive, crappy delivery service. Visit the shop yourself and use a taxi or hire a van to get your things home. The delivery service takes weeks (at least over a month)...and does not even show up even after they promise "100%" that they will arrive. Wankers.

Retail parks are interesting things, you trade plush presentation and comfort for price. Ikea in…read moreNorth London have taken this to a whole new level .., without the price change. In contrast to the Wembley branch this is a cramped facsimile that makes no pretence about being just a big warehouse. The place feels like a crowded warehouse even when empty. It is the rabbit warren of hell, it is the tesco express of ikea. The need to to get out was so distracting that none of the actually quite nice items are bought. Awful, use the Wembley branch if you can. It's only 15 mins away on the North Circular and you will leave with your sanity (even then be sure to go first or last thing)

This place is a gem. When your map app tells you to turn onto an alleyway, trust that it's worth…read moreit. The furniture is all stellar. Of course they only get what they're donated, but level of refurbishment and presentation makes your haul a steal. We recently purchased a dining table set, a wardrobe, and sideboard and were very pleased with their styles and appearance. Delivery was the real steal, as they put everything on the truck (including having disassembled it for easy moving) for one VERY REASONABLE set price. Good selection and clear craftsmanship, all for a great cause.

We recently went to Squint on Shoreditch High St to look for a piece of furniture for our bedroom…read more Squint is a stunning bespoke furniture shop which was started by Lisa Whatmough (a former Sculptor and Painter) at the beginning of 2005 in East London. The shop has a wonderful feeling when you walk in (not least because of Lisa's lovely little dog who pads around the studio!). There is a lot of vibrant and colourful fabric to look at and all have been cleverly worked into quality upholstering of beautiful pieces of fine antique furniture. Lisa told us that she had been collecting a mix of contemporary and vintage fabrics for many years before finding that she could use her designing skills to create a fusion of period furniture and fabrics to make one-off, bespoke pieces. The Squint range comprises items such as Victorian chaise longues, 60's style Egg chairs and all types of upholstered furniture (including bed settees and sofas) as well as mirrors and lighting. The furniture is unqiue and very individual. Well worth checking out Lisa's website or taking a trip to her shop to see her work. It's truly inspirational.

Do you like amazing bright, colourful and patterned fabric? This shop is amazing! Furniture,…read moremirrors and lighting all covered in patchwork appliqué with a range of exquisite fabric and each piece is bespoke. Situated on Shoreditch High Street recently re-located next door to Tesco Metro, huge glass front window showcasing all the amazing colours and furniture. Lisa Whatmough a former Sculptor and Painter formed the Squint business in 2005 aiming to utilise all the antique textiles she had been collecting. She has showcased her work in a range of magazines and newspapers. I just love this shop. You walk in and the colours and patterns and fabric just light up and you feel a sense of energy and colourfulness. I would love to have quilted Victorian chaise lounge in my front room!

Plough Homecraft Co. makes me want to pick up a hardhat and start laying bricks. It is a…read moreconstruction and hardware mecca. The store carries paint, light fixtures and everything you can possibly need for a build or for renovations to your home. I was helped as soon as I walked into the store by friendly and super knowledgeable staff. I got some obscure light fixtures that I couldn't find at any major popular store here for £2 a pop. I really appreciated my shopping experience at this place and would come back to buy a hammer anytime.

Woe is me!! I have been going to Plough Homecraft for all my interior decorating needs for the last…read more30 years and can honestly say they are the best in all areas, be it sound constructive advice, superb customer service and vast array of materials - if they don't have it in stock, they will get it for you and, if they don't have an answer to your DIY query, they know someone who does (having said this, they knew the answer to all my queries over the last 30 years!!). Unfortunately I have now moved to Ipswich and am sad to say "There is no place like Home(craft)" here which is truly my loss!! So all you lucky London DIY peeps should visit them for all your DIY needs - I wish I was still round the corner!! Posted by Sharon Barton - formerly of East Dulwich, London.

I went in here looking for glasses. For a present, they make good presents I think because they…read morealways seem to break so even if a person is fully stocked up at the moment, you know that your gift will come in useful sooner or later. And because your gift will also inevitably break at some point you can reuse the idea next year. This is a kitchen ware store mostly. They sell all sort of gadgets as well as the basics, salt and pepper shakers and cutlery. They also sell some gardening stuff and general homeware. I suppose it's like a more up market Homebase without all the hassle.

I would love to support local shops but I always find the staff here rude. I dare not ask a…read morequestion or inconvenience them by wanting to make a purchase. I was hopeful the recent takeover would result in a more positive experience but the staff remained and no customer service training appears to have been undertaken. It is also quite expensive for some products. It's a shame because they now have a very nice range and the layout is much improved.