As a keen amateur cook, I adore kitchen shops and this one is pretty good. I go in to worship the…read moreLe Crueset cookware and usually ending up leaving with something much more moderately priced. Tucked away down in Queens Arcade, you wouldn't necessarily come across it unless you were looking, and I'm telling you: look! It's definitely worth a visit. It's at the mid-to-upper price range (think of the kind of kitchen implements they sell at Nosh, only with a zillion more options). They do kitchen applicances, utensils, crockery, and in fact pretty much anything you can imagine needing for your kitchen, minus the kitchen sink of course.

As my kitchen is currently devoid of all useful objects having been plundered by my ex flatmate, I…read moreneeded to go on the hunt for new stuff, so the The Kitchen Shop was a good port of call. I regularly wander through Queens Arcade so I had noticed it on my travels before. It's absolutely jam packed and crammed to bursting point with random kitchen utensils which is pretty helpful for a place called 'The Kitchen Shop'. I managed to find everything I was after with help from the kindly shop assistant and even discovered the most amazing array of specially shaped cake tins ever! So if you're an amateur baker this is the place to come. From love heart shaped ones to fire-trucks and tweety birds, there were cake tins for Africa!

Wah Lee is such a delightful oriental emporium…read more They stock all sorts from teapots, ceramics, and paper lanterns, to beaded slippers and jasmine tea just to name a few. I really enjoy wandering through the store and stocking up on something different and quirky every visit. I have been to San Francisco and it reminded me of a few stores I had seen while shopping in China Town. I love that they have a real mix of products not just one type you have a vast variety! During Guy Fawkes celebrations they are mega popular from 2nd-5th of November when then sell a few popular brands of fireworks. The tea pots and Chinese vases are my fave at the store they have some really beautiful designs that compliment the home and kitchen. Worth a stop in to funk up the flat, home or grab some cool gifts for friends.

Fireworks! Now that…read moreI've got your attention, fireworks!!! And whatever else Wah Lee sell. Actually quite a bit, some of it quite cool, but as a teenager growing up in Auckland, and as an adult, bitterly refusing to grow up in Auckland, for me Wah Lee has always been about the fireworks. Not as cheap as the Warehouse MegaBox, or those silver bags you get from the supermarket, but this is just the same as how a rare steak is usually a bit more expensive than white bread dipped in pig anuses. It cost more because it's better. What you get here are quality, imported Chinese fireworks, and they shit all over the rubbish you get anywhere else. Short of getting your pyrotechnics licence and making your own, this is about the best way to get good, big, entertaining fireworks. Side note: a friend of mine got her pyrotechnic licence, and it was an arduous and expensive process. Better to just come to Wah Lee, I reckon.

Who would have thought a small clearance store in Parnell would have lasted long? Years ago, when M…read moreClearance first opened, I was convinced it was just a pop-up store. To see them still trading today is like watch a uplifting Disney under-dog story. M Clearance stock housewares and glassware, so is a great place to buy cheap but quality wine glasses. And you don't have to know the difference between Swarovski or Zwiesel. Just honest and decent products, with cheerful service usually reserved for outside of the Parnell suburb. If you are growing up and moving from being a student into "in a relationship" M Clearance is a great place to get some reasonable kitchenware. Or if you have recently moved into the fancier side of town and have just been made aware of the difference between a red wine glass and a stein, you can step up your game here without breaking the bank.

I love Bed Bath N Table! If only I had a house of my own to decorate! As it is, I make do with just…read moremy bedroom, but the day I went and purchased my duvet I had - sad as this may sound - one of the most satisfying shopping experiences I've ever had! When I moved house I decided not to paint my walls and instead leave them the cream colour they are, so I wanted a bright, bold duvet and pillows to be the central focus of my bedroom. This may sound simple enough, but I have really particular taste and knew exactly what I wanted so it was a mission to find the right duvet. As soon as I went in to Bed Bath N Table I fell in love. With everything. Every single duvet and pillow set was so beautiful and original and bright and fantastic. Though a little pricey, the things Bed Bath N Table stock are well worth it! Plush, thick, soft towels. Gorgeous soap sets. Linen linen linen. It's fabulous! And the staff are wonderful and welcoming! Go to Bed Bath N Table the minute you next need anything bedroom or bathroom related - you won't be disappointed!

What a beautiful store and great young people who were so helpful at the Ponsonby store. I was…read moreshopping along Ponsonby Road and saw the store, so decided to have a look and found the most amazing mirror for my bathroom. Wow! Huge discount on it. This store is gorgeous and the sale discounts are massive! There were three young people who were serving, they were so helpful. By the time I was ready to leave it was raining. Imagine my suprise when they asked if I would like my mirror carried to my car - "No, it's too far down the road and it's raining." Their response "Would you like me to go and get your car for you" - from the young man, I was totally blown away by this act of kindness. This made my day - and I will recommend this store to all my friends. Well done to these young people who were polite and very helpful. From: Thelena N

If I had to put together a 'Best of' Album, this store would definitely be the most played track…read more Prone to attacks of daydreaming, most of the things in here are not really within my current price range but I like to entertain these thoughts just in case I get offered a CEO position in the near future. Being just a lowly media assistant for now, I'm just a browser, though they do have a few decently priced accessory type things, like the wall mounted quote canvas I bought in there the other day which I remain very chuffed about. There's nothing like a good purchase to put a smile on a girls face. Specializing in restored, 'industrial' like pieces, I can picture all this furniture kitting out a too cool New York loft style apartment. For sure.

Love the furniture at Koko Classics. They phoned me to say that my fab trunk was at the shop for…read morepicking up. I said I would be in that day or the next day.. 10 minutes later I get another call to say that the owner said if I didn't pick it up that day, he would leave it outside. Customer service, what customer service? I'd have happily agreed to picking it up that day if someone had asked! What a shame.

If you need to buy gifts for anyone, then this is the place to go. You can browse around, and there…read moreis nobody looking over your shoulder. The store is laid out for a quick stock turn around, leaving one item on show and the rest packed in boxes ready to become much loved gifts. I have yet to enter this store and not find a suitable gift for anyone and everyone. They stock vases, bowls and home decor pieces. During the Christmas period, they were selling the most beautiful decorations you could find, and they were cheap as chips. Initially I thought they were just opening up to cash in on the Christmas gift rush, but this outlet store's popularity is making them it the one stop gift shop on the Shore. The lady that served me offered to wrap my gift, a service that adds to the five stars they've already achieved.