I recently visited the Design Store in Wairau Park looking for some stylish pieces to spruce up the…read moreliving area. This fabulous contemporary furniture and accessories store has really top quality furniture and items that make your home look a million dollars. If you can spare a bit of change the items at the Design Store do not come cheap, it's the price you pay for elegance and character. Stunning mirrors, paintings, leather couches, ottomans, coffee tables. You name it; they can spruce up any home or office. Sometimes, like me you're just looking for that signature piece to place on a table and emphasize colour, I found exactly what I was looking for in the form of a lime green bamboo place mat! Just perfect and matched up with the colour theme throughout the house. The staff are very approachable, which is wonderful as sometimes in expensive stores you can feel a bit ignored. They will give you tips and choices if you explain exactly what you're after. If just browsing however, you can do so with leisure.

I very often pop in here for a wander. There is a shitload of stuff to look at and it can take a…read morewhile to make your way around the entire store to take in all the cool stuff in it's entirety. Because of this I'm very thankful that the staff aren't the kind to be breathing down your neck and constantly asking if you need a hand! There's a wide range of home decor things in here. mirrors, candles, kitchen things, furniture. A bit of everything really. If you're buying you mother or your grandmother or your aunt a present pop in here and there will almost certainly be something appropriate. Some things can be a bit pricey but there are other smaller things to take away too. Pretty much something to please whoever I'd say.

I once came in here for a quick look around with my sister and nephew. We wondered around for a bit…read moreand I was thinking all the furniture was very cool but there were no major bargains around so nothing for us to take home. We were about to walk out when my nephew spotted a little chair that he decided he absolutely must have. It was a small, green rocking chair. We asked how much it was and then, after realising it wasn't really in the budget we set off to leave. But we didn't make it out the door... the very friendly shop owner bounced over and knelt down to my nephews level and said "you know what, I think we might have one of those upstairs that's slightly damaged so we can't sell it... if I go up and find it you can take it home". Well I don't need to tell you how obviously happy this made the little boy. He pulled out his best manners and said thank you and we walked away with an awesome rocking chair! The only thing that was wrong with it was a small chip on the bottom - nothing major! Wonderful service and a good little experience here.

If you're a nick-nacker or you like trinkets or bargains or sifting through budget bins for that…read moresomething special - you must visit The Furniture Store. Don't be mislead by its name as there's much more than just furniture there. What you will find are cool canvases with inspirational sayings to hang on your walls, clever gifts for all kinds of people and for lack of a better word - bits and bobs. So if you're ever stuck on a present idea or feel like buying something to brighten up your bedroom, make The Furniture Store one of your first stops!

From the owner: New Zealand's most diverse owner operated gift and home ware destination found online. Here you…read morewill find uniquely wonderful gifts for all your family and friends (and maybe a little something for yourself). Plus, an extensive range of furniture and home accessories to suit all tastes and décor styles.

I've purchased quite a few items from Freedom. First, a couch 3 years ago and that was a good price…read morefor a good couch. Second, a standing mirror which again was a good price for a mirror like that. Third, a small shelf unit which was probably more money than it should be and finally a large buffet unit which was reasonably expensive. For the most recent purchase the delivered item was not of the same quality as the item in either of Freedom's north shore stores, and unfortunately after 7 weeks since purchase and a second replacement delivered which suffered from the same problems and more surface finish problems, we're really disappointed. I've got advice for anyone considering purchasing an item from freedom - especially if it's expensive and you're having one delivered (so you can't sight it first). If there is a problem with a delivery, you're limited to their 0800 number. The store and sales people are not part of the after sales service at all. Call and "they'll look after you". Second advice is about quality - look carefully at the item because often from a distance those items look good but the details are not. Check the item in store and compare that to what is delivered. For an idea of the problems we had with the buffet unit: drawers did not easily close they stuck, cupboards did not sit straight and did not close flush with the outside of the unit, the high gloss paint finish was poor in some places and some edges lacked paint entirely. After this experience I've looked closer at the quality of freedom's items and am a little surprised at the quality of some of their items in the $1k+ category. After sales service is a shocker. I expected more from Freedom based on my feeling of them from my visits to the stores and their promotion on the block nz.

Bought a shelf and found defect. Upon exchange the new shelf had different defect. The staffs…read moreclaimed that's how it should be and both the shelves are in perfect condition. When asked why the 2 shelves had different defects to each other they avoided the question entirely. At the end, I got my refund but had to go through hearing some racial comments from the store manager. Very unprofessional store and will never return there again.