Bizarre shop. Bizarre location. You wouldn't think there'd be such a thing as an "Anniesland…read moreinstitution", but there is, and Catani is it. Selling a little bit of this and little bit of that, it's hard to pigeonhole this long running business. Broadly speaking it's a hardware shop, but like many Glaswegian takes on this idea, it also stocks, well, just about everything you may need only once in your life but can't get anywhere else. This, however, is the top of the bunch, with larger premises than most of the others and very friendly staff to boot.

I lived across the road from this jumbled-up looking store and for a while didn't really have a…read moreclue what kind of shop it was. I'm still not 100% sure except that I know it's a pretty darn good one. One of the first things a friend said to me when I first moved into the area was "Have you been in Catani's? It sells everything." I was intrigued. Sure enough, when I checked it out with another friend who was taking his laptop upstairs to Mercury Computing I was amazed by the bizarre but wonderful stock - full of gadgets and gizmos. If they don't have what you're looking for they will be sure to track it down for you. A true treasure trove!

This gorgeous homewares shop opened about 5 months ago but somehow I'd completely missed it in this…read moretime. It's got some really lovely bits and pieces - Glasgow road signs, vintage map wall art, luggage cases, Shetland wool blankets, chandeliers, furniture as well as wee decorative pieces. One of my favourite finds was a glass pineapple that has a silver coating and now sits on my lounge room table. I didn't realise but they also have a shop through in Edinburgh and an online store. With fantastic customer service and great, unusual pieces, I'll definitely be popping in more often.

The window displays are so beautiful here, it almost put me off because I was scared my…read more'clumsiness' would mean I would knock everything over! Anyway, needed a mother's day gift and I'm glad I went in. I was focussing on the unique candle scents, rhubarb and ginger or fig to name but a few, for the gift. These were so delicious I came away with one for mum and one for me. Other things that caught my eye were the range of blankets/throws and room diffusers. Staff here are extremely helpful and friendly (none of the pouncing/smothering approach some people go for) and a pleasure to do business with. If you need something lovely...time and tide. (Even if you are clumsy!)

As you walk up to Anniesland Garden centre there's no mistaking what they are or what they sell due…read moreto the abundance of flowers and plants dotted in the entrance way and along the adjoining pavement. I live in Broomhill and i never knew this little clandestine garden centre existed. The lead up to the main store takes you up a small passageway of flowers, plants and herbs - it's akin to walking up someone's drive onto their patio; however just a few paces further we were greeted by a friendly "if there's anything I can help you with folks, just ask". We had a wander round the "patio" area looking through the array of foliage they have for sale, noticing that they are actually situated between two houses, as if you are walking around someone's garden (not off putting at all, though). We headed into the main store, our eyes were met with a section covering everything to do with feeding, grooming and playing with pets; again greeted by another friendly gentleman asking if he could help; when you first walk into the shop it's imaginable that the main room is where it all ends, not the case! Round the corner there's a further section up a small ramp that sells cat beds, dog beds, fish tanks, food for all types of pets imaginably etc etc. Coming out of this little annex you come to a further segment of the shop within it concerned with "growing your own" raspberry plants, herbs, potatoes; all types you could think of, from earlies through to lates - again, at this point you think the store has come to an end, but no! a further installment reveals itself relating to all things in the remit of gardening tools. Being a little independent, local garden centre we expected things to be a little more expensive, but no; prices are very competitive - we walked round to Morrisons to compare prices after leaving here and they are more than comparable if not better prices in some sections. On our way out we had a quick chat with the two gentleman that greeted us on the way in, very friendly and happy to give us a quick history on the place (been around for 16 years!!) and what types of products they sell; letting us know they had a bigger place at one point just up the street, but due to the economic downturn is now closed. If you're looking for pet products, flowers, plants, herbs, grow your own vegetable kits, utensils etc - try driving past the big supermarkets and garden centres and give this place a try; quaint, cute, and has a very local and friendly feel.

Friendly staff. Healthy looking plants. Great variety of stock.read more

The Living Room on Dumbarton Road is an absolutely beautiful shop! Even if you don't have the space…read moreor the funds for new furniture, it's worth paying a visit just to browse. A lot of shops like this get a bit funny if you're just having a look - but the lady in The Living Room was lovely and didn't mind at all. All the furniture is arranged into little "rooms", which makes the whole place feel really homely. As well as all sorts of furniture - you'll also find smaller furnishings such as vases, candles and lamps. There are some really nice gifty bits and pieces that would make great presents, and I even spied some gorgeous wooden Christmas decorations on the counter. Prices range from £10 or £20 for small furnishings and lampshades to £2000 for a sofa. Although quite a bit pricier for furniture than a certain unnamed Scandinavian superstore, the furniture in The Living Room is infinitely more individual and stylish and much, much better quality. Worth a trip - even if it's just to dream.

I agree with Katie A. in that this really is a shop to visit, even if just for a wee wander. My…read moreguy and I stopped in here a few weekends ago after a lunch date in the west end. Neither of us had ever been in before, but my guy reminded me that Jack and Victor of Still Game shot some scenes in this shop way back. Even though this shop is called The Living Room, it really caters to the whole home and depending on your style, there really is something for every room. We were in looking at bedroom sets and found one that we really liked, and put it on our list of contenders. The staff in this shop are helpful and polite, but be warned, they don't take kindly to shoplifters. Since it seems there were only two people on staff, in a pretty large shop, they have cameras and notices everywhere that CCTV is in operation. No bother, I'm sure that helps in feeling safe. Towards the back of the shop were bits and bobs of sale items, ranging from discontinued furniture to outdated candles and pillows. Everything still in really great shape, the discounted price just makes them that much sweeter. We left happy with ideas of how we want to furnish our house and even stopped by their larger store in Merchant City (which wasn't as nice as this shop) and fully plan on coming back for other decorating needs.

Merkland Street Furnishers is a hidden gem of a furniture shop opposite Partick Subway Station…read more Ranging from Art Deco to modern, this family business sells an eclectic mix of antique and second hand furniture and homeware. Deceptively packed full of things despite it's small size - you'll find everything from dining chairs, sofas, mattresses, dressing tables and ceramics to TVs and electricals. I'm told that stock changes every day, so keep an eye out to catch the best bargains. They also have a great selection of artwork - most of it is piled up in amongst the furniture, so be prepared to have a bit of a rummage. Last time I was in they had an amazing Raffaelo-esque painting which was about five foot long. If only I had the wall space. Or the available funds. I think that this shop is really charming, and the huge smiling face of the woman working there certainly helps. Although not too pricey, they're also open to negotiations - so never fear if you fall in love with something a little out of your price range! As well as the furniture on sale, Merkland Street Furnishers also buys furniture and performs house clearances. Keep it in mind if you're looking for some unique and stylish furnishings.

This fine establishment has pitched itself in the area for years and has always intruiged me -…read morehowever, I had never had a chance to visit until today! Although it's modest on the outside, the owner has somehow managed to magic this place into a cove full of furniture from various eras. At times it is more akin with the antique shops in the area than a knock off furniture store with some hidden ornamental gems. There are a number of classily framed prints and paintings available, and some gorgeous mirrors embellished in an art nouveau styled gold frame. Although this shop is small it has the same effect as Mary Poppins' bag - endless and packed full of useful and often beautiful furniture. It hosts everything from simple pine drawers and cupboards to elegant varnished mahogany dining tables. I'm on a seemingly endless hunt for a nice wee wicker chair and the lady in charge was more than happy to assist me with my quest. She did house one but it was unfortunately of an Imperialist style and looked like it would be more at home in a 1900s merchant home than attempting to bundle it into my room. It was however gorgeous and reasonably priced considering its condition, so it's definitely one to watch if you're looking for slightly more unusual, cheaper furniture than on the high street. There's enough variety in here to keep all sorts of browsers amused!

A beautiful shop located in The Hidden Lane selling handpainted homeware and furniture. They…read moredescribe themselves as "shabby chic" and walking into the shop is like walking into a little wonderland of flowers, fairy lights and soothing candy colours. The shop also doubles as a workshop for the owner and this adds to the atmosphere. You feel like you're purchasing something extra special that has been hand decorated with love and care. There's a treasure trove of items from coat hangers and trinket boxes to things for children's rooms and furniture. The prices are very reasonable considering the work that goes in to each piece. I bought a painted wooden coat hanger for just £5. A great place to come for a gift or something to brighten up your home.

From the owner: Hand painted and decorated vintage furniture and mirrors. Gifts, candles and soft furnishings.read more

It would be fair to say that I'm not exactly an expert on hardware, but this place seems excellent…read more It's a local independant shop, run by an older gent who seems to know everything in the world about hardware and DIY. It's also a helluva lot better, nearer, and cheaper than B&Q. It's one of those places that is stuffed floor to ceiling with hardware. They probably sell everything, if you just ask. We've been here a couple of times recently for hooks, dimmer switches and, I don't know, hardware stuff. The guy was really helpful and we got what we needed. When I say 'we', really I was playing no part in this at all. I was just there. But my other half seemed very happy that he got what he needed, and I was happy that the light fittings therefore got attached to the ceiling.

This little shop on Crow Road is jam packed with traditional hardware supplies and a range of…read morekitchen, cleaning and DIY goods. It's refreshing to see that there is still this type of small retailer around as so many have been made extinct by the larger superstores. It is a family run business with friendly and knowledgeable service. Although probably a little more expensive than the larger stores such as B&Q it is a handy local shop for small purchases. They also offer a key cutting service, although on 2 out of 3 occasions that I have had keys cut there, I have had to return as they didn't work. This was remedied on each occasion and may be due to my locks being of an old fshioned design.

Do you want to redecorate your house? No? Try visiting here - then you'll definitely want to…read morere-decorate! We actually do want to redecorate so visiting here was nice for a bit of inspiration. I mean sure, make all the Pinterest boards you like but sometimes you need to go into an actual shop and talk to a real life person. The lady working here was so super friendly and chatty that I wanted to buy something just because she was so nice. I love the selection of stuff they have here - it's modern, it's chic, it's classy - and most of it didn't seem too expensive. She had a nice antique tea set out on the table which I totally loved but managed to resist buying because we already have over 100 mugs and I really can't justify adding more to the collection. They offer interior design services and have a lovely range of sample material swatches for you to look over. I'm not sure if you need to make an appointment or could just pop by, but I highly recommend going in for a visit to get you inspired. And there's a cushion which looks like a dragon from Game of Thrones, which is worth seeing alone.

From the owner: We are a company of Interior Designers with a retail shop upstairs in DeCourcy's Arcade…read more Our shop offers hundreds of fabrics and thousands of wallpapers to choose from as well as a complete furnishings make up service. We also retail home furnishings, accessories and gifts, from lighting and mirrors to candles and cushions.

My boyfriend and I were making our way to the Salvation Army furniture store in search of a desk…read moreand drawers for our new flat when we noticed this furniture shop across the road and decided to have a wee nosey. It's a nice store- much bigger inside then you would think- with absolutely gorgeous wood furniture from big double beds to good, solid chests of drawers. It's just such a shame we couldn't afford any of it. None whatsoever. We also weren't welcomed by the man behind the counter, who remained on the phone while looking over suspiciously at us. Hmm, maybe he could tell we shop at the Salvation Army. If you do too, then this place is best avoided

Hallalujah, we made a decision and bought our new living room and bedroom furniture! After…read moresearching and searching, we decided upon two separate sets here at The Livingroom on Dumbarton Road! When we stopped in months prior, neither of us had ever been in to this shop. Right as you step in, it's very welcoming and homely and the staff are quick to say hello which is a nice touch. Most of the furniture has a bit of a shabby chic feel to it, but the two sets we bought were more on the cozy modern type. We lucked out and the couches we bought were part of a managers special that day and we were able to get a great deal on the bedroom set because we ended up adding an extra piece on. The staff were really accommodating- we actually walked around the shop discussing our potential purchase for quite sometime. We had loads of questions about delivery and the price of extra furniture added on. Never once were we pressured in to making a decision right then and there which was nice. We actually walked around the west end for a bit and then made the decision to buy what we loved at The Livingroom and headed back. It took a bit of time to get everything written down and added up, but that was ok. We could have had our couches delivered straight away (at no extra charge), but we wanted everything delivered at once, and we needed to wait for a bedside table to come in to stock. No bother, we've been given enough time to find a new home for our old furniture. All in all, this shop is great. Loads to choose from and all top quality furniture. All wooden pieces have dovetail joineted drawers (which is the only kind we will buy) and everything is reasonably priced. There were other pieces we had our eyes on, so I'm sure we'll be back when we're ready to buy more.