At Christmas 2012 I received a Gift a Voucher for £20 from Tessara Gift Shop in Castle Douglas. Not…read morecoming from Castle Douglas I found it outwith my visiting remit and unfortunately was unable to make the journey specifically to visit the shop to spend the voucher which was only valid for a year. Because of this I wrote to Tessara returning the expired voucher under explanation of my reasons for being unable to use it and asking if they would respectfully re-validate it. On Wednesday 15th January I received a reply from Jenny Cuningham advising "In response to your letter regarding your Gift Voucher, I am sorry to inform you that we are unable to extend the validation of any Gift Vouchers". I would not recommend this outfit to anybody who choses to buy Gift Vouchers for those who are outwith easy access to the town. Her decision was in bad taste and an easy way of making money through her Gift Voucher scheme. In my opinion this is appalling trading behaviour and she does not deserve the trade so beware.

I just spent a lot of money at Dunelm Mill last week to get some things for my new house. They have…read morea lot to choose from and have some really good sales. For example, I just got some fully-lined heavy velvet curtains that were £60 marked down to £19.99. I also got a 6ft long roller blind for my kitchen window that was marked down to a fiver. I also bought all new bedding, not on sale, that was still good value for the money. My bed is so comfy now! And the woman that was working the floor in the bedding department helped us gather what we wanted and also knew exactly what date some pillowcases we wanted would be back in stock. I also know from experience that they are happy to accept returns as I bought a set of curtains that was the wrong size. I brought them back for a painless exchange.

Easy access and loads of parking. Dunelm Mill has everything for the home. The fabric selection is…read moreamazing. They have the rolls stored in colour schemes and offer samples on request. I was interested in making some eyelet top curtains, and the staff member I spoke to regarding the sew-in eyelets was extremely helpful. The fabrics are cut at your request. There is everything you need to make the curtains - thread, lining, eyelets,wires. They also stock a great selection of poles, blinds and readymade curtains. At the moment they have a huge volume of christmas products - definitely worth a look

This has been in Strathaven since 1990 it is a small shop but does work for retail as well as…read morehouses. It provides a consultation service and can offer guidance in home decorating including what paints and wallpaper to use. The last time I went into the small shop I found it quite expensive it did stock a variety of smaller home furnishings like candles and cushions but it is not really my taste. It is expensive so I do not go in much.

Emily Ross Furnishings provide the most professional interior design service, which is unrivaled in…read moreSouth Lanarkshire. Their shop in Strathaven is an oasis of soft furnishings and home accessories and you can always find something unique. It's a credit to the owners and certainly not expensive,a must visit if you are in Strathaven

I almost always forget about this store, but when I happen upon it I think, "Why didn't I remember…read morethis?!" The store itself is just the pinnacle of cute and it really is a boutique. It was hard to classify under categories because they sell furniture, home decor, stuff for the kitchen, bath stuff, and things for kids or vintage items for those of us 'big kids'. They have Cath Kidson items, fun cups and utensils, teapots and tea sets galore. Every time I have gone in though, it smells a bit funny. I know what you are thinking... I checked, it isn't me. I'm not even quite sure how to describe the smell, but it does put me off a little bit and I overheard a lady 'whispering' to her friend about it as well. The other thing is that near the back of the store, the walkways are a bit narrow, so it can be difficult to get by others that are looking without knocking something breakable over. Something to think about if you have children, large bags, or you are generally clumsy.