Super cool shop with a super cool owner. I forgot his name, but the owner spoke pretty good english…read moreand was a really nice guy. We talked comics for a while and he showed me some Hong Kong produced Batman comics from the 60's(?). They were so cool I had to buy one (not cheap, but totally worth it). Despite the store being very small there was a lot of cool retro/vintage collectibles. So glad I stumbled upon this place, check it out as well as the whole building, lots of cool stuff

I gotta love this place. Literally two steps away from home, I had gone to check it out a few times…read moreand, to my frustration, it had always been closed. It's in a walk up building and it's a little hidden. Yesterday I picked up one of their business cards and saw an appointment needs to be made to visit the shop so I called up and told the guy I was there, he said he would arrive in 5 minutes. And so he did. He opened the shop just for me...and I started to look around. I kind of knew what to expect, lots of second hand, retro stuff, that most of us don't need for anything but they are so much fun to collect (if you have the space; I live in a match box so I have to be careful with my purchases!). So what they sell...where should I start? It's difficult to tell. The shop is cramped with old pieces of antiquities, furniture, toys, clocks, decoration in general, some accessories (bags, sunglasses...). They have another shop in Kwun Tong five times the size of this one (this one is rather small). I was looking for a vintage Chinese dress. The owner funnily said I don't look like that 'type of girl' which made me laugh. He showed me online some of the dresses they have at the other store and suggested I go there and check. Then I had a second look around and set my eyes in a Polaroid bag, I love that hint of coolness of second hand things...! I had also scanned the sunglasses, displayed in a big glass box. Most of the items in this shop are for decoration though. I'm now checking the dresses online myself. Yeah, will have to go to Kwun Tong...!

This is a small street of craft and souvenir shops, also known as cat street. This could have…read moresomething to do with it being the end of the cat statue photo walk, which is a must do in my opinion. I wish I had the chance to see this street fully open, but unfortunately when I visited on a Monday afternoon, more than half the stores were closed. I think Friday might be the day to go, as I passed by around noon and it was lively at this day and time. I still enjoyed looking at the shops that were open and found some great items to bring back, including some jade trinkets and ceramic tea cups. There is a strong chance the jade pieces were fake considering they were so cheap, but they were just little ornaments, so that was fine for what they were. If we're taking jade bracelets, that's another story. This is a very good place to look around and find deals on gifts and whatever you like to buy.

When it comes to buying antique furniture in HK, most would suggest the wallet busting shops on…read moreHollywood Road, or the handful scattered in Horizon Plaza. Alternatively, you could go to Guangzhou, and risk getting proper shafted. Red Hall is a decent compromise between the sharks on Hollywood Road, and the, errr..., sharks in Guangzhou. Based in Mui Wo, it is slightly incongruous in comparison to it's neighbouring shops, being neither an estate agent or a Park n Shop. It is also slightly inconvenient in terms of shipping to HK "mainland". However, don't worry about that, they will deliver your furniture for a cost. The pieces in there are mainly the big ticket furniture items; wardrobes, cupboards, drawers, day beds. There are a few smaller items like kang tables, which incidentally make excellent coffee tables, and traditional stools, both of which you could lug home yourself on the ferry. There is also a rather odd garden furniture section which sells seemingly contemporary items. It is a little bit like they bought a load by mistake and are trying to shift it. Red Hall isn't as "genuine" as Red Lantern up the road, but they do sell "half" antiques. Where Red Lantern sells the genuine article, warts and all, Red Hall primarily does reconditions or copies. It is critical if you buy here to understand that you may not be buying genuine antique furniture, hence the lower prices compared to Hollywood Road. Let me give you an example; I bought a narrow book cupboard, which was reconditioned from an old larder. The original larder was 8ft across and had 16 decorative panels. Only four panels survived, so they rebuilt them into the book shelf that I bought, which is now only 2ft across. The back and sides of my cupboard are new built, only the panels are antique. Of course I knew this at the time, as the staff told me. One thing they are here (unlike perhaps GZ), is they are honest about the provenance. If it is a recondition, it says so on the sales ticket, and the staff will tell you what parts are old and new. They will also indicate what is replica, i.e. a completely new build of an old design. Surprisingly, a lot of the new builds are more expensive than the antiques, but that's HK for you! Only valuable if it's shiny and new...

When it comes to interior decorating, furniture and that lot I'm not the person to listen to for…read moreadvice. If it was up to mean the living room walls would be filled with medieval weapons, I won't go onto my dream bedroom. That being said I was hugely attracted to the wares offered by Red Hall. It is situated in Mui Wo, strange as it sells things completely different to every other store on the island, in terms of price range and products. Upon walking in I was greeted by a giant cat statue. It looked twice my weight, beautiful, and from what I'm told, hand crafted in China. The same goes for everything else on the first floor of the store. The majority of items on sale are drawers, cabinets and shelves. All of which designed as if they were made in one of the Chinese Dynasties. Gorgeous colors of deep reds, blues and greens with chinese symbols adorn the drawers. Further back are some dining room sets - chairs and tables - and the second floor is entirely dedicated to outdoor furniture - sun beds, coffee tables, and that sort of thing. It's times likes these that I wise I took up a 'normal' job in finance as the price tags of these beauties are pretty heavy. We're talking about $3800 for a small shelve or $12500 for a couple chairs and table. I can see the value in the furniture here, and one day when I'm rich I'll be back and buy half a chair, or something.

The Red Lantern in Mui Wo (not to be mistaken for Red Hall Chinese antiques in the same area) is a…read morefantastic treasure trove of antiques, and in my opinion, the best antique store in Hong Kong. Run by Anthony and Gary, probably the two nicest guys in Hong Kong, their small shop contains a number of beautiful and genuine antique items from China. The shop itself is quite small, so not all of the items available on display. If you're interested in a particular item or era, it's best to speak to Anthony or Gary, as they will be up to show you a folder of photographs with other antique items that they have in storage elsewhere. What is particularly refreshing about the chaps, is that know the provenance of every piece, if not exactly, then at least a very good approximation. As many of us would buy antique furniture with little knowledge of the authenticity, dealing with Anthony and Gary, you will feel a lot more secure in the knowledge that you are not being ripped off. As well as big furniture items, Red Lantern sells a number of small affordable pieces, which would make ideal gifts for friends and family, or as tourist souvenirs to take home. If you do end up buying a large piece of furniture, the chaps are able to organise delivery to Hong Kong Island. There is a charge for it (a couple of hundred HKD), which you could reduce by arranging your own collection from Central Pier (i.e. they would put the item on the boat at Mui Wo and you will collect it at Central). If there is nothing that you fancy from the shop, it's always very pleasant to talk to Anthony and Gary anyway. Both are expats, who have lived in Hong Kong from many years, and they have great stories of Hong Kong to tell. I very much enjoy reminiscing with them about the good old days in the UK. But, you should check out their store and buy some antiques from them. Your house will look better for it!

I went the Red Lantern to help find me a deep turquoise cabinet. I sent examples of the style and…read morecolour I liked and waited eagerly to hear back from the shop. A few days later I was contacted by Anthony who sent a very dark picture of a sideboard in a colour that was paler than I had requested but seemed "nice but not amazing". I expressed this exact sentiment. I asked for an image taken from the front with more light. I wasn't expecting the terse response "sorry but this is the best we can do". I asked whether he meant the furniture or the photo he said he could ask for another photo "but you said you didn't like it". It seemed a brusque attitude but I understood that sometimes over text communication can seem strained. But the communications continued to be strained over the next few days. Bad photos were just the beginning. There was lack of transparency, lack of courtesy or friendliness in all communications and there was flip flopping on what I had been told. Once the details had been finalised I asked if I could pay a deposit of half up front and the rest on delivery. I was told their business was based on trust and that they always trusted their customers to pay after delivery. Finally something pleasant. This would mean I wouldn't have to take an inconvenient trip during the week to Mui Wo. But the next day I received another terse message saying actually, no, they didn't want to do business with me and I should look elsewhere because I might reject the piece of furniture on delivery! All they had needed to do was ask for full payment up front but instead they chose to make the decision without any attempt at communication. The whole process that I imagined would have been easy and fun was like drawing blood from a stone and also left me uneasy because of the seeming unfaltering dedication to not be helpful or pleasant. Maybe the world of antiques is a high stress environment that is barren of frivolities such as affability. I imagine if he felt as stressed as I did from the interaction we are both happy to be rid of each other.