This is the store that supplied all of my kitchen appliances recently and I would definitely go to…read morethem again if I needed to. This large shop is mainly a showroom presenting almost everything you would need or desire in a kitchen. They show and supply all of the large appliance brands. The brilliant thing about this shop is the owner who also deals with most of the customer orders. He really knows his stuff and can give you invaluable advice. We were ordering a few items at once but he easily switched his knowledge from ovens, to fridges, to sinks with ease. They arranged delivery and fitting of all the items with care and ease. After consulting the internet their prices are just as cheap as anywhere else.

Recommended dryers are the top scoring and do not have brand reliability issues based on our survey…read moreof thousands of readers. Electric dryers are the top sellers and we test drying performance, capacity, noise, and convenience.

Livsstil is one of my favourite stores in Birmingham. Located in the Minories arcade, just by the…read morePriory Courts, you may think it is often overlooked but it must be popular to have survived so long. Now I don't even bake that much really but I could easily spend an hour or so and a few hundred quid in Livsstil; They have the nicest cookware in Birmingham; miles better than TK Maxx and House of Fraser, which are my second and third choices for anything cookery related. From bakeware to salt and pepper shakers, kitchen scales to cute aprons, professional knives to electrical items; Livsstil really do have it all. Last time I visited they had the cutest cupcake shaped kitchen timer and some lovely brightly coloured, rubber spatulas. I'm a real sucker for vintage looking kitchen items and they have plenty of those to go around too. Livsstil have got it down to a tee with a real mix of functional, modern items, shabby chic signage, shelving and rustic, cutesy items. Everything for everyone. It's a one stop shop for chefs and enthusiasts; the only thing that could make it better would be a bakery, butchers and green grocer next door. Seriously. Go visit!

Ooh I love this shop - this despite me being useless at baking (I can still remember sobbing into a…read morebatch of wholemeal rolls that refused to rise in Home Economics) and having an almost pathological hatred of cupcakes. The thing is this shop sells so much pretty, yet practical stuff - espresso makers, salt and pepper mills, wooden spoons, towels etc - I know it shouldn't matter what this kind of thing looks like, as long as it's functional but sometimes you want something that looks nice too. Other things you can purchase here are nice mugs, aprons (does anyone apart from my Mom wear an apron any more?) and heartwarming (for someone like me who is useless at making scones but can whip up a mean gin and tonic) things you can make ice-cubes in. It's not that expensive - say compared to Debenhams or the chintzier retailers and the staff are nice.

There are some stores I could walk past and take no interest in, however just like the old addage…read moreabout Narcissus who stares too long at his refelection in the water and falls in, staring to long into shops windows holds the same risk! Not that I fall into shop windows, and more that I start to see things I might like to purchase! Passing Nisbets Catering Supplies had this same effect on me and I couldn't help but pop in to browse their mighty aisles of catering equipment. If you're looking for a bargain for you kitchen ware or a gift for a chef friend then this is your place.

Poor customer service - always check the small print as there are so many excuses for not receiving…read morea full refund for returning an item even though the website boasts a 14 day returns policy. Don't bother ordering in store as you will get poor service compared to if you ordered on line. A mirror cabinet in store was displayed as £185 but £149 on line.

Ordered an item online for one day delivery at £8 as the plumber was only on site for two more…read moredays. It appears that it is next day delivery when they get the item in stock. The website does not say it is not in stock and they did not contact me to tell me that it would be a two and a half week wait. They were still happy to make it a next day delivery £8 fee though. I canceled the order and went with an amazon company that offered the same item for less expense and for two actual days delivery for half the cost.

Although the selection here is small (the shop is bigger than it looks though) the quality of their…read moreproducts are very high. Cool designs and sleek shapes or traditional claw footed baths abound. The team are very helpful, if they don't have the style you want in stock they'll help you find something more up your street in the catalogue. I did my research online and was pleased to find they offered me a very competitive deal in store for a sink unit. They didn't have the colour I wanted in stock, so I had to rely on pictures. They advised me that I could have it taken back by the courier immediately if I didn't like it on arrival but the chap who served me was certain I would like it. He was right. In addition the updates received on the delivery were prompt and helpful and the delivery guys carried my unit up to the attic for me. Lovely quality, helpful staff.

Apparently Bathstore is the country's largest specialist bathroom retailer - but the reason I…read morereview it here is because it sells some rather lovely things (I know it's hard to get worked up by a toilet cleaning brush set but believe me they sell some beauties here) and because I think its one of the few bathroom places in the High Street. Much like the other biggies - I'm thinking Ikea and B&Q here they tend to work with European designers and the prices seem very affordable. As well as offering an array of pretty bathroom accessories - toothbrush holders in day-glo colours and soap dishes that are kind of space-agey in design, the Harborne branch is able to offer advice on bathroom design, installation and delivery. Staff seem nice enough and are happy to let you potter around and browse.