This shop has an extensive range of lighting solutions and accessories. Whatever your lighting…read morerequirement the staff here assure me that they either have it stock or can get it within 48hours. This shop is a showroom to a much larger operation, an online shop called lightsaver. Their warehouse is in Birmingham and they offer to deliver for free. Browsing their online shop, it offers up to 50% off what I'm looking for. The member of staff dealing with me at the shop was friendly and very knowledgeable about the products. The online shop is easy to navigate and to order from.

Frame It is a picture framing shop based at the bottom of Bearwood high street (near The Bear…read moreTavern) which offers a bespoke framing service at really affordable prices. Perhaps most notably of all it provides a 'while you wait' service during quieter times and the owner will helpfully text you when items are ready for collection. They also sell a number of pre-framed pictures and full length mirrors. It's a fairly eccentric lot, comprising of moody black and white shots of Frank Sinatra, Elvis and others as well as landscapes and still lives. However, if you need an item framed and framed for a reasonable price that this really is the best place nearby.

This tiny but beautifully formed shop is tucked off Knowle High Street so might take a bit of…read morehunting down. The quest would be worth it as you will find some adorable pieces and find it difficult to not buy anything at all. The theme is home decor and interiors store stocking French Country and New England styles. They also stock British designer Bronte's At Home blankets - they were around £70 so not cheap but very beautiful.

This is just one of those shops you love as soon as you walk in.There is something for…read moreeveryone,price wise some things are reasonable,and there are the larger items which are a lot more expensive.There are beautiful light holders,pottery,throws,dressers etc.I could go on,the staff are always friendly and helpful too.I challenge you to pay them a visit and not buy anything.My husband and I have not manged this so far,its heaven.I love showing my friends and family what I have bought,they love everything too.Roll on Christmas,if your looking for something different,elegant,stylish without breaking the bank go, you know you want to, happy shopping.

Kiddiminster Carpets in Shirley stock just about everything you would need to cover a floor. So…read morethat is not just carpet but wood, laminate, vinyl and rugs. However, I have only bought carpet from here but they have supplied and fitted all the carpets in my house. The prices are very competitive and the service is excellent. Recently I needed to carpet a very small room and I visited Kiddiminster Carpets as I knew they would be the people for the job. They advised that with the size of the room a remnant would probably be suitable. I was shown into a warehouse next to the showroom where roles and roles of large, leftover pieces of carpet are kept. The chap cheerfully and helpfully rolled out the carpets we were interested in so we could pick something suitable in colour and of the right size. Booking in fitting in was stress free and all the carpets have been fitted perfectly. Highly recommend.

I am basing this review on the establishment and not in the art inside. It would be unfair to as…read morewhen I went it didn't seem have anywhere near as cool stuff that other yelpers photos suggest. It's free to get in but you are heavily encouraged to drop a fiver in the donations box slap in the middle of the entrance way. Going immediately upstairs to what is usually the main exhibit and the top floor holds between another 1 and 2 exhibitions with a small media room. You go upstairs then down half stairs to move around the building - but there is a glass elevator too. Gift shop is customary as usual but this holds some quirkier items, to be honest we spent the most time here. In the case of what was to offer when I was there we got around the gallery within the hour easily. I would go again as it is free but some of what was on show wasn't my thing last time.

For an small contemporary art gallery IKON is "As good as it gets"…read more Situated in Brindley Place, it's easily within reach from all directions within the City Core. My personal favourite is the walk along the canal from the Mailbox direction, though you can just as easily reach it via Centenary Square through the ICC. IKON started in the 60s in a small kiosk in the old Bullring has come along way to the magnificent neo-gothic School building in which it now resides. The Oozells Street School was at one point the only building in the area that is now known as Brindley Place. As you walk into the gallery the brightly lit IKON lettering on the concrete wall is a visually striking welcome and an idea into the feel of what it is about. Contemporary art and in particular, installations. I have been to many of the exhibitions at IKON and no two are alike. Each has their own unique feel, message or story to tell. IKON is great at displaying wow pieces as well as some very abstract pieces. Don't worry though, I recommend you pick up the free guides before you go in, usually in a container on the wall. They can be very helpful in giving you a rundown of who the artist is and some of the meaning behind their work. Artists from all over the world have displayed here and currently Korean artist Lee Bul's exhibition is his first in UK, a premiere, and one definitely worth visiting! Why not make an afternoon of it? Café Opus is located on the ground floor and has some really great food and drink at affordable prices. There is also a shop where you can buy cards, books etc of the artist on display or general art paraphernalia. Oh and IKON is a FREE gallery so you have no excuse! Get cultural, Birmingham!

Scribbler is a gift, card and novelty shop located on the top level of the Bullring (on the…read moreentrance from the Bull). It's brightly coloured and inviting exterior never fails to draw my eye when I'm taking a shortcut to the Birmingham Markets to grab the weekly shop. Yesterday I thought I would pop in and actually have a look. It's not a large unit, but the walls and floors are totally packed with fun bits and pieces and cards of a good quality. The greetings cards are probably on par with someone like Paperchase in terms of cost, but I spotted some designs I hadn't seen before (and will be back to check regularly to stock up for friends and family). They sell a small range of gift books (including things like Grumpy Cat, Cyanide and happiness as well as other internet webcomics) and items from the likes of "Fred & Friends" for those awesome kind of kitchen gadgets that you don't need, but you definitely want. I spotted some 75% off items on their far wall, left over from the Christmas sales. I ended up purchasing 7 different things that WOULD have been over £40 pre-sale, but I paid £11. The member of staff at the counter was chipper, helpful and welcoming and we had a good old chat about some of the items they stock in the shop. A lot of the gear in here is expensive, but it's unusual and fun and would make brilliant presents for those "hard to buy for" people in your life. Definitely pop on down and give it a look next time you're in the Bullring.

I recently went to a jewellery making workshop here in the jewellery quarter and thoroughly enjoyed…read moreit. You have to walk down an alleyway (there's a security door) and up some rickety stairs (!) but when you get inside it's great. Well lit and inviting, there are display cabinets full of the sparkliest jewellery and beads of every shape and colour you can think of. All workshops include tuition, use of tools, light refreshments and materials and everyone went away with a wearable piece of jewellery at the end of the session. Highly recommended.

The store is very large but sell everything you require to decorate any room in your house and…read moregarden. As previously said the staff are very good but sometimes lack the knowledge required on certain items due to the vast size and product base of the store. They offer a wide range of paints, wallpaper and the usual items you expect to see in a diy store. It is situated on the alvis retail park which is relatively easy to get to.

As always the diy store is the same as the other b&q stores across the country…read more Giving the same offerings for anything diy related. Great prices and ranges of goods from paint,wallpaper, bathrooms, carpet , insulation etc etc. Keep your eyes peeled for really really good offers which are literally at the door when you walk in. You cant find these in the store anywhere else, just be the entrance door. So double check before you go through the stupid metal opening gates, they wont let you back through. So you will end up walking back out and in again to get your bargain