Hello! When did this wee gem spring up?…read more It's not really wee, and it looks new - I'm guessing it's only been on Cockburn Street under a month. Old Town Context is a refreshing, traditional store on Cockburn Street, steering away from the style of the tourist traps on the Royal Mile to offer alternative gift ideas. They have some old English, French and American advert poster art, cards, stationery, gifts, mugs with pin ups on them, clocks made out of recycled glass drinks bottles - a very eclectic and classy selection. Its inspiration is clearly from bygone era's, and I was very impressed with their postcard range. They also have some cracking cards and original prints with cats on them. These cats are wearing kilts and rugby shifrts, quoting Burns and other Scottish poets within the print. It's a very odd idea but entirely up my alley. Overall a very enjoyable shop for the family. It's difficult to walk out of here without buying anything.

I am glad that my 200th review is on this hidden gem... actually it isn't that hidden, but I have a…read morefeeling that lots of people just walk right on by. In a very different and almost vintage way, it is a souvenir shop. I say that because there were lots of prints, cards, coffee mugs of the city and various British 'things', but they are not the types of souvenirs that you would find in the every single store on the Royal Mile... yeah, you know what I mean. I loved the different prints of the city, my favourite was a very art deco-ish print highlighting the castle in a yellowy-orangish hue against a dark background. They had it as a large print, a card, and a coffee mug. I am now kicking myself that I did not buy it. If you love globes or tin signs, they have loads of them! If you are looking for a different kind of souvenir for someone... or just something for yourself, stop in here because they have some really wonderful items.

Gift shops are my Achilles' heel, and Edinburgh has a wonderful selection of them…read more Curiouser and Curiouser is full of lovely artwork and prints, gifts and other things you never knew you needed until you walked in here. They also offer a fantastic bespoke framing service. A few years ago I was looking for a very specific size and design of mirror. I asked for help on Twitter and Curiouser and Curiouser saw this and replied offering their services. I went into the shop, they made a framed mirror exactly as I wanted and of fantastic quality. If you are ever around Broughton Street area then I definitely recommend you popping in here. And maybe go to Treacle for some food after :)

Why am I only just discovering this little gem today?!…read more A stop off in Edinburgh is always great fun, and a wander along Broughton St is always great. Today the highlight of the wander was coming across this place. Filled with lots of cute and wonderful things - from books on how to knit zoo animals, greetings cards, ceramics and prints and artwork with price tags that won't break the bank. It appears to be a small family business and the staff are pretty relaxed and more than happy to chat; but the dog didn't seem all that interested in what was going on. I bought some prints for my living room, a book on print-making and a ceramic bowl for my coffee table. I could easily have purchased most of this shop. So if you're in search of a special card or gift, I can't recumbent this place any higher!

Those looking to unleash the interior designer within themselves can do no better than to come…read morehere. It's not particularly cheap, but if it's modern and slightly more unique items you are after then this is the place you are looking for. However, it should be noted that this place does not deal exclusively in lights and also offers other interior items generally including some sort of relationship to light in one form or another such as a number of items of furniture consisting of mirrors as their external surface. IF you do want something a bit more specific and have the money to spend then a visit here might be in order.

I was a little confused as I walked up to Cotterell Lighting store in the Newington area. I was…read morepresented with what appeared to be a beautiful old church but the "Sale now on" said something different. Then, I noticed the huge signs for "Cotterell Lighting" and I decided to pop in. I was still really confused and wondered if I was entering some kind of bizarre lighting cult. As soon as I entered I realised that it was indeed a shop, and it sold lighting, all kinds of lighting, in every design you could think of. There were two friendly staff members working who just told me to give them a shout if I needed any help so I decided to browse. I couldn't believe how many different lighting styles they had and if you're looking for a new lampshade or light then you will find exactly what you're looking for here. In addition to lighting they also do a small amount of furniture. I noticed a really cool mirror ball light, a lampshade on a stand that was designed to look like a fish bone and a huge mirror that I like instantly as it made me look better than I actually do. I have to admit, it was a little odd walking around an old church and it was pretty much intact apart from the missing pews. When I looked up I could see that the upper seating of the church was still there and if that area was still accessible you could have taken a seat and looked down at the now lighting shop. The creaking floor boards were still there as were the stained glass window and painted high ceiling. It seems a waste that such a beautiful church is now just a shop and even stranger that it hasn't been disguised as a shop. I'd recommend visiting under the guise that you need a new lightbulb, as it really is an experience.

This a small specialty shop carrying Annie Sloan paint, doing Annie Sloan workshops, and possibly…read moredrinking Annie Sloan koolaid. They sell furniture that has been painted with the aforementioned brand, lovely pieces for good prices. The owner can give you all kinds of tips on using the paint, ideas for how to wax or varnish, color tips, and possibly anything else you might need to know about painting. Tip: don't buy the brand brushes, which you wouldn't once you discovered the price tag. They have a few other home items, pillows and rugs, cute items that are sometimes well priced and in the instance of the rug that caught my eye (£500) a tad over my budget but likely handmade and quality and worth it. Good shop.

This review is for two shops : Spektakular and Lilla. They are sister shops that sell a range of…read moreScandinavian products, the former geared more for adults and the latter for children. I stopped in here today because they had Moomins in the window. The fact that they sell Moomin mugs would be enough for 5 stars in my mind, but that is not the only endearing quality. They sell a great selection of products and the staff are kind and friendly. Emma was very nice and helpful to me today, and patient while I squeaked with joy over the merchandise. They have a great selection of holiday ornaments and gifts. You should definitely visit them for any gifts you may need this upcoming season!

Little independant shops are so much nicer than big chain stores and this place is no exception as…read moreit brightens up the street. I often go in when im buying gifts for people but of course I always come out with something for myself too :) The best thing about this shop is that the goods are very affordable but the quality is not compromised..a combination that is hard to find!I'm slowly building up a Spektakular collection and when I move flat in a couple of months i'll be making space especially (and i'll have to arrange a party so I can buy the gorgeous martini glasses I have my eye on too). definitely worth a look, particularly if you are looking for gifts.

I took my grandparents here when they came to visit. I think this says it all. It's a lovely little…read moreshop selling everything from tea-cosies to candles, everything you would want in your stately home. Unfortunately for me, I live in a 2-bedroom flat in Holyrood, and have no use for this sort of stuff. Don't get me wrong - it's a lovely place and my grandparents loved it (Gran bought a cushion, she takes it out every Christmas and Meg next door is green with envy) and I'm sure it has a large market, but for the younger generation I think it simply isn't appreciated. Maybe I'll come back when don my power-suit and 2.3 children, but until then I think I'll go to Ikea. Gran's cushion was £45, so you get a sense of the general prices. Granda still can't believe the woman who won't spend an extra £1 on real soap (she prefers Asda's own) spent that much on a cushion. A festive cushion, no less.

Clementines is another of Bruntsfield's little gems that makes me wish I was a whole lot richer…read more Another pretty little shop filled with beautiful treats for your home. I would love to decorate my flat using this shop as inspiration as everything is just so darn nice. They have gorgeous cushions, quilts, teapots, candles, hanging things and ornamental bits and bobs. There is a real rustic, country feel to this shop. Everything seems to come straight from someones summer house in the Hamptons or at the beach. If you like pretty and nice, then you will love Clementines.

This place is seriously cool. I'm in the process of…read moreplanning out a house and love the idea of getting a salvaged fireplace (you know, the really cool kind with the tiles down the sides?), as well as old door knobs, doors, and other features. Holyrood Architectural Salvage is a huge old warehouse FULL of great old pieces. The bottom floor is stuff which has been re-finished to a high standard, and upstairs is full of items which are in need of some seriously TLC. My understanding is that you can choose an item from upstairs and then pay this place to spiff it up, deliver it, install it, the whole shebang. Or, you can just buy the piece as is and take it home with you, if you're up to doing the work yourself. I've not yet had a chance to buy anything from here but I really really hope to and I'll report back as to the level of service and quality when I do.

when we were last here we seen they had a nice collection of original fireplaces and really wanted…read moreone but didn't have the house for it. We just moved and this was our house warming gift to each other. We met the manager who asked us a load of questions about our house and room then pointed us in the direction of the many Victorian fireplaces they have. We were considering a stove but after seeing the lovely inserts decided to have one of them. We bought a nice marble mantel, insert and a gas fire and Alan said he could fit them all. His guys came to sweep and test our chimney to ensure our chimney didn't need lined which it didn't and then he arranged the fitters to come several weeks later. Our hearth was made to measure and it was a couple of weeks for it to arrive. The Holyrood fitters brought everything we had purchased and fitted it perfectly. We were a bit daunted with all the initial questions but never thought there was so much involved in fitting a fire. Alan looked after us so well and the fitters did a great job! All in all, it was another good experience and we look forward to dealing with them again. They do what they say they will do which is nice in this day and age. Initial estimated price was not increased which is unusual! Five stars from us! Need some doors so no doubt be back soon.

It's downstairs you go into the rabbit hole…read more And this isn't just being cute. It is a place to find weird but awesome pieces and gifts. Like a pillow that has a photo of a cat, in the shape of a cat, so that it really seems like a cat is sitting there when you first look at it. Or a small white desk lamp made from a cast dog's head. Or animal teeth jewelry-probably casts as well, but I didn't want to know. They have redone some furniture into unique and totally enviable center pieces. Lounge chairs, side tables, bookcases, coffee tables...probably more and I'm forgetting. Some looks like decoupage, but they find really creative ways to do it. Oh! My favorite was a set of small mirrors that were all scratched up and had been written on in erasable marker "you look great." Seriously, you don't need to look in the mirror, you're beautiful. The art is bizarre, sometimes cartoony though strangely fitting, but you know that when you leave this shop you will remember back and think wtf? It's good. I like when people who visit me see something and have to stop and wonder 1. where I got it 2. why I got it 3.what it tells them about me if I am just strange or just like to mess with people. I change my mind on this one a lot. When it's just me at home, I am the strange one with questionable art. When people are around I am messing with them. See-two for the price of one :)

From the owner: Shop featuring artwork, jewellery, cards, gifts, paintings, household items and furniture…read more Everything is made or upcycled by local artists, mainly by Dodo, who you will usually find working in the shop making the items. She will also do commissions if you have an old piece of furniture you would like brought back to life.

Tiger's new store is finally here! They have moved out of the derelict St James Centre and into…read more.. the dark and gloomy Waverley Mall. While their new location isn't in my favourite shopping centre, I'm just glad that they listened to my pleads so that I wouldn't have to be without my Tiger while they demolished the St James Centre. The new store is a bit smaller than the old one at St James but the aisles are less cramped and since not many people know about it yet, it is nice and peaceful. The store itself is clean, bright and the staff from the previous store have been kept on which is good because they were always cheerful when I visited the old store. The selection of stock that this store offers is great. The gift aisle was booming, as was the craft aisle. I managed to find my beloved chunky felt tips and quirky novelty gifts and pay for them with no bother at all. The cash desks are conveniently located at the front of the shop, which is so much better than the old store, where they were in the middle of everything causing a huge blockage. I will be continuing to shop at Tiger. They also have a fancy new name and instead of being called Tiger, they are now Flying Tiger Copenhagen! Talk about being fancy!

Normally when I'm out with my mum and she tries to enter any kind of interior design shop or…read moreestablishment selling items for the home, I shoo her along, because once she's in, and buying a few "wee things" to put "somewhere", there's absolutely no way of getting her out. On this occasion, passing Jeffreys Interiors on a walk through Stockbridge, I relented and let her get started on examining every item in the shop, while I prepared to wander about for all of two minutes, before getting bored and reading my newspaper. I soon discarded any reading material when I saw how ace everything in this place is. A nice, friendly lady told me the look the shop had going on at the moment was a kind of distressed, shabby chic, although she said she wasn't too keen on the term shabby chic, but that that was the closest to describing it. The showroom had a few different room sets, all with amazing interiors, which made me want to get a move on and get a flat to start creating a design masterpiece of my own. Lots of contemporary, unique pieces, but not furniture that looks uncomfortable or a bit too crazy, it was all arranged in a way that made you want to snuggle into whatever bed or sofa was on display. Nothing looked too expensive to touch or sit down on, (I hate that, what's the point of furniture if you can't chill out or go anywhere near it?), it all looked good, and the way the interiors were put together made the rooms look really welcoming. Definitely something for everyone's abode here, and considering the quality of the goods, really reasonable prices. I particularly noted the amazing wardrobes, brilliant if, like myself, you have a few "issues" with clothes hoarding.