OUCH One star…read moretotally knocked off for sending me a marketing letter addressed to Mr Cory. In the words of Jack Lemmon, I'm a Girl, I'm a Girl, I'm a Girl! I don't need no man buying me four foot clocks, no sir! Not to mention that I didn't ask to be included on marketing bumpf and nor do I want it!

Owning a small guest house close to J.B. McLean we always try to use them if we can to supply…read morefurniture and beds. Apart from the honest service we like the fact that the price we see is a genuine and fair one. No pretend half price, 50% off discount sales the items are fairly priced, good quality and , on the few times we have had a problem, it is sorted with no hassle. The range is good and what they don't have, they will order for you. I willingly recommend this company and suggest anyone looking for furniture start here before hitting the permanent sales in the big multiples.

If you like solid oak furniture then you will love this place. We have spent a fair load of dosh in…read morethis place, the most recent purchase being a large sideboard, but I have to say that many of the pieces are actually pretty reasonably priced when you compare them to Sterling, John Lewis or even Marks and Spencer. Yeah, they do have crazy high range stuff, but overall, the mix is pretty good. I like how they carry ranges from British furniture makers, and they are happy to modify handles etc. when they can. They have 2 stores across the road from each other - the one that used to be a cookware store, if you remember that far back, carries more dining/kitchen pieces, whilst the one across the road is more bedroom furniture. They also have cool furnishings, lighting etc -a really great shop with an owner who seems to take real pride in the stock he carries, and who is keen to ensure that the customer leaves happy, which this one certainly did!

I went to this shop today (Sunday 11th November) and liked a lamp, and wanted to buy both the lamp…read moreand the shade it was displayed with. I asked the assistant whether they would consider offering a discount if we bought both items. He would not offer a discount - fair enough - but rather than being apologetic or offering any kind of explanation, the assistant said "it is only a lamp" whose cost - 218 quid - was clearly too little money for him to even consider negotiating on. I can only guess this is because this shop must make so much profit on its furniture that it is simply not even worth trying to sell a lamp for the pittance they apparently regarded the asking price as.

I remember walking into this store with my mum, taking one good luck around, then leaving almost…read moreimmediately. It's quite... well different stuff, with an attempt to show something exotic and artsy. It would look ok to great in a bar or hotel but not really in your living room.

I know everyone says Art is subjective, but I want anyone who reads this to check out the picture I…read moretook as well. Look at the disabled Tiger in the window! Somebody buy that for me please. I don't know what this business is supposed to be. They sell both art and furniture, or maybe the furniture is art... Did I mention the wonky tiger? They had one or two nice pieces of pottery, but nothing that warrants a visit.

I'm downgrading Acanthus and am actually considering writing to the owner/manager because I think…read morethe staff may be really letting this place down. As I said previously, Acanthus is located next to my bus stop. As such, when I have a while to wait and especially when the weather is dire, I pop in for a browse. A gorgeous trinket caught my eye yesterday and, as I had almost 10 minutes to wait for my bus I decided to go in, browse and buy it. Another customer came in after me as something she had purchased there wasn't exactly what she had wanted. Both girls working at the time immediately hopped to, were very apologetic and helped her right away. As they *both* helped her, I took my item up to the till to pay for it, and waited. The two sales assistants and the one customer were stood right next to me, the three of them going over her purchase. As I stood there, waiting to pay. In this time, no one acknowledged me, no one said it would just be a minute, and there was no reason to have two members of staff helping one person. So I left. I wasn't going to miss my bus for an impulse buy in a store where the staff can't sort out how to best serve customers. When I left, one of the girls apologised to me but, really? Acanthus has some items that people will go there specifically to buy but quite a bit of what they sell is pretty little trinkets that people don't actually *need*. They have a market of people waiting for the bus next to the store who will impulse buy these trinkets and these people don't have the time to wait. It's not that I had waited an incredible amount of time, or that anyone was rude, it's the fact that I was ignored. I realise that not wanting to wait will make me sound like a high maintenance customer but I'm not , I just know bad customer service when I see it and I'm not willing to spend my money in a place where I've experienced it.

I have ventured into this lovely shop a number of times and have found the staff to be extremely…read morehelpful and pleasant. They are enthusiastic and seem to genuinely enjoy helping meet the needs of their customers. They have lovely items, some of which have made their way into my house. I love the variety of wallpapers they have on offer especially Zoffany's range. I will definitely be returning in the near future and would advise others to have a nosey.

You use your pillow every day and they usually last a good few years so buying a good pillow does…read moremake a decent amount of sense. If you do want a good pillow, this is the place to visit. The prices are rather reasonable here, given what you are getting, but this does come at a drawback and that is with the sheer volume of choice you will be presented with. The reality is that you are going to struggle to decide what exact filling you want. For some this will be brilliant and all part of the fun, but I fear that others will run out proclaiming that all they wanted was a pillow. That said, they have nice pillows here.

When it comes to pillows, these are the guys who really know their stuff. I didn't think that it…read morewould be viable for a business to succeed selling pillows but these guys prove me wrong. If you ever have a problem with your sofa cushions, need them replaced this shop is the solution-they are able to make new cusions for your sofa tailored to your description. I only needed a bog standard pillow for when I moved into a new flat in the area- their prices start at £7.50 for pillows and that's the one I opted for, and so far it has been great. The shop does however have a huge amount of pillows- with various different feathers. They also do different types of cushions whether it be for sofas or benches or even cushions for window seats these guys have it all.

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.

To be honest, I wasn't really in need of a Futon when I went in here. Silly, you might say, but…read moredon't let the name fool you. The Futon Company actually sells loads of other stuff too; furniture, beds, luggage, storage and lights. I had been looking everywhere for a fixture for a record I got for Xmas so that I could hang it up on the wall, and low and behold I got one from the Futon Company. Strange, but it just goes to show maybe you shouldn't judge a book by the cover. The selling of travel luggage seems a bit out of place though, but they do stock a nice range of carry on luggage and suitcases for reasonable prices. Go in for a browse if you're looking for something obscure for the home, you never know what you might find.

There's something about clean polished beech wood, colourful cushions and unusual designs that…read moregrabs me. Like an Ikea but primarily focused on seating and cushions, Futon stocks plenty to kit your new bachelor pad out. Expect to pay a healthy amount for some unique designs, they currently throw in a cushion football with any purchase too. Will that tempt you?

Dreadful. Forgotten i think all about customer focus and service…read more As many parent i was looking to compare rough cost of uniform for my children between Clan house and Aitken and Niven - not in working hours as i work. However Clan House do not make that easy. A quick internet search gave all the info on Aitken and Niven prices however with Clan house you can not even see the uniform unless you email register - not a quick email account and password set up - oh no - the full bhuna. Child's name, date of birth, inside leg measurement, chest measurement, neck........... You get the picture and unfortunately i jest not. All i wanted was a quick look see. Clearly all useful info if i want to buy - but not to have an option to bypass this just to look? Why not? Makes me suspicious i am afraid as certainly not helpful to me a prospective customer - are they enhancing their revenue by getting details and selling on? I wonder. Certainly not got the customer in mind. Ridiculous.

Clan House sells both city and private school uniforms. They feel less stuffy than their main…read morecompetitor Aitken and Niven and in our experience the staff have always been knowledgable and helpful. We have also found their blazers to be very good quality - lasting more than one hard-wearing child! While we have been into Aitken and Niven and have found many things not to have a price tag on them our experience at Clan House has been that their products are clearly priced. Also, in our experience, Clan house carries a much wider array of products. (Including blazers and ties for City of Edinburgh schools unlike A&N). Overall, the service, quality and variety of choice at Clan House puts them ahead of the game. We have been very happy with them and they are our preferred uniform supplier.