Stephanie in Vancouver

Bartlett's did a fantastic job of pruning my pine tree, which included raising the skirt, thinning the branches and reducing the overall height to ensure healthy growth. They also showed that safety is a priority over work, appropriately postponing additional pruning until BC Hydro could remove branches that were too close to the power lines.

Motiv is a great store for high quality kitchen knives and cutlery made in Europe (which can be difficult to find in Vancouver). Some of the prices are expensive but they often put select items on sale. I also like the variety of kitchenwares and small items such as knife blade protectors and cookie cutters that are available.

Benjamin Moore has excellent quality paints. The staff were knowledgeable and assisted me to purchase appropriate paints and supplies for all of my home projects. I also appreciated that the price of other supplies (e.g. paint trays, roller replacements, Frog tape) were not inflated when compared with larger home improvement stores. This allowed me to get everything I needed in one stop. I would shop here again.

I consistently enjoy shopping at Sugar Barrel Antiques/By Design Modern for teak furniture. They always have a great selection of unique items straight from Denmark and they had a great sale in November 2011 with 25% all furniture. Staff allowed me to hold the item while I made my decision to purchase it. When I returned, they were friendly and helped me carry the item to my car.

I saw Salari's felted wool poufs at a home show and decided to visit their store in Kerrisdale. It is a family run store and I truly received some of the best service I have ever had. The owners are extremely helpful and never made me feel obligated to make a purchase. They allowed me to take swatches/products home to experiment with colours and sizes before I purchased a pouf in a fun colour! I would definitely return to this store if I ever needed a carpet.

Gourmet Warehouse has a great selection of baking tools for preparing and presenting baked goods/homemade food. The staff are knowledgeable and the prices are reasonable. They also have a good selection of prepared foods and items such as Torrefazione coffee which I can not find elsewhere in the city.

Attic Treasures has a nice variety of furniture, kitchen wares and knick knacks from the 1950s and 1960s. I think some of the items are overpriced and the owner is pretty firm about the prices but you can find some unique pieces. I bought a coffee table and a tea trolley and I would go back again.

WestCoast Kids has a good selection of children's furniture and baby items but the prices are pretty high and the services is variable. Staff don't seem anticipate customer needs and take a long time to answer questions that seem pretty straightforward.

Dressew has a huge selection of fabric and notions at great prices. Sales usually result in people lined up around the block! I don't find it the best place for yarn but it does have good knitting supplies like bamboo needles as well.

Designhouse has a great selection of European made (not just designed) furniture, home accessories and flatware. The staff are friendly and helpful. Some of the prices are quite expensive but they do have sales, which they advertise by email. They sell items that I have not seen elsewhere in Vancouver so the shop is definitely worth checking out.

Space Lab is a great shop with mid-century furniture and other interesting finds. I bought a cool bed frame with built-in storage. Clint, the store owner, was so friendly and he provided fantastic customer service. He even arranged for delivery and assembly of the bed, which was included in the cost.

I have had several positive experiences shopping at Met Home, resulting in the purchase of a table lamp, a floor lamp, two stools and two dressers over the last year. The owners Mary and Dana are so friendly and personable. The customer service will bring you back even if you do not find exactly what you are looking for the first time you go in. They know the history of all of the pieces that they sell and they always have cool items. The prices are very reasonable when compared to other stores selling mid-century furniture in the area.

I would highly recommend shopping for mid-century furniture at ReFind. Bart, the owner, is friendly and honest,, pricing products to help his customers. He will also keep his eyes open for specific pieces if you tell him what you are looking for. There are always new vintage finds so it is worth visiting this store on a regular basis.

I had a wonderful shopping experience at Sugar Barrel Antiques. The staff are friendly and helpful. They allow you to hold items with a refundable deposit so you can take measurements or think about your potential purchases. They get regular shipments from Denmark and I found a unique expandable table, and a cool floor lamp, which I love!