Sara in Baltimore

Home Anthology is a huge store that stocks furniture and home furnishings that are used but still fabulous! Everything they sell is stylish and/or interesting (depending on what floats your boat). The stock is ever-changing, so you will see something new every time you stop by! You can also take a look around their website, which is constantly updated to reflect what they have in stock. I got a couple of pieces from here, which have gotten me lots of compliments!

Su Casa is a great little boutique in the heart of Fells Point that has everything from wine racks to kitchy soaps to fabulous furniture. They have a little bit of everything, and it's a great place to browse to pick up something to go in your home. It is also a wonderful place to buy unique housewarming gifts for others. For example, I found a funky little geometric wine rack for my engineer friend, who loved it because it came with its own little Allen wrench to put together. For another friend who was getting married, I got a handmade sushi set. And for myself, I've gotten numerous little gadgets for my kitchen, a cool lamp, and a cute wall hanging. So if you ever find yourself waiting for a table at Mezze (a fab restaurant across the street)...drop by Su Casa for a browse. They are open fairly late on weekends.

When I had a pipe burst and sewage problems in my basement, I called this company. They came right out, were courteous and professional, and kept me informed about what they needed to do. The price, considering that it was emergency plumbing service and they were there in under three hours, was very reasonable. Fortunately I haven't had to use their services again, but would if I have another problem!

I had an electrical issue and when I called, he came right out the next day. It didn't take him long to discover and fix the problem, and the rates were very reasonable. He was polite and professional. I would definitely use this company if I ever need electrical work done again.

When I heard about the Pottery Barn outlet, I decided to make the drive up from Baltimore. I love PB, but I generally can't afford their prices. The outlet, on the other hand, is full of products offered at a discount. My personal favorite are their great towels, which were 40 percent off the already reduced outlet price. They also have great sheets and duvet sets at low prices. They have a great selection of reduced furniture, too, if you have the vehicle to haul it.

I called Roto Rooter when my sump pump went out because at that time, I had just purchased my house and I didn't know any good independent plumbers. They were very friendly and efficient and came out the next morning. The plumber was courteous and did the work very quickly. Obviously, using Roto Rooter cost considerably more than using a local plumber and I probably won't use them again (especially now that there's a site like this where I can read reviews and make a good choice). And the plumber cut a giant hole in my drywall to get to the pipes that I am stuck fixing. So Roto-Rooter is not bad if you need emergency service and are not very concerned about the price.

I made the trip to Lowe's because I got a coupon in the mail. I usually go to Home Depot because it is 5 minutes from where I live and Lowe's is not conveniently located for me. I probably won't make the trip again. Like Home Depot, Lowe's has a huge variety of home improvement items. Unfortunately, the people who work there, while being extremely nice and polite, don't appear to have a lot of knowledge about their products. Further, when I was leaving the store, I realized that the cart I was using had some sort of black goo all over it, which ruined my purse and the clothes I was wearing (it did NOT come off in the wash). When I pointed this out to the employees, I got a "aw shucks, sorry about that" from them. Not a great experience.

Valu City Furniture is a great place to buy furniture, especially for those on a budget who don't want to resort to buying from IKEA. They have a huge selection of quality furniture (much of which are name brands, including American Signature) at low prices, with reasonable delivery rates. I shopped around for furniture when I first bought my house, wanting to make sure that I got the best quality for the best price. When I saw the same exact furniture for less than half the price at Value City than one of the name brand furniture stores, I was sold. In the past year, I have bought a dining room set, split box spring, coffee table, end table, bed, nightstand, and dresser from them, and have been very pleased. I highly recommend!