Shopping in Chennai

Trini · Dec 8th, 2007, 10:35

No, not paper towels - am trying to stay away from that as I agree, they are expensive and environmentally unfriendly too. I have seen tea towels but they are really small.

I am looking for a 2 seater lazy boy type settee and a 1 seater lazy boy matching - American style furniture. If you know of any any shops that have a decent variety of them, please let me know.

I also need to get curtains for the apartment. They will need to be custom made. Can you or anyone else recommend a shop that carries a wide variety of drapery, and will also make the curtains? Is 'blackout' fabric available here? We need to have blackout for our bedroom which is too light at night.

Is it possible to rent a sewing machine here? Or buy one second hand?

I bought one of those pulley type clothes lines from Rathnas and they gave me a number to call for someone to come and install it, but every time I call, I just get 3 beeps and it cuts off. Any suggestions?

Thanks everyone.

Nick-H · Dec 8th, 2007, 12:03

...call from a different phone? put 00 in front of it? put 0091 in front of it? I get utterly confused about calling numbers from the cell phone. Land line (BSNL, at least) seems to be less of a challenge.

Larger cotton towels: You could go for the kind of thing that I wear around my waist for slobbing around the house all day. Clothes shops sell these, even road-side stalls. I went with Mrs N three days ago to bulk-buy saris and stuff for her to give as presents to invitees to her son's wedding. We went to a street in Old Washermanpet (love the name) that was all clothes shops, and I noticed a few stalls selling the towels.

It's a bit daft that, although it is sometime since I moved South, I still don't know the Adyar/Thiruvanmiyur shops so well, but I'm sure you'd find such a shop in Latice Bridge Road.

Curtains, not sure. We just had some blinds made: we ordered for three rooms: one is ok, one is not good workmanship, the other they couldn't supply what we wanted and we didn't go back again. That was a place in Kutchery Road, Mylapore. We've got a card for somewhere else, but I've lost it.

I know there is a curtain shop in Cathedral Road, not sure exactly where, approximately, I think near the Sheraton Hotel there, opposite side.

If you are looking for very classy stuff with higher price tags, then, not so far away from Cathedral Road (other side of Gemini Roundabout) is Nungambakam, which is good for expensive shops.

Sewing machine must be possible, but I don't know where.

Nick-H · Dec 8th, 2007, 12:11

la-z-boy? I see recliners of this name at exhibitions.

Their site says the have a dealer in Bangalore, Stanley Furniture.

I wonder if that is any relative of the Stanley leather shop in Nungambakam. I had this recommended for high-class leather car seat covers, but they do furniture too. I'll put up the link if I can find it. They do have a website.

BTW... I think there's an "Interiors/Exteriors" exhibition due in January. Sometimes these exhibitions are good; often they are rubbish. Gets me out of the house!

Nick-H · Dec 8th, 2007, 12:15

Stanley Boutique

mirjamd · Dec 9th, 2007, 18:08

For those looking for furniture, I have a great tip. There's a place on Royapettah High Road which sells second hand wooden furniture. It looks like a big dump, but once you hunt a bit inside you can find the best teak- and rosewood furniture. They polish it and transport it to your house. We picked up a teakwood four shelf glassdoor cabinet, a lovely chettinad dressing table, a bed and two side tables for 20,000 Rs. The place is next to Jayabharatham furniture and opposite Pilot theatre and is called Mani and Co.

Nick-H · Dec 9th, 2007, 18:39

Thanks for the reminder! I think we'll pay another visit to that place.

Have to say that when we went before, the things we were looking for were too expensive.

Mr.C · Dec 9th, 2007, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

I know there is a curtain shop in Cathedral Road, not sure exactly where, approximately, I think near the Sheraton Hotel there, opposite side.

I think you're talking about Kalpadruma. I'd recommend the place if you've got a bit of time to spend. They tend to delay your order by at least a week. Apart from that, they're quite good.

Address:
Kalpadruma
72, Cathedral Road
Opp. Hotel Chola Sheraton,
Chennai. 600086
Phone : 044-28117652, 28111695

Nick-H · Dec 9th, 2007, 20:22

I don't remember the name, but the address sounds about right. Thanks.

Delaying your order by a week?

Pretty speedy people then, compared with many businesses around here!

Any other comment on their available selection, quality, prices etc would be useful

Trini · Dec 10th, 2007, 01:18

Went to Stanley Boutique - lovely furniture and lovelier prices!! They say that they do not give discounts but will negotiate a price!!!! Love it! Can anyone tell me an average percentage that I could beat them down??

Nick-H · Dec 10th, 2007, 01:50

Great! So you've discovered Nungambakam then.

If you're a clothes buyer, that could be a seriously expensive thing to do

I have no idea about prices, I think that kind of furniture is out of my league. Or at the very top end of it. Would be interested to know how much they are talking. How does it compare with similar stuff outside India?

Trini · Dec 10th, 2007, 02:23

A Lazy Boy in the US is about US$2k I am told - they are asking IRS 34k here but I have seen similar at another shop for IRS 24k.

Good fun looking anyway!!!

Which is the best Marks & Spencers?? Went to one today - not cheap either!! Again - fun looking and looking is for free!!!

Nick-H · Dec 10th, 2007, 02:33

There is only one, and you must have found it!

You could use the cheaper shop as the bargaining point. But go for whichever you think will be best quality. It's too easy to end up with a bargain that falls apart.

It's not impossible to end up with something expensive that falls apart either!

Firstclass · Aug 7th, 2008, 06:12

Thanks for the Stanley Link...
I am planning to bring a shift knob and a steering wheel to Chennai to cover it with new and leather ....

i hope stanley is inexpensive in this kind of individual work

Nick-H · Aug 7th, 2008, 09:29

I would doubt it very much

!

There are all the motor shops around General Patters Road; you might find something cheaper there. Not sure if there is a better area for leather work; I have a nagging suspicion I've forgotten somewhere!

Don't let me put you off asking Stanley --- but I'd expect boutique prices.

Firstclass · Aug 7th, 2008, 16:35

Okay then i am gonna try it at General Patters Road. Thanks

Dec 8th, 2007, 12:03	#17
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	...call from a different phone? put 00 in front of it? put 0091 in front of it? I get utterly confused about calling numbers from the cell phone. Land line (BSNL, at least) seems to be less of a challenge. Larger cotton towels: You could go for the kind of thing that I wear around my waist for slobbing around the house all day. Clothes shops sell these, even road-side stalls. I went with Mrs N three days ago to bulk-buy saris and stuff for her to give as presents to invitees to her son's wedding. We went to a street in Old Washermanpet (love the name) that was all clothes shops, and I noticed a few stalls selling the towels. It's a bit daft that, although it is sometime since I moved South, I still don't know the Adyar/Thiruvanmiyur shops so well, but I'm sure you'd find such a shop in Latice Bridge Road. Curtains, not sure. We just had some blinds made: we ordered for three rooms: one is ok, one is not good workmanship, the other they couldn't supply what we wanted and we didn't go back again. That was a place in Kutchery Road, Mylapore. We've got a card for somewhere else, but I've lost it. I know there is a curtain shop in Cathedral Road, not sure exactly where, approximately, I think near the Sheraton Hotel there, opposite side. If you are looking for very classy stuff with higher price tags, then, not so far away from Cathedral Road (other side of Gemini Roundabout) is Nungambakam, which is good for expensive shops. Sewing machine must be possible, but I don't know where. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Dec 8th, 2007, 10:35	#16
Trini Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Trinidad and Tobago Posts: 42	No, not paper towels - am trying to stay away from that as I agree, they are expensive and environmentally unfriendly too. I have seen tea towels but they are really small. I am looking for a 2 seater lazy boy type settee and a 1 seater lazy boy matching - American style furniture. If you know of any any shops that have a decent variety of them, please let me know. I also need to get curtains for the apartment. They will need to be custom made. Can you or anyone else recommend a shop that carries a wide variety of drapery, and will also make the curtains? Is 'blackout' fabric available here? We need to have blackout for our bedroom which is too light at night. Is it possible to rent a sewing machine here? Or buy one second hand? I bought one of those pulley type clothes lines from Rathnas and they gave me a number to call for someone to come and install it, but every time I call, I just get 3 beeps and it cuts off. Any suggestions? Thanks everyone.

Dec 8th, 2007, 12:11	#18
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	la-z-boy? I see recliners of this name at exhibitions. Their site says the have a dealer in Bangalore, Stanley Furniture. I wonder if that is any relative of the Stanley leather shop in Nungambakam. I had this recommended for high-class leather car seat covers, but they do furniture too. I'll put up the link if I can find it. They do have a website. BTW... I think there's an "Interiors/Exteriors" exhibition due in January. Sometimes these exhibitions are good; often they are rubbish. Gets me out of the house!

Dec 8th, 2007, 12:15	#19
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	Stanley Boutique

Dec 9th, 2007, 18:08	#20
mirjamd Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 337	For those looking for furniture, I have a great tip. There's a place on Royapettah High Road which sells second hand wooden furniture. It looks like a big dump, but once you hunt a bit inside you can find the best teak- and rosewood furniture. They polish it and transport it to your house. We picked up a teakwood four shelf glassdoor cabinet, a lovely chettinad dressing table, a bed and two side tables for 20,000 Rs. The place is next to Jayabharatham furniture and opposite Pilot theatre and is called Mani and Co.

Dec 9th, 2007, 18:39	#21
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	Thanks for the reminder! I think we'll pay another visit to that place. Have to say that when we went before, the things we were looking for were too expensive.

Dec 9th, 2007, 20:22	#23
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	I don't remember the name, but the address sounds about right. Thanks. Delaying your order by a week? Pretty speedy people then, compared with many businesses around here! Any other comment on their available selection, quality, prices etc would be useful

Dec 10th, 2007, 01:18	#24
Trini Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Trinidad and Tobago Posts: 42	Went to Stanley Boutique - lovely furniture and lovelier prices!! They say that they do not give discounts but will negotiate a price!!!! Love it! Can anyone tell me an average percentage that I could beat them down??

Dec 10th, 2007, 01:50	#25
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	Great! So you've discovered Nungambakam then. If you're a clothes buyer, that could be a seriously expensive thing to do I have no idea about prices, I think that kind of furniture is out of my league. Or at the very top end of it. Would be interested to know how much they are talking. How does it compare with similar stuff outside India?

Dec 10th, 2007, 02:23	#26
Trini Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Trinidad and Tobago Posts: 42	A Lazy Boy in the US is about US$2k I am told - they are asking IRS 34k here but I have seen similar at another shop for IRS 24k. Good fun looking anyway!!! Which is the best Marks & Spencers?? Went to one today - not cheap either!! Again - fun looking and looking is for free!!!

Dec 10th, 2007, 02:33	#27
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	There is only one, and you must have found it! You could use the cheaper shop as the bargaining point. But go for whichever you think will be best quality. It's too easy to end up with a bargain that falls apart. It's not impossible to end up with something expensive that falls apart either!

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Aug 7th, 2008, 06:12	#28
Firstclass Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Munich - Chennai from Oct 08 Posts: 68	Thanks for the Stanley Link... I am planning to bring a shift knob and a steering wheel to Chennai to cover it with new and leather .... i hope stanley is inexpensive in this kind of individual work

Aug 7th, 2008, 09:29	#29
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	I would doubt it very much ! There are all the motor shops around General Patters Road; you might find something cheaper there. Not sure if there is a better area for leather work; I have a nagging suspicion I've forgotten somewhere! Don't let me put you off asking Stanley --- but I'd expect boutique prices.

Aug 7th, 2008, 16:35	#30
Firstclass Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Munich - Chennai from Oct 08 Posts: 68	Okay then i am gonna try it at General Patters Road. Thanks