The General Trading Company

This place is an old Chelsea institution, although the atmophere is less unique since they moved into a modern new space from their old rabbit-​warren around the corner.
Basically, they sell three things:
— expensive vintage European (not really antique) Asian and European furniture and accessories (leather elephants, pond yachts, stone Buddhas)
–Serious home things — porcelain, framed prints, soaps and fine linens, all with a fairly traditional style
— All manner of gifty things, especially at Christmas — joke books, small toys, decorations, silver picture frames, scented candles
A good place to come and look for presents, or a nineteenth century brass telescope on a tripod at a 300% markup. There’s also a nice relaxed café/​restaurant where you can read the papers and ponder your next shopping stop.

This place is an old Chelsea institution, although the atmophere is less unique since they moved into a modern new space from their old rabbit-​warren around the corner.
Basically, they sell three things:
— expensive vintage European (not really antique) Asian and European furniture and accessories (leather armchairs, side-​tables, elephants carved from driftwood, pond yachts, stone Buddhas)
–Serious home things — porcelain, lamps, framed prints, soaps and fine linens, all with a fairly traditional style
— All manner of gifty things, especially at Christmas — joke books, small toys, decorations, silver picture frames, scented candles…
A good place to come and look for presents, or a nineteenth century brass telescope on a tripod at a 300% markup.
(Update — the café has gone)

It’s always a delight to come into this shop. There’s such a grandness to it… and all the home furnishings and decorative merchandise feels really solid — like there’s a traditional English sturdiness to everything; nothing too fragile to withstand a lifetime of use.
I consider GTO a sure bet for gifts — or when I’m just in the mood to purchase something lovely for my own sheer enjoyment. It seems as if the buyers here really scour… the product assortment is classic, but usually with a interesting twist… almost everything they have on offer is something distinctive and really worth having.
The products run the gamut of home furnishings… vases, dishes, accent pillows, hard bound books… even bath and body products. I’m especially a fan of their glassware… it’s all very sturdy and uniquely decorated — I once found some very elegant, very masculine, tan-​coloured tumblers that looked like they’d be at home in the hand of James Bond — the guy who got them thought they were marvelous. They also have a charming card and stationary section… really different and lovely.