Small but seriously good stock. Retro rehab is in the business of sourcing predominantly Australian…read moremid century designs and lovingly restoring them to brand spanking new. "Occasional" furniture .....I think is furniture you don't use ALL the time......but more than NONE of the time...........making its use ......occasional. Anyway they stock some cute occasional furniture, good for adding a little retro love to a room. I have found their pricing to be lower than that of the larger vintage traders which makes the pieces more accessible for a younger market. There are the larger/$$ pieces of furniture but also a selection of smaller, affordable bric a brac straight from the kitchens and lounge rooms of the 60's. Its new and its on the 112 tram, worth a visit.

The crew at Finer Art Services are totally awesome. They can frame anything and are particularly…read moregood with textiles which require very special treatment. I recommend these guys to everyone!

I am so happy with Brotherhood of St Laurence books, I ordered some books but was watching my…read morespending as I am on a pension, but I wanted books for my Grandkids, so I ordered some and B of St L went above and beyond and added books so I had whole sets, I am absolutely thrilled and I can't thank you enough

Spacious store with a lot of variety and quality items.read more

Tucked down a side street from RMIT's maddening architecture, Melbourne Artist Supplies can feel a…read morelittle like a bat cave. The artificial light contrasts with the sunshine streaming in the roller door, so your eyes may take a second to adjust to the wonder that awaits. All manner of art and craft supplies inside, with friendly staff who know what they're talking about. The prices march the quality, and every now and again a sale will have the place crawling with crafty types.

Some nice decorative papers and gift cards. They also have Moleskine and Posca products I use. More…read moreexpensive than other shops but a pretty good range. This is a good shop if you are looking for a gift for someone and you don't know what to get for them.

If you're about to give a special gift to someone and you want it to knock their socks off before…read morethey've even opened it - head here for their gift wrap. There's so much of it and it's gorgeous. The kind of paper that I desire to hoard for a special occasion...even though I know I'll completely forget about and put another gift in one of those tacky bags that I forgot to throw away from the last time someone gave me a present. Oops. The card range is enormous and completely omits the creepy crap you find at supermarkets and newsagents. Unfortunately for my friends, I'm also really into gifting those for a laugh. But if you're a better person than I, you'll find something pretty and thoughtful here. There's also some nice gifty items, notebooks and other stationary. One of the nicest paper/gift card stores in Melbourne.

Beautiful vintage mid-century furniture, incredible retro lamps, an unparalleled selection of…read morevintage Playboy and Esquire magazines and more, Northcote's Retro-Active is the holy grail of vintage shops. Sure, a sixties armchair will set you back a cool $1800 but for dedicated window shoppers, serious collectors and more, Retro-Active is quite possibly the best vintage boutique in Northcote. If not one of Melbourne's best. I spotted a gorgeous rosewood shelving unit at around $1100 which is a lot, but when compared to the prices at bog standard high street furniture shops, impeccable design of a good vintage like this doesn't seem all that pricey. Staff are friendly and helpful, the shop is full of great stock without feeling like a museum and Retro-Active's buyer clearly knows their stuff. All in all an incredible little spot for vintage.

An appreciation for high quality modernist design and "retro" furnishings make this store a must…read morefor avid collectors of mid century design. Its uncluttered selection allows the store to be viewed more as a comfortable gallery than retail store. High quality accessories and selective danish furniture are cleverly arranged to feel inviting and allow the visitor to visualise practical home arrangements. The store also has a high kitsch factor with a strong 60's beach blanket vibe. There are vintage Playboy magazines, records, surf and chrome wheel memorabilia, lamps and interesting crockery. A standout feature was the Lea Stein brooches. Adorable jewellery, however I have seen similar in Chapel St Bazaar for slightly less $$. The furniture pricing is relatively high but the stock is unique and of good quality. Interesting for a browse or next "investment" piece.

If you live in Carlton North, Brunswick or Fitzroy North, then Barkly Square Shopping Centre is an…read moreabsolute godsend if you want to shop frugally for your weekly/big shop. It pretty much has everything you need irrespective of what you are after. There are a few supermarkets with a Coles and a Woollies. There is also a butchers and a seafood place that often have higher quality and better value fresh meat and seafood than the supermarkets have to offer. That solves the problem where you are usually let down by supermarkets. The KMart is absolutely massive, so you can just about find everything you need. Did I mention a liquor land too?The only thing it is really missing is a Bunnings. Nevertheless with so much parking and fairly late opening hours, this is a winner. Way cheaper than shopping at Piedemonte's.

Oh how I love Sparkly Bear! It's the little suburban shopping centre that has everything you need -…read moremultiple supermarkets, Kmart, grocers, butchers, a baker, pharmacy, bottle shops, a $2 shop and even a massage parlor. Personally, I think Sparkly Bear is one of Melbourne's ultimate hangover destinations - you can stuff yourself with McDonalds and then get a head massage before popping into one of Sydney Road's many pubs for a hair of the dog. But it's also good for doing extra big shops, preferably hangover free. As a Carlton resident, Barkly Square is the easiest place to get life's dull essentials like buckets or shower curtains (don't even mention the QV BigW - it's a nightmare!). The car park is big and not too anger-inducing because it is easily accessed without having to deal with the Sydney Road traffic. First hour parking is free!

Quirky, colourful and so much fun - would be my description of this busy little shop that never…read morefails to get my attention. It's one of those stores that you need some time to browse and take everything in because there are so many little things to look, feel and experience. Check out the clever little gimmicks such as the stacking Babushka doll measuring cups, the matching measuring spoons and the more recent water carafe. Other interesting décor items include bird cages, bird motif frames and elegant candles stands and candelabras. Gizmo Gifts also has a wide ranges of kid's toys, quirky non-slip socks and slogan t-shirts plus humorous collectibles for the big kid in you. Every time I step into this store, I end up buying something that I really love so if you're in the market for a unique gift idea, Gizmo might have exactly what you're looking for.

This is one of those stores that if you don't like crowds, then don't go there on Christmas Eve…read more This is a tiny little gift buyer's paradise. There is everything from novelty mugs to calendars, to adult toys to key chains, scented candles and wacky mouse pads. The aroma as you walk in, is a fusion of bubble wrap and vanilla incense or whatever cheap incense they seem to be burning. I'm really not a fan of these stores - this is like the epitome of commercialism, I'm surprised that Christmas doesn't own it. This place is like an up-market $2 shop. Most of the products aren't made in china, so they cost you an arm and a leg - but unfortunately it's still worthless crap. Maybe I'm being a bit offensive, especially to those who have a "Magpies supporters only" parking sign in front of their house. If you don't, and you enjoy worthless crap, now you know the place to find it!