Igigi General Stores looks and feels like a boutique shop you'd stumble across in Paris…read more There's a spiral staircase which leads to a cafe and the walls have been stripped back to reveal original details of the building. As for their stock, they specialise in expensive, antique chairs, daybeds, cupboards and chaise longues. The cosy size of the store means there's usually only one of each on display but the owners clearly have access to more as they also offer a home-styling and bespoke furniture service. As well as unique pieces of classic furniture, they sell lovely linen, tableware, glasses, bowls, chopping boards, cake stands, candles and toiletries. It's an enchanting space but I suspect if I took items home they wouldn't look quite as special as they do in the store! I also find the fact everything's white, cream or wood a little bland. Like Pedro Almodovar, I love splashes of bold colour and Igigi is devoid of them.

Igigi General Stores has a really nice, homey atmosphere - a great shop to come into out of the…read morerain. The home décor and natural gift ideas came in a grey, beige and wooden theme. Handmade soaps, bath and shower gels, china and dishware, napkins and placemats, candles and vases were all in these natural colours and had a nice earthy feel. Wooden items included functional pieces like coat-hangers as well as decorative figurines - mostly hand painted animals. Men's fashions were displayed in the basement, although women's fashions have been moved a few doors down on Western Street. I didn't venture into the café upstairs, but from glancing in, it had the same homey/earthy feel. I'm guessing healthy organic yummies, but will venture back this week to check it out. Igigi is a bit expensive for gifts, but they're unique and high quality - I recommend checking it out.

Abode is the perfect place to find homeware gifts for a loved one…read more Or for a loved one to find gifts for you! Situated about halfway down Kensington Gardens, it's charming boutique store that has lovely side tables, console tables, room dividers, fringe panels, floor lamps, table lamps, pigeon lights, marimekko fabrics, wall stickers, mirrors and luxury bedding. If you already have everything you need in the lounge and bedroom department, they also sell gorgeous kitchen and bath accessories from china, glasses, tea-pots and coasters to candles, soaps and towels. Don't know if they still have any in stock, but last time I went in I fell in love with the wicker bulls head and the Ibride ostrich console table.

Abode is a lovely little lifestyle boutique, which sells all sorts of fancy things for your home…read more Scented candles, velvet cushion covers, vases and more are laid out in uncluttered, attractive displays around the shop. They also sell small items of furniture, including some really classy wooden side tables and stools. Christmas is by far the best time to visit the store, as they have all sorts of beautiful decorations for your tree. They have a gorgeous selection, including gold Christmas trees and stars as well as some really beautiful glass decorations in the shape of parrots and other pretty birds. I bought a few last year in turquoise, white and gold and they really transformed my tree! In fact, they're so lovely that I've hung them up in my bedroom all year. Abode is a shop full of things you'd rarely buy yourself...quirky light fittings, gilded bird cages and some really delicate chinaware. It is almost impossible to walk around without starting a mental wish-list, making it the perfect place to start your Christmas list, whilst picking up a few gifts yourself! You can even create your wedding list at Abode! NB. Everything feels a bit delicate, so it's not a great place to bring the kids!

I like this branch of Cargo and usually come out with something. The goods are temptingly displayed…read moreand they have a good range of gift ideas as well as the normal funiture, kitchen utensils and home decor. I was strong & ignored the Christmas decorations (I usually succumb) but bought some prezzies and was strongly attracted to some of vases, great for Christmas twigs & lights. In the summer they have really unusual outdoor furniture & accessories. I have a Cargo discount card which gives 10% off, I was given it free sometime ago but I think they may cost £5 now. Still worth it if you are going to buy furniture. Staff are always helful.

I went to this shop recently to look at the bedroom furniture. I was quite disappointed as it…read moreseemed to be badly put together, with doors not shutting very well. However whilst I was there I saw loads of original ideas for christmas presents. If I was not for the fact I have finished mine I would probably have got quite a few! They had some lovely rugs, but despite having them on display was told they were out of stock for a few weeks?? I would definately recommend a walk around this shop if you are stuck for ideas for presents.

Jugs is an ambitious name for a shop in Brighton and after sprinting across the road and nearly…read moregetting run over thinking I'd be able to buy some interesting DVDs, I realised it is in fact a furniture shop. (Just Interesting Gifts) If you want to turn your living room into something straight out of Slumdog Millionaire then this is the place for you. Beautiful carvings, pottery and lamps etc that would really set a place off. All the products are imported from sources abroad so definately haven't been knocked up in some hippies garage so if you want something authentic and original, this is the place for you.

I love the little carvings in this shop. Not because I would want them in my own home though, but…read morebecause they make a great tongue in cheek offering as a housewarming present or token gift. Is that wrong? From a monkey face carved into a tree stump to an elephant wine bottle holder, you're certainly not going to be trumped by your average Habitat gift bearer now are you?

The first things I noticed upon entering Florentin (other than the delicious smell! It could have…read morebeen a bakery...) were the douvet slippers in a basket on the floor. I immediately wanted to put them on and curl up in front of a fireplace somewhere. They were the cosiest things I've ever seen. Other slippers - the knit variety - were close by, but the majority of things on display on the ground floor were stuffed animals in various genres. The best was the large deer head mounted on the wall - a tongue-in-cheek approach to taking the violence out of such images. The basement contained clothing - mostly skirts and dressier tops - with sale items left for the far, back room. In here were cheaper articles of clothing and a few stragglers on shelves. I was confused by the knit egg-cosies...I think mine are doing alright in the carton.

Maybe I caught this place on a good say, but I couldn't believe the value of some of the designer…read moreclothes in here! Replete with plenty of trendy items (and a no bags downstairs policy) Florentin is the quintessential, upmarket Brighton clothes store. While Dirty Harry's and To Be Worn Again are rocking the second hand world, Florentin stocks one of a kind items that are brand new and immensely stylish. If you can't get it in your size, you'll have to hang your head and sigh. The jacket I picked up was marked down from the £100+ mark to (get this) £25! I was ecstatic, as not only did it look uniquely amazing, but it smelt fantastic, and think that the fact I can't do it up its so small just makes it that bit more awesome! Anyway... enough rambling about that, Florentin stocks caters for all audiences with a mix of men and women's clothing and accessories. You can find bags and shoes as well as immense jackets, and while the slightly haphazard layout may irritate some, it makes it a great place to do some window shopping, and maybe walk away with a great buy if you're lucky.

If you are looking for really relaxed sophisticated furniture with personality Mufti is the place…read moreto go. They just opened this store in Notting Hill, and they have the whole range of products from furniture, to small things for your home. They have an exquisite use of leather in their designs, I think its quite decadent, imagine they have this lovely chest drawer, in a really simple design, lined with the supplest toffee colored leather, if that's not a decadent piece of furniture I don't know what! They also sell at Harvey Nics, but this store really gives you a sense of what the whole Mufy lifestyle is about.

lots of beautiful unusual unique pieces. and they will make to measure…read more worth a visit.

Looking for a place to stock up on Halloween cards?…read more Head for Malarkey where you'll find hundreds of cool and kitsch greeting cards for every occasion. Since the shop is in Brighton you'd expect a bit of slap and tickle and the stock doesn't disapoint as it ranges from the fun to the filthy. They also sell rude and colourful wrapping paper and daft presents like comedy voodoo dolls, water-pistols and party games. Anyone need a selection of plastic moustaches?

A friend and I were searching for some wacky posters, prints or other such bedroom accessories to…read moreenliven the walls of his new home, when we came across Malarkey, a crazy little avant-garde store in the North Laines area. This place is littered with an insane collection of items ranging from the useful, to the amusing, to the downright vulgar. You'll find comical postcards, greeting cards, wrapping paper, toys for cats, and gift bags, as well as somewhat less essential novelty items, like a 'Do it yourself cure for erectile dysfunction', or a £15 'Nose shower gel dispenser', which, like it sounds, is basically a giant nose, that dispenses shower gel. I thought Malarkey was a really fun store and we had a great time riffling through the treasure-trove assortment of items on display. It's certainly worth visiting if you want to relieve a bit of stress, just fancy a laugh, or want to get something a little different for a friend.

Alas, Graffiti is not a store devoted to street art and spraypaint…read more It's actually a tiny stationary store that specialises in cute, cool and tasteful greeting cards, wrapping paper, journals and memo pads. They have cards with neat illustrations, black and white photos and neon signage as well as more traditional flowers, landscapes and cute hula hula girls. My personal favourite, is the kitsch range of knitted Marilyn, Elvis and James Dean cards. Oh and the naked gal in the martini glass of course!

I used to really enjoy making my own cards and I never ever bought them- it just felt so impersonal…read moreand such a waste of money. That was back when I had time for leisurely arts and crafts days. These days, I inhabit a different world and subsequently I suddenly love a good card shop! I especially like a card shop with a proper selection. There's something really satisfying about taking your time to peruse the shelves and take in the full selection. I know most people don't take great pains over the selection of a birthday card, but since I no longer have the energy to make my own but still want a personal touch, I am really particular about it. Graffiti is great for my purposes because it seems to specialize in pretty, arty cards with floral designs and illustrations of birds etc. on the front. Just my cup of tea. They also have a variety of art cards, which use prints and designs from collections at the V&A among other galleries. If you're not after a flowery, girly card- don't worry, there's plenty of others to choose from. They also sell lovely printed wrapping paper and although the prices make me flinch, I usually can't resist! All round, a much more interesting and tasteful selection of cards and stationary than you're likely to find at Clinton's!