Aptos Cruz is a must-do experience for anyone who enjoys good design, fine art, or generally just…read morevalues their domestic space. Located in the picturesque Adelaide Hills, the building and location alone are reason enough to get you there. They have a rotating display of fine art by predominantly South Australian artists as well as furniture by renowned designers, some beautiful jewellery and home decor to suit just about every taste. Admittedly, it is a shop which has 'disposable income' written all over it. Even if this is a concept you're unfamiliar with there's no harm in having a wishful window shop, or attending an exhibition opening just to soak in a little aesthetic perfection. Oh - and there is a room dedicated to books too, most of which are big, shiny and destined for wealthy people's coffee tables.

A mix between a gallery that plays host to both established and up-and-coming artists, and modern…read morehomeware store. Stepping in here it's like being inside a interior designer's heaven for 2012. There's furniture from design houses like Denmark's Fritz Hansen (purveyor of the Egg Chair). You'll find interesting conceptual lighting ideas, outdoor furniture, and something that looks like the flying carpet from Aladdin.

Décor Matters is a strange shop. It sells such an eclectic mix of items it is hard to classify what…read moreit actually is. Outside the shop there are garden ornaments, mostly animal statues- just incase you can't have pets, clothes, Christmas decorations, a jewellery holder and wine bottles holders. Yes I warned you it was a strange shop. The wine bottle holders are definitely the highlight. They are handmade metal sculptures, mostly people that cleverly hold your wine bottles. They sell the exact same ones down the street at Oscar's, but Décor sells them for less than half the price. My favourites were the one shaped like an old school car and another that was two cartoon chefs. I think these would make a great present for dad (or yourself). In one room of the shop there was random stuff- basically a mixture of what is outside and more. Statues, book holders and yeh... things. The other room for some reason is mainly children's toys. Yes children's toys, just in case the shop didn't have enough different items. There is a cheap lucky dip for kids, toy cars and wooden blocks.

Decor Matters is probably one of the 'not-so-spectacular' shops in Hahndorf. It's not typically…read moreGerman and sells a mix of home- and garden decorations. There are a couple of nice things, but since it's located in one of the most prominent tourist destinations around Adelaide, prices are too high in my opinion for what it actually is. If you're after a new vase, candles or pots, you better try Magill Road or elsewhere. Head to Hahndorf for some German souvenirs or food.

Knick knacks!! and so many different kinds!! Ah Stylehouse, when you walk in it's like being in…read morethis peaceful shopping heaven that smells really nice with perfect room temperature. It's one of those stores where you can spend 15 minutes browsing out the front only to walk in and think, gosh, I need to come here on a day trip! You need it, you name it and its there! jewelery, clothing, pillows, candles, perfume mists, lamps, frames, ornaments more jewelery: Stylehouse covers everything you could possibly want for around the home or around yourself! I guess the downfall is that this stuff doesn't come for free, not even nearly free - no bargains to be found here is what I'm saying. But I still love it, even if I personally cant afford anything, it's fun to browse and try all the pillow scents on your arm (yes, they have perfume for pillows). Quite simply, they have everything! sad that everything has to come at such a high price.

Positioned across the road from the Aldgate Pump Hotel and away from the general shopping strip,…read moresits this hillbilly looking shop from the outside. But on the inside it's all whole new world of modern home decor, which is sure to keep you occupied for a while. A good range of homewares, accessories, definitely lots of gift ideas, apparel and one label in particular is popping up everywhere I go called 'I love my clothes' love spelt with a red heart. It's comfortable, cotton, flowy styles and funky colours or plain to suit either taste. A few really interesting wall ornaments and an awesome put together tree ornament, which I thought was cast iron but once picked up it's actually light weight. On my travels I made yet another purchase here of a pair of perforated black oblong leaf style earing and I don't even usually wear earings but felt like I had to take something away with me. There were several other items I could've taken with me also but out of budget range. Don't go past this place on your travels through the hills, especially Aldgate...share the love as they need it....as Stirling is being loved alot.

I'm a sucker for a bit of aesthetics and this store must be owned by an interior decorator. Modern…read moreand with enthusiastic flare for the creative Terrace has a awesome range of flooring and other bibs and bobs. Offering wool, rugs and flooring solutions they will custom service a design for you. As I need a rug this is what I will get. So many here though having a bit of trouble choosing.

From the owner: At Terrace we aim to involve the client in the process of choosing and customising their flooring &…read morefurniture selections. We strongly believe in the products we represent and realise considered design concepts take time. Our ranges include Armadillo rugs and Ethnicraft furniture, along with a wide variety of flooring brands and options to suit your needs.

So, I live in the hills and often drive down Milan Terrace to avoid traffic in Stirling…read more Recently I noticed a store pop up in a house. Super cute front, looking like a welcoming little cottage. It kind of draws you in. I kept thinking, "Oooo what is in there?" Finally, I drove past on a day where I had a little spare time to kill. So in I went. And I am glad I did. This store offers a range of homewares, jewellery, furniture and crockery that are really suited to my taste. It is all kind of pop art influenced. Bright coloured or pastel coloured items. There are some really funky display plates sold here. I know, most display plates are for old ladies and have horrible arrangements of flowers on them. But the ones in this store featured really bright coloured butterflies and cross-stitched patterned prints of reindeer. You will see in the photos I have uploaded. Not to mention all the very affordable art prints of the legend herself Fida Kahlo. Nice! I know for most Adelaideians it is a trek to the hills, but next time you stop for say the Stirling Laneways or Markets. Drop by here, you will be pleasantly surprised.

Apart from the slightly droll implications of calling it Mecca, a beauty and skincare store that…read moreallows a woman to make an appointment to come in and have her face painted is not such a bad thing. Many women enjoy the 'make over' element of having the right foundation, blush, eye shadow and lipstick, but do not have the money to build up a cache of makeup when they're not really using it all that often. One wouldn't necessarily be wanting to use foundation all the time or applying eye shadow every day, it simply isn't very practical. Obviously some jobs require the added enhancement of makeup, but not all. If you were working in a laundry you wouldn't feel any great need to be made up with cosmetics every day would you? Possibly if you were working in a shop or as a receptionist or as a bank manager or teller you may feel it is par for the course to wear some makeup, just so you look that extra bit fresh even when you are not feeling quite so fresh. Mecca Cosmetica is an outlet for some very vivid cosmetics, but I am drawn to it as a business because I am told it is a nice treat. You see I don't go and get myself made up, as much as I may need some sort of cosmetic enhancement, I shy away from it being a male. My grandchildren may feel strong enough to get around wearing eye liner and blush, but today's young men are definitely more adventurous that I ever was in that department. I myself have been informed in this particular instance that the service provided by Mecca Cosmetica is a "treat and a half", "a real splurge out" and "essential if you don't know what to do with cosmetics to save your life" and I am inclined to believe the advice I've had imparted to me. I do know that when I worked in television on various TV series and in movies there was quite a lot of time spent in the makeup chair for relatively little effect, which was the desired outcome. The difference in real life for a woman is she can learn a lot by having someone apply her makeup for her, to deliberately make her look made up, coloured, enhanced; however you want to put it. Once the lessons are learnt they can be utilised without the luxury of having someone do it for you. We all know a little bit of self indulgence can be a good thing from time to time as long as it doesn't get you into trouble. If you and four friends want to be indulged in an evening of sppecial treatment and crash course of education it will cost you $100.00 each which may seem a lot at a glance to some, and will not seem too much to others obviously; what is the value of self grooming and knowing what to do with the cosmetics you bother to purchase? I suspect this is a fairly reasonable price for a working woman, and we all know how easy it is to then share secrects with our nearest and dearest, don't we women?

8/01/2012 It's always really awkward for me trying to talk…read moreabout make-up. I mean...how do I share with the rest of Yelp (and maybe the public user) that: 1. This is only the second EVER cosmetic store I have ever been to in my ENTIRE life... and 2. It was SO bad that when you normally have the ability to think on your feet and answer spontaneous and tough questions, you were asked by the shop assistant what my "lady friend" specifically likes in make-up, you were absolutely stumped on the spot! (I mean...I should be alright in the field of make-up, right?...Boy, have I never been more wrong in my life!) Awkward confessions aside, Mecca Cosmetica was the most informative, and comfortable beauty&cosmetics store I have ever been to. (Well, yes, out of the two shops so far. Give me a break! I'm still a rookie!) Mecca Cosmetica had fantastic service! While I was the only other living and breathing customer in the store I quickly gained courage to ask her to introduce me to this new world of make-up! She effortlessly introduced me to the lipstick colours of orange, red, and even recommended purple as the new trendy colour for nails! I must say, really...the quality of the lipstick and nail colour was clear and pretty to look at! I figured I might as well enjoy the free ride. But she laughed at me as she knew that this wasn't my element when she kept asking questions, until I told her, "I have no idea what I'm doing here. I feel like I'm on a shopping spree in Sex In the City, except I'm Mr Big, not Carrie Bradshaw." I'm still not sure how I managed to survive half an hour here! So here's a TIP: Guys, when visiting any make-up store, ask a female friend to come along with you. For the ladies, if you want the best make-up in Adelaide CBD, go and step inside Mecca Cosmetica on your next trip to Rundle Mall...especially if you want friendly & educational customer service, coupled with the best beauty & cosmetic products from USA and Europe!