At a certain point in your twenties you move on from buying silly shoes and dresses and are more…read moreattracted to homewares and furniture. I think it is sadly one of the first signs of officially becoming an 'adult', and it's stores like Tait that don't help this change. This cutesy little store on Johnston street could easily be missed if you didn't know what you were searching, but once you get here you'll be calculating how much money is still left on your credit card. If you're decking out your backyard, or even inside and you're looking for something different and quirky, Tait is for you. They stock gorgeous designer furniture and lifestyle products with a great deal of it coming from local designers. So forget Ikea! Who wants to build their own furniture anyway? Nothing says summer like an obnoxiously bright umbrella for your backyard and thankfully Tait Outdoor has got some in stock.

One of Johnston Street's best, Tait Outdoor sells an incredible range of outdoor furniture and…read moreaccessories that are most definitely mid-century inspired design-wise but are also thoroughly cutting edge and contemporary. Selling pieces by designers such as Adam Goodrum, Justin Hutchison, Ross Gardam, Alastair Keating and more, Tait's aesthetic is colourful, simple and clean with classic monochromatic tables, chairs and loungers alongside the occasional Schiaparelli pink stool or sculptural cerise table. I know Tait's pieces aren't to everyone's liking, some finding them too bright and playful, but a visit to the Tait showroom on Johnston Street is almost like a visit to the National Gallery of Victoria's design wing. Prices are steep, with a big cushion sitting at around the $260 mark and industrial steel stools in myriad colours coming in at around $600 each, but if you love great Australian design, Tait Outdoor is the place to go.

My garden furniture collection may comprise an old dining table, a mouldy egg chair, a decrepid sun…read morelounger and an erstwhile futon bed that has been transformed into a sofa but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate some beautifully designed patio furniture. If I was going to clear the decks - so to speak - I would head to The Gallery Warehouse. A massive shop on Fitzroy's Johnston Street selling a wide range of indoor and outdoor teak furniture for what are ostensibly some very competitive prices. Selling pieces from The Gallery Warehouse's four collections: Winstons Teak, Premium In House, B Grade In House and Decking Tiles, if you're after a furniture retailer with countless different styles of sunloungers, benches, chairs and more, The Gallery Warehouse is a great bet.

I can whole heartedly recommend Thomas & Co. to anyone looking for something a little more unique…read morethan is ordinarily found in homewares stores in Australia. Beyond the vast (and eclectic) range of goods, the service from all staff is exceptional. They are truly willing to go well beyond expectations to make absolutely certain you are happy with your purchase. Having purchased a custom made Salon couch from these folks (that ended up not fitting in the house - long story, but the store is looking after the issue perfectly), I can honestly not sing their praises highly enough. I've read a few reviews from unhappy customers and simply can't understand how their situations arose - you'd really have to try to have a negative experience here.

Thomas Gannan is one of those great shops that just seems to attract people. From its clever window…read moredisplays and quirky products, it certainly seems to have a lot going on. And this is very true. The busy store carries a wide range of homeware - from dazzling lighting, jazzy cushions, trendy table matter, witty décor pieces and functional kitchen ware. It also has a lovely range of children's toys, room accessories and gifts. But more importantly, Thomas Gannan carries a good mix of exclusive Jardan sofas and stunning Arthur G lounges. It also features a selection of environmentally sustainable Australian timber furniture, which can be custom made to suit your needs. I've bought quite a few presents from this store and have always been impressed by the service. It's not often that a sales person asks whether you would like a new piece but they do here!

We purchased a Fireclay sink, the external diameters were what we needed, no where on their website…read moredid it explain that there was narrowing inside, the reason we bought this particular sink is because the Fireclay sink that is in the kitchen doesn't narrow, which rendered the item we purchased from Schots useless. The first response we received from Suzanne Karras who is supposed to be their Customer Service Manager was "As you did not seek further information from our staff to find out if this sink would meet your requirements prior to purchase we cannot be held liable for the incorrect purchase made by you". She also included a highlighted section of their website that said "Never construct cabinetry without first measuring your actual purchased sink" to which we responded "we have not constructed cabinetry without measuring the sink. We do not appreciate you making an assumption and find it extremely insulting, and we ask that you refrain from making such claims" After explaining again that it was not advertised to have narrowing, we received from Suzanne Karras "We are at a loss to understand why this sink that you have purchased does not meet your needs." After explaining it AGAIN, we were met again with an insulting assumption "As the internal dimensions of the sink is not listed on our website, it is a shame that you have assumed that it would fit your special requirements of needing to fit a certain size dehydrator tray without consulting and seeking advice from our trained staff that deal with these products to ensure that it would be suitable." After many many failed attempts to contact Suzanne Karras, and even after a request to speak with the owner Neville Schot, we were then met with "I have spoken to the Director Neville Schot and he has asked me to advise you that he will not be contacting you by phone to discuss this any further." The lack of BASIC customer service, tact and kindness from Suzanne Karras and Neville Schot is disgusting. Buyer beware!!!! However, I would like to thank the young woman from their Clifton Hill Head Office and Jeanna from there Moorabbin show room. These ladies certainly know how to give PROPER customer service.

Everything you need for renovating your period home…read more Schots is serious business for the stylish do it yourselfer. Multiple levels of decisions await you from knobs to knockers, furniture to fireplaces, tubs to tiles, doors to decor and so much more. There were plenty of staff available and importantly they were willing to help, even on a busy Saturday. If all that decision making leaves you needing to quench your thirst or stave of hunger pangs there is an on site cafe. I am yet to try it though.

Bohemio is a furniture store that sells everything in dark wood. Not to be confused with the word…read more'bohemian', a person who will not be likely be a customer of this store. But for those inner city yuppies out there with a like for dark wood and an Asian slant on furniture Bohemio is the go to place. Bohemio has a range furniture including dining tables, side tables, bookshelves, entertainment units, sideboards, coffee tables and beds amongst other things. The stock is traditionally made and is quality furniture. They have frequent sales and while not being cheap are not overly expensive for the quality of furniture.

As Gabriel P. has observed, Bohemio does an effusive line in furniture made out of very dark wood…read more Almost exclusively dark wood. In two words I would describe Bohemio's furniture quite simply as a) heavy, and b) dark. Prices are hugely reasonable with a giant dining table setting you back roughly $1,000 rather than the $2,500 upwards you'll fork out at Mark Tuckey or one of Johnston Street's other furniture retailers. In the sea of artfully distressed furniture shops on Johnston Street Bohemio definitely stands out for its vaguely different aesthetic. Sourced from around the world Bohemio's range of solid wood furniture has a definite Indonesian feel to it and if you like your furniture substantial with an exotic edge you'll probably buy into the look.

Unless you earn shitloads of money, Space furniture will be one of those furniture stores that…read moreyou'll meander through and then head straight out the door - feeling like shit. (Don't worry you can admit it and yes, you're not the only one) That being said, if you're into interior design/ industrial design then this one-stop design mecca will be like a dream come true for you. Imagine all your favourite designer brands like B&B Italia, Edra, Flos, Giorgetti, Kartell, Vitra, Moooi and Maxalto - all under one roof! I swear I die and go to heaven here everytime I step inside! Forget for a minute that the price tags will blow you away, if you've got some rich friends or really generous relatives, this is the perfect place to start a wishlist at. How about a bridal registry? My advice to shop at Space furniture is to choose one or two iconic pieces and then drop heavy hints around the time of your birthday with your awesome friends and family so you don't have to be the one paying the bill. Either that or you can start saving now and stop having that $4 cup of coffee for the next year - and you'll finally be able to buy something there.

Space Furniture is very expensive, and at times is comically expensive, but is home to some of the…read moremost cutting edge furniture on offer in Melbourne. It's a great spot to browse say for instance you have an hour to kill whilst waiting for brunch at Top Paddock (conveniently across the road). Space is the spot where where you go to see the latest offerings from B&B Italia, Kartell, Maxalto etc. Occasionally they have sales that bring the prices down 50% to 75%, so that 8000 AUD side chair is reduced from ridiculously priced to just expensive. Note they also offer "warehouse" sales which are to be avoided...seriously, avoid the warehouse, who would buy stained and marked furniture for thousands of dollars? When you spend that much you shouldn't buy a dirty couch...so skip the warehouse sales, and stay in the shop and you'll be amazed about whats on offer. I ordered a B&B Italia Siena bed from here (on deep deep discount thankfully), no issues with the order, though had to pay for my own courier to pick it up from their Sydney Warehouse to get it timely. The bed arrived in perfect condition and the Space team was helpful. Space Furniture is well worth a browse even if this store is not in your budget---you'll get some great home decor ideas.