Much like a few other home decor shops along King William and Unley Rds, Empress exudes charm and…read moreambience in a tasteful manner. The theme is aimed towards casual home decor and not restricted to the indoors, but with class and entices the customer to take a piece of it home with them. There are some gorgeous pieces in here from paper weights to huge mirrors made to look like a window! I was so tempted to buy one just for the sake of it but the practical side of my brain talked me out of it. Several beautiful ornate candle stick holders take pride of place and stand with authority, whilst the under foliage of trinkets and whimsy items surround them. A well organised placement of items for the customer to easily browse through and no hidden price tags. Also in the store are some antique oriental pieces of furniture which blend in very nicely with the rest of the decor and whilst the theme is aimed on the oriental side, I feel it doesn't show it to full extent as it's a little watered down with modern items made to look old. But I can definitely pick up on the Moorish side of it as there are lanterns galore inside and outside. I can really see these hanging out under my balcony but problem is I'd have to deck out the rest of it to tie in with them. Yes it is a haven for interior decorators even the layman for inspiration and ideas with the strong possibility of a purchase!

Empress Gifts & Homewares is a new personal favourite store. I simply adore all of the retro…read morelooking boutique styled things to put around the home. Also, it smells really good. The furniture is simply gorgeous. So if you're looking for an awesome birdcage, Mandala trays, cake stands, or just some gorgeous furniture, then definitely make your way here.

Canopy Home Fashion is such a welcoming and homely store to visit, the ladies working here are…read morealways keen to have a chat and help you choose from the gorgeous range of home wares, clothes, jewellery and accessories whether it's for yourself or a gift. I have received gift vouchers from here and they are presented so beautifully it is hard to open the little envelope to hand it over and make a purchase. Purchases are wrapped in pretty tissue paper if it is a gift and the staff always remember to remove the price tag for you. I love this haven so much that I often pop in just for a browse in my lunch break if I need cheering up and sometimes I treat myself to just a little something, prices range from under $10 to in the hundreds depending on the item. This is also one of the few remaining places that happily offer lay-buy too.

This store was formerly known as Ikeguchi Japanese Store. They have all the same stuff, but just a…read moredifferent name and owners. I really love the new name and branding, it is super cute and matches the whole Japanese theme of the store. Well, not all of the stock is Japanese, but they also stock lots of cool art, jewellery, home décor and toys. This is one of my fav places to shop for gifts for my friends and family. You will find lots of quirky unique things in this store, like fake deer heads, cool mugs, quirky books and gift cards. I actually found some super cool Star Wars plates with Darth Vader with a top hat. That was a immediate purchase. You know those moments when you are shopping and you say "omg I must have!" Check out the jewellery in this store, you will find some really lovely modern styled elegant pieces. I found it very hard to choose from so many cute options. Some pieces full silver, others have beads and acrylic shapes. The staff in this store are super friendly and so happy to help you out if you are looking for something in particular. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they have a loyalty program which gives you discounts and invites to a special VIP party a couple of times a year. How cool is that, especially for such a little store!

For what this place is, it's awesome. Like Dave says, it's a place to buy Japanese trinkets and…read moreknick knacks, cool little wooden dolls, origami stuff, purses, all sorts of stuff. I find it fascinating, there's so much stuff here that you just won't find anywhere else, short of buying it on the internet, and even then you'll probably need a good command of the Japanese language. I've bought a couple of little presents here for some friends who had just gotten back from a trip to Japan, and some of the origami things for my primary school class. Really cool little place.

So, here's the skinny (heh, I feel cool)....you are in the Central Market, getting some set to get…read moreyour food on and you get a text from your main squeeze that it is her mums Birthday and you are late for dinner. Firstly, bummer that you have to bail on the crazy bowl of noodles that you were about to order, and secondly you need to suss out a pressie pronto! Head on over to the Global Village a pick youself up a carved wooden elephant and a couple of groovy candles, problem solved! I only just noticed the name of this place yesterday, before hand I just knew it as the funky-hippie place with the tie-dye stuff and incense sticks. It really is a bit of a treasure trove of hand made 'fair trade' nick nacks, clothes and the odd bit of furnature, definately worth a look...but be warned, you will probably end up buying something whether you need it or not!

The global village is a pretty cool hippie store in the central markets…read more Lots of the products for sale here are sourced directly from local crafts people in developing countries. The owners of the store also contribute towards several community projects in developing countries, largely Nepal and East Timor. In stock is the complete get up you will need to fit in, in any drum circle, a bunch of home wares are more nick nacks and paddy whacks than you can poke a stick at. Some of the craft work is really fine and, although much more expensive than if you were to buy direct, some of your contribution will still reach developing communities in the end. Of particular interest are hand painted vietnamese bamboo doors and curtains and also, my favorite, the singing bowl.

Sarae Adamopoulos and her partner have been steadily building their little Divine Organics…read moreenterprise over the last year little by little. There is no rush when you are finding the right elements and sourcing the right ingredients for a fabulous store like this. Once you step in off the street and smell the fresh clear air and allow the calm and peaceful atmosphere to remove some of that city grime you may be feeling, you will relax somewhat in this space. They have a good range of fresh foods, some pantry items for the gourmet, there's a juice bar, you can buy supplements and skin and hair care. Add to this the various therapies you can get here and you will start to understand why the very atmosphere is so relaxing. Cooking classes, massage, naturopathy, weight loss and detoxing programs are all available. Many people find that in today's busy society and hard working lifestyles it is difficult to shed the negative energies that drag us down a little. Divine Organics is aiming to assist those people find ways of dealing with all that negativity and you may be surprised at how effective their methods are.

BUYER BEWARE - DO NOT SPEND YOUR MONEY HERE Paid $239 for a…read moresmall rug & returned today within 14 days from purchase & this con shop store only offer store credit if the purchase is bought instore YET if you buy the same product online then you get a full refund!!!!! So much for encouraging purchasing in store PLUS the store credit is only valid for THREE MONTHS!!!! What the hell. Served by 2 teenagers who couldn't give a crap, the whole experience was RUBBISH NEVER EVER EVER SPEND MONEY INSTORE AS THERE IS NO RECOURSE FOR YOU

This is one of my favourite places to shop for gifts and basically for myself! With a bohemian mix…read moreof Fair Trade products, mirror stitched Indian ottomans and cushions, unique wrapping papers, wide range of jewellery by Elk and Polli, travel journals featuring the capital cities of the world; there is something for everyone. My favourite would have to be the vintage printed hankies, priced under $12 and the red donkey memo holder. Book lovers would love the wide variety of interior, art, travel and cookbooks here. If you're planning a trip to France soon, you may wanna check out the range of books here dedicated to the culture and travel of France. Flourish also stock skincare range from Mor and others that are deliciously good on the skin. Too bad you can't eat them! At every visit I make, the shop is bustling with activity and foot traffic. I'm not surprised as you can really shop for your whole family here! A must visit if you haven't already.

Queen Bee Linen is my mother's dream store. There are delicate printed cottons as far as the eye…read morecan see, purpose made to cover any and every home surface. You've got the empty spot, they've got the linen. Ideal for gifts for great aunts and grandmas, this shop is passionate about high quality, traditional linen. What caught my fancy the most were the boxes of beautiful handkerchiefs. I love hankies! There are also some very gorgeous cotton dressing gowns in pale pink and peach floral patterns. There is also of course a plethora of teatowels and tablecloths. Since I don't look like her ideal customer, the shop owner paid me no attention. So I didn't buy the hankies.

If you appreciate beauty and practicality in your home, this is the perfect store to come to…read more Cotton embroidered tea towels, lavender printed table linen, crisp bedsheets and cheeky printed bikini stitched on a cotton travel laundry bag are some of the products that caught my eye. They are exquisite, dreamy and delightfully pretty. There is no doubt that Ann, the proprietor has an eye for detail and beauty as the products carry these traits. Ann also stocks candle holders, I spotted a towering one with with intricate details; nightwear with brands from Louise Mitchell and French Country, rugs and cushions, toiletries and drawers liners and more. This is a perfect place to shop for gifts or even for yourself. After all, we do deserve a bit of chic and dreamy things in our house, don't we? So go ahead and treat yourself!

Lemon Poppy is an adorable little gift shop on Unley Road just up from the Cremorne Hotel…read more If you're looking for the perfect gift for a friend or for just the right piece to finish off that room in your own home then look no further than Lemon Poppy. Having recently undergone a name change and look, this shop stocks pieces that suit shabby chic décor as well as those that work in a more traditional room. They have everything from candles to outdoor settings and trinkets galore. Whether it's a tea towel or a new piece of furniture, when it comes to homewares, make sure you head under the vines on Unley Road and see the girls at Lemon Poppy. You won't regret it.

These are the type of stores I love when I need to find a pressie for a house warming, or a present…read morefor someone I don't know too well. I get plenty of ideas in here. As Kristy said, it's a nice little gift shop that sells anything from furniture and home wares, to little ornaments. The staff are lovely here, which makes it an even better experience to go in and browse through their offerings.