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!

Coco Republic takes me to Los Angeles and shops on Melrose Avenue - delightful pieces with a high…read moreend look (yes, you will pay a decent sum for their goods) made with quality and friendly people to boot! Their focus on you and your designs will ensure you will not leave without some excellent recommendations - even if you are not buying at that moment.

Coco Republic is as Ralph Lauren is to fashion - classic designer furniture with a quiet style and…read moreexquisite finish. Walk through the Melbourne showroom and you're guaranteed to be transported to another world. Perhaps it's the large range of classic designer pieces dressed in luxurious fabrics with a high attention to detail that does it, or the warm, inviting ambience that makes you feel so at home. The excellently styled spaces with a clever mix of decor and functional pieces also helps you envision and be inspired when shopping for your home. Whether you're looking to buy a decadent sofa, an exquisite dining table or the crème de la crème of occasional furniture, Coco Republic will impress on all counts. But remember, quality furniture like this belongs in million dollar homes. So if you're like me, perhaps just go there to be inspired and then come back to reality and dream your dream home. You never know, one day, I too might have a Coco republic furnished home. We can have dreams you know!

Every suburb needs a knick-knack/gift store that isn't naff. For Port Melbourne, Mister White is…read moreit. This designer homewares store offers the usual suspects of small furniture items, mantelpiece adornments, scarves, bags, cushions, giftcards, saltwater sandals, happy socks. If you've seen one, you've seen them all, but that doesn't mean that Mister White is not worth the trip in - it means there's a good chance if you know the type of gift or item you're after, you know that you'll find it here. Nice layout, quality products and good range across price ranges makes Mister White a cut above the competition on Bay St.

Mister White has a really lovely range of gifts and homewares and I used to shop here whenever I…read morehad to find a unique birthday present. I purchased a homeware product for myself though and when I got it home it just wasn't right for the space. I had spoken with the assistant when I was purchasing and she had said that I could bring it back if it wasn't right. I returned the product the next day, expecting that I could get a refund. I was told however that they won't refund any products - only a store credit. Whilst the woman I spoke to when I purchased it did not specifically say I could have a refund, it definitely wasn't made clear that it would only be a store credit. The assistant I spoke to when I was trying to return the product was also quite rude during our entire interaction. Given they are a homewares store and that some of their products really need to be placed in situ to see if they are really right, their store policy seems quite unfair. In any case, if that is the store policy they wish to enforce then they could make it a lot clearer before purchase. A small sign near the register doesn't really suffice. For this reason I won't personally be shopping there again as it's a deal breaker for me. It is a real shame though as they have the potential to be great.

Dwell is the younger sibling of Tempted, a lifestyle store about 50m down the road…read more Where Tempted sells smaller more lifestyle oriented products (think photo frames and vases), Dwell stocks bigger household items like couches, floor lamps, armchairs and dining tables. Dwell isn't a high-end furniture store, but it's not competing with Fantastic Furniture either. It's a comfortable mid-range sort of store that is on par with the likes of Freedom (perhaps a little lower) in terms of price, but the stock is available in MUCH smaller numbers. If you want something for your home that isn't from the usual suspects like Freedom, Ikea, Plush, etc. without paying a fortune, Dwell is a great place to start. Oh, and should you see something you like but isn't quite right, make sure you let the staff know. They have catalogues full of things that can be ordered just for you.

I love the furniture in DWELL. I think that they have some beautiful pieces. And the staff are…read moreamazing, cant' help enought So wonderful and enthusiastic. My experience was disappointing though in customer service from the owner. I wanted to redo my home office, and was ready to purchase a few pieces of furniture. I went in a couple of times, and even dropped off wall paper samples to help me match fabrics. I was so very disappointed that the owner never got in touch with me about the samples and helping me to finalise my choices. The staff were great - fantastic actually. They were so wonderful to me, but in the end I felt like the owner was too busy to spend time helping me. Feel sad, cause I was really looking forward to getting a couple of the pieces :)

I am deeply in lust with almost everything in this shop. Unlike Industria on Gertrude Street, the…read morefurniture in Nook feels really warm and homely. It's possibly because it's a smaller space and there is a lot of wood and primary colours. Whatever the reason, it's a totally gorgeous shop. The owners have clearly got a bit of a fetish for medical chic with everything from ointment bottles to a vintage first aid cabinet - very cute. There's also vintage clothes and accessories, and heaps of Brittannia owing to the English owners. The prices are pretty reasonable, and when I expressed an interest in an adorable industrial stool the lovely lady (who's name I can't remember despite chatting to for a good half an hour) offered to knock off $50 so clearly there's room to bargain. It's still not as cheap as some eBay vintage stores or flea markets, but given it's pre-curated and in such a central location it's good value. Besides, on my past few trips to Camberwell Market I've found the prices obscene and stall holders unwilling to barter.

Things to do once I win the Tattslotto:…read more 1. Pay off my credit card 2. Maybe throw some money at my parents 3. Head to Nook Vintage and redecorate my house I say this because I doubt I will ever have the money to buy anything from here. But hey, isn't that the same as every other vintage furniture store in Melbourne? This is a very small shop that stocks some very exciting stuff - wooden chairs, vintage cabinets, oversized pigeonhole shelves and old school luggage trunks galore. A great place to head if you are looking for a bit of inspiration or if you just love a good window shop! But if you are lucky enough to be able to afford anything from Nook Vintage I don't think we can be friends. Sorry.

A beautiful showroom with stunning range. Showroom team of…read moredesigners are very talented and the furniture is amazing quality.

At first I was very excited to discover Fanuli opened up in Melbourne. It appears to be a high end…read morefurniture store, but it is far from it. The only thing high end is the price tag. We ordered a bedroom collection and 3 months later when it finally arrived they had sent the wrong furniture! It took a month before anyone could even tell us when we would be receiving the correct furniture. Finally the owner contacted us and was beyond rude and patronizing, had zero empathy, and could care less that we were sent the wrong furniture. So now we have to wait another 3 months to receive the correct furniture and they have already charged us for it. What started as a positive experience at first because the people who work in the showroom were helpful, ended up being the absolute biggest nightmare. Save your money and sanity and go somewhere else.

Lock up the credit cards! You're going to want just about everything in this store to make your…read morebathroom smell better, your kitchen look pretty, your bedroom feel cosy and your loungeroom more achingly hip. From the rafters adorned with leather bunting down to the floors that hold baskets overflowing with nic-nacs and gorgeous items you simply can't live without, The Shelley Panton Store is an absolute delight to explore. I love the tables filled with colour co-ordinated items, the book selection (food, design and travel genres all well represented), hand-made ceramics and the items dangling from the roof (THAT bunting, light fixtures and even feather dusters!). There's complimentary gift wrapping too, which is perfect if you're in the market for a special gift. They'll offer a variety of papers and twines to match your purchase and the vast gift card selection makes this a one-stop-shop for all your gift giving needs.

Quick! Hide your credit card when you come here! It has an amazing array of home wares and art for…read moreevery single room of the house, and every occasion you can think of. This is my idea of heaven. Seriously. OK, I admit it. Sometimes it feels like us Southsiders are a little hard done by with a lot of cool crafty places north of the river. Shelley Panton helps to fix this with an eclectic range of products - whether you're looking to buy for yourself or for a gift, you're bound to find something here that tickles your fancy. The shop is beautifully decked out - visualise baskets of good overflowing with cute little pieces, colour coordinated products lovingly laid out on tables and also friendly service. Leading into Christmas and special occasions, they will have late night trading (complete with glasses of prosecco and a cheese platter - for real) and special dinners for events such as the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Best of all? Shelley who own the place also has her own pottery for sale (visualise gorgeous plates and kitchen goods) and Jess the resident rescue dog is a beautiful black lab that often wanders around for a little bit of customer love. OK, I admit it. I want to work here. I want to be surrounded by beautiful things, play with Jess all day and lovingly wrap presents and adorn them with ribbons

Such a great concept store with amazing selection of goodies. Highly recommend visiting…read moreTheSuperCool.

Previously a pop-up shop appearing at all good hipster design markets, The Super Cool has taken up…read morepermanent residence in the SO:ME space at South Melbourne Market. It's a good place to find gifts, with an interesting selection of books, home wares, baby gifts, candles, crockery etc. If you've been looking at Pinterest boards of hipster weddings, they can sort you out here too with dedicated wares like wedding sign posts and mason jar glasses. Some will find it overpriced and tragic, but it's all in good fun and the staff are lovely. Worth a sticky beak if you're at the market.