Nood is located in the new Apex shopping precinct opposite Sylvia Park. Its a fairly new…read moreestablishment and out of habit I always like to visit if I'm the area. What makes Nood so interesting is that they have a lot of very different products at different price points. From novelty mini books and plush toys to very expensive duvets, Nood certainly doesn't put itself under one umbrella. The Apex store is very big and split in two and red and black are the dominant colours in here- I love the decor in here. On one side you have a lot of bedding, room furniture, knick knacks, clocks; on the other is kitchenware (I love their stuff on this side!) and a few bargain items too. Their high end items are great to look at; there have been a few clocks I've definitely been eyeing up! But a lot of their products are hugely design-based and really seem like one of a kind/limited edition type stuff. On the other end of the spectrum they've got some affordable items, particularly their glasses and other kitchenware, and their sales are always worth making time for. I only own one item from Nood and its this awesome bullet cocktail shaker- since I received it as a gift I've been looking for a few more things to add to my Nood collection!

The Homestore is a great addition to Sylvia Park and aside from being a huge fan of their tea…read moretowels (check them out, they are seriously great), its my favourite place to buy homeware. What I love about this place is that there's always something here that I know my mum will love. It could be a new cookbook or a new salad serving set, but whatever it is, The Homestore has it. It's also home to appliances, dinner sets and bathroom accessories. I'd like to think I become a little more domesticated after every visit, and i'm always sure to pick up something useful for myself. I'm an avid baker and they've got some great cupcake patty tins and some awesome cake decorating supplies aswell. If you're a party planner, they've got some cute decorations- think lanterns and garlands. A few days before Christmas last year this place was so busy, and in my haze of last minute Christmas shopping I found some comic relief in the lady who served me at the counter. I never got her name but she was hilarious. We didn't speak about much in particular, but I just remember laughing and joking with her about the perils of Christmas shopping. Just being able to have a normal conversation that wasn't about what I was buying was quite refreshing. I bought a few glass items and she made sure to double package them (I was carrying a lot of stuff already), so they wouldn't smash on my way out. She was so thoughtful and pretty much made my night! I really do love The Homestore- the ultimate stop for anything your home needs.

I've been in this store 5-6 times over the past 6 months as I love the stock however I have never…read morebeen greeted while in there. Often I am just browsing however today I went in planning on spending quite a large amount of money for a birthday present. I spent 10-15 minutes in store, first walking around and then looking quite hard at one shelf in particular. There were two ladies working and no one else in store yet I was not greeted or acknowledged in any way. I go into retail stores to get the personal interaction and staff knowledge about the items, since I can't get that service from this store I won't go back and might as well buy things online.

The Beach is a store that looks like a uppity gifts store sans gifts. What you are left with are…read moremass produced items of furniture that are cheap replicas of modern antiques. Simply raise the prices threefold and tell people that all New Zealand beach houses look like this and you have yourself a store. In reality, New Zealand baches are full of musty, outdated and badly matched furniture from decades ago. The Beach is the inside of an interior design magazine like House and Garden. Most of the wicker baskets and beach chairs are not going to survive in a closed up, damp beach house. The best thing to do in this shop is take note of the designs and colours you like and replicate it via your nearest Salvation Army furniture, some sand paper and a lick of paint.

The Beach is a fantastic store, stylish homes, retail or other spaces would find the perfect pieces…read moreto adorn their rooms. The furniture is all wood, often what would be referred to as possessing rustic charm, while some is oriental in style, brightly coloured in blues and yellows. These are stand out pieces and in particular the draws and cabinets are amazing. They also offer some interesting storage options, shelves that look like ladders, ladders made from wood that serve no purpose but to hang from a wall and large boxes and baskets made from white washed cane. The Beach offers something really different, if you want you home to look Vogue Living worthy then this would be the place to come.

I am a huge fan of Christmas, and in particular the carols ( geek, I know! ) playing while I help…read moremy mother decorate the house and the tree. The Christmas Heirloom Company is the best shop for new tree decorations, 'village' additions, and things to hang around the house, and make it really feel like Christmas. We love the shop so much and all the available decorations that we have to restrict ourselves every year to purchasing only a few select items. It is always an exciting trip, and i love getting a decoration to pop on top of everyone's Christmas presents each year. Super fun, great staff- and even best, there is a fudge shop in store!

From the owner: With an array of trees, decorations and collectables we strive to provide you with high quality…read moreproducts for your individual requirements. Since 1986 we have become somewhat of a Christmas tradition. When you need traditional, luxurious decorations and embellishments, there is only one place to go. The transition from a carton-filled store, empty bags lining the floor to the finished result of a Christmas Heirloom Company store is truly a magical experience. People love to visit and they are amazed at the beauty, wonder and dazzle of our displays. With the vibrancy of red, the grandeur of gold, the boldness of blue and the use of evergreen trees and foliage our stores enfold you into the magical world of Christmas.

I was looking for cute kiwi prints to take overseas with me and was recommended Factory Frames by a…read morefriend. I would never have thought to try there, as I assumed it was literally just frames, but I was pleasantly surprised. The Lunn Ave store is large and has loads in it. They have a good selection of framed and unframed art work of different sizes. They have quite a few iconic prints, with a Kiwiana theme but they are also contemporary (not the tacky souvenir kind). The two I chose were $19 each; a cute 'Aroha' one and the Babushka Maori dolls. They will be a nice (but subtle) reminder of home to hang in my lounge.

Factory Frames has a big range of pre-made frames, and prices are keen; they start at $7 for a 5x7…read moresize. That's around the same price as buying a frame from the Red Shed, but here you can get one that is infinitely more stylish, and made in New Zealand. They also have image mats in a variety of colours so you can put together a professional looking package for less than $20. You should know that none of the pre-made frames have hanging attachments, but you can buy a kit from them for $2 ($3 for larger frames). I have also had a couple of items custom framed here with good results. So, where do the points off come from? Unfortunately service can be really erratic; I've had to wait for quite a while to be served here sometimes (like more than 10mins long), and the last time I was two weeks ago I was a little taken aback by some rude comments from one of the staff members; I'm pretty sure he was trying to make a joke but it just didn't come off well! However, for price and quality they can't be beat.

I am updating the review to 3 stars, as yes, I was a bit harsh in the first review - back in early…read more2013, however I will stick with my opinion that their goods really are overpriced. Beautiful interior accessories and furniture, but is it necessary to be so expensive?

I'd just like to say I have recently moved into the area and visited Shibui Interiors for the first…read moretime What a find !!! I was on the hunt for furniture to fill my new home and walked away thrilled with my new purchases. I have ordered a custom made couch with a fantastic fabric that has only cost me $46.00 per metre, a coffee table and a couple of really lovely vases. The ladies in the showroom were very friendly and super helpful. Got exactly what I was looking for.

High Tide is the kind of gift shop that once you know about it, you'll go back to shop for…read moreyourself. So it's type of gift store that has things you'd actually want to receive yourself, rather than just the okay but slightly pointless stuff you sometimes find in other gift shops. It has a New Zealandy theme without being tacky (think teatowels with the Four Square man and lovely handcreams featuring local ingredients and scents). Everytime I go here the stock seems to have been updated, which must be trickly in a little suburban shop, but is so necessary to keep customers' interest. It also has a bit of a beachy theme going on, which is all sort of fresh, white and blue striped, and relevant to the area too (the beach is just down the road). Best of all, the prices are genuinely reasonable for the quality of the products, and the service is brilliant - very relaxed and chatty.