It took me awhile to find One in the House, as it's a bit further up Trafalgar than I usually need…read moreto venture. I did spot it, though, and became a fan of the small, quaint shop with a small quaint mix of items. Jewellery was mostly in silver, with dainty sets of earrings, necklaces and pendants. Other knick knacks included engraved silver key chains and candle holders. For home décor, the shop sold hanging artwork, clocks, pitchers, dishware and cosies for tea kettles. Small renovation items like knobs for cupboards and decorative tile came in several varieties. There were also a few racks of greeting cards near the back. In summary, a quaint (have I mentioned that?) shop with unique home, personal and gift items.

A charming shop a stone's throw from Brighton Station, One In The House reminds me of boutiques…read moreyou'd find in the South of France. Everything is laid out beautifully with products stylishly arranged on distressed wooden shelves, tables and old dressers. As the name suggests, One In The House mainly sells elegant home decor with a lovely line of ceramics, glassware, candlesticks, clocks, tiles and kitchenware scattered alongside cushions, wool blankets, art prints and jewellery. Everything looks antique or hand-crafted with the dominating colours being white, cream, stone, grey, silver, caramel, chocolate and wood. A great place to pick up a unique gift for a friend... or yourself.

The shelves of Pansies are so packed, I found myself standing in one place for several minutes…read moretrying to take in everything in front of me - it took awhile to get through the shop. Items for sale include home décor and unique gift ideas, displayed in a colour-coordinated and organised manner. It would almost be a shame to take something off the shelf; everything is set up so nicely. A couple of my favourites were the scented bath balms shaped like cupcakes and the Civil Partnership money pot. So, I do agree with the sign outside - Pansies is an 'Aladdin's cave' of gifts - and free gift wrapping is offered with each purchased. Nice touch.

What a fabulous little place this is. They've only been set up for about five months, so they're a…read morerelatively new addition to The Lanes. I walked in and was immediately greeted by an extremely friendly shop assistant who asked me if I fancied a coffee because the kettle had just boiled how wonderfully unheard of is that in these days of surly, unenthusiastic retail stuff? It put a grin on my face for the rest of the day. Describing themselves as an 'Aladdin's cave of gifts and interiors', I couldn't NOT go in here it's full of gorgeous things like delicious smelling Yankee Candles, jewellery, hand-painted money boxes, artificial flowers, gift cards... all laid out in a wonderfully higgledy-piggledy way so that you feel as though you really are rifling through a mini cave of treasures. The lovely man I spoke to was more than happy to chat to me about all the stock telling me what's popular at the moment and what would be great for Mother's Day. He also mentioned that they offer a gift wrapping service which is another rarity these days. Although a lot of the bits in here are a little more at the pricey end, they present you with such a wonderful shopping experience that it's worth spending a bit of extra cash.

Oscar Wilde would have loved The Lavendar Room…read more They don't sell books, waistcoats or handsome young men sadly. They do however, sell lots of beautiful things. The front of the shop is devoted to stylish and French looking homeware from distressed mirrors, picture frames, candle holders, cake stands and tea-sets to chandeliers whilst the back is home to a small but fabulous selection of ladieswear. There's silk PJs and kimonons, stripey bedsocks, suede shoes and boots by Chie Mihara, lovely handbags from Mimi and adorable silk scarves and jewellery. As you'd expect, the price tags are slightly higher than other local homeware stores but then, the quality feels better. Personally, I'm after the gold swallow necklace and the silver glitterball bracelet. Two things I'm sure Oscar would approve of...

I am in love with the glass detailing above the windows of this shop- every time I walk past, I…read moreimagine myself living in a gorgeous Victorian house with similar windows. And then I take the day dream inside! The Lavender Room has been a favourite shop of mine for a long time. Yes it might be overpriced and a little contrived (but seriously, I challenge you to find a lifestyle boutique that isn't!), but the fact remains that everything in store is beautiful! From the tiny heart-shaped nicknacks and the gorgeous glazed chinaware to the delicate clothing upstairs, everything is carefully chosen and perfectly positioned. Pretty silk lingerie and beautifully cut dresses drape over stylish furniture and hang on uncluttered rails. I often find myself sifting through the clothing, imagining another far more glamorous life for myself! The Lavender Room is one of the most successful lifestyle/gift boutiques in Brighton, for the simple reason that it actually makes you aspire to own everything in the shop! In the front of the shop you'll find attractive displays of smaller items, such as soaps, dishes and jewelery. These are perfect gift items- they even wrap your purchase in lavender tissue paper and a pretty paper bag!

This is a fascinatingly strange place, specialising in elaborate masks…read more The range includes some wonderful examples of mask-making: bright colours, elaborate decoration, full feathers. The prices aren't as extortionate as you might expect either, and while some masks are pricey, others are available for under £20. The only problem is - what the heck would one do with these things? I'd quite like to own one, but I very much doubt it would get much use. Perphaps as a wall decoration?

There's something a touch Eyes Wide Shut about Mariposa…read more An old fashioned antique shop in the Lanes, it's been selling unique and chintzy figurines, ornaments, presentation plates, glass fruit bowls and lamps for the last two decades. The thing that dominates the walls and windows however, are an eye-catching array of handmade, papier mache masks with decorative feathers, glitter, silk and paint effects. According to the owner, some people buy them just for display purposes whilst others snap them up for balls, special occasions and fancy dress parties. Personally, I can't look at them without thinking of Stanley Kubrick, Tom Cruise and amoral sex games with masked strangers.

On the look-out for a new armchair or lamp?…read more England At Home is a lovely boutique shop that sells furniture and home accessories that wouldn't look out of place in Elle Decoration or Living Etc. As well as a small assortment of leather and wool chairs and loungers, they sell swish side-tables, lampshades, chandeliers and mirrors. If you're after something unique as a gift, they also have buddha statues and cool cushions embroidered with everything from Union Jack flag to burlesque girls in kitty heels and underwear. If you plan to go soon, could you pick me up two of the latter?

One of several quirky home decor store in Brighton. I love the tail wagging clocks of dogs in…read moreblack hanging on the wall as soon as you enter the store! They sell interesting stationary too.

This is the ultimate browsing store, especially if you're creative or a fan of home decor…read more Everything is beautifully presented in here and absolutely unique and ornamental. From screen prints, textile, ceramics, mosaic, glass hangings, felt, embroidery, knitwear, photography, lampshades, vases, jewellery and accessories, it's an eclectic mix of everything crafty and interior design with a focus on promoting the artisan or artist. I have a hard time not falling in love with at least one thing when I come to this shop. Whether it's a dichroic glass necklace, Louise Traill's fairy lights or Anna Tilson's stunning mosaic mirrors everything is so individual and innovative. The prices are just as eclectic too, so there's something for every budget.

I walked by this shop twice without realising it was the one I was looking for: Even the signage is…read moreartsy. Appendage specialises in lovely and unique arts and craftworks: wall hangings, hats, scarves, bags, mobiles, jewellery and pillows all skilfully designed. The names of artists are displayed beside their contributions, and the sales clerks were very knowledgeable on both artisans and their work. I noticed a definite bird theme through the shop, which was a nice contradiction to the almost-winter weather. Another highlight for me, which may seem small, was the hardwood flooring. Mmmm. It gave the shop a nice, homey feel. I recommend checking this place out for unique gifts and décor ideas. Just watch for the artsy sign.

This woodwork studio and showroom is located just behind the London Rd- you wouldn't necessarily…read moreknow it was there unless you were lucky enough to stumble across it! In fact this area is full of artisan's studios tucked away off the main road- they are really worth investigating, whether you're an artist or simply an art enthusiast, you'll find there's lots of interesting stuff going on. Acacia Designs make bespoke pieces of furniture and signs, as well as handmade jewellery and cosmetics! The furniture is chunky and where possible, made from reclaimed wood. With many of the pieces, the designers try to preserve the natural shape of the tree as much as possible, which results in some really unusual and, in my opinion, beautiful furniture. The benches are particularly cool and if I had a garden, I would definitely head to Acacia to pick one up! The carpentry and carving that goes on at this workshop is really high-quality and it's really lovely to see places like this still going, despite stiff competition from cheaper chain furniture stores.

It's so refreshing to see that this sort of place still exists! These people are craftsmen, their…read morematerial is wood and they make furniture, something all too rare these days. With real craft you get integrity, these people respect the material they work with and as a result the end product retains character of the tree that it came from. Acacia is basically a small show room, with a workshop just behind. As you walk in you are surrounded by all kinds of beautiful household items, from tables to candle holders, paintings to bird boxes, each one unique. If anything takes your fancy just ring the bell and a friendly and attentive craftsman will come out from the workshop to help you out. If they haven't got exactly what you were looking for they'll craft your perfect item for you. Obviously you're going to be paying that little bit extra compared with mass produced furniture, but items in here are hand made to a high quality so they will last for years and unlike many other artisan manufacturers the prices are by no means extortionate. Support real craftsmen and get yourself something beautiful.

Pardon My French is a cute, independent store in Kemptown Village. Their elegant signage made me…read moresuspect it was going to be too frou frou for my taste but once inside, I was pleasantly surprised by how warm and laidback the staff were and how eclectic their stock is. As shown in the window, they have a varied selection of homeware from fun tea towels and mellamine plates, bowls and cups to more stylish doormats, bath towels, quilts, bedspreads and linens. In keeping with the boudoir theme, they also sell silk and cotton pyjamas, perfume, jewellery and moroccan slippers. If Audrey Hepburn lived in Brighton, I'm sure she would have shopped here!

This fab girlie shop is a little treasure trove of goodies. Situated in Kemptown Village, Pardon my…read moreFrench fits right in with the other independent gift stores and restaurants. The shop mainly sells kitch home wares like cushions, bed covers & comedy doormats. The French theme runs through out the store with French sweets, toiletries and gift ideas. Its a fab place to go for girlie birthday present. Pardon my French is head a shoulders above some similar over priced stores in the North Laines. Its always worth a wonder round it your perusing what the village has to offer.