If you've just been visiting and shopping at Adorne's shopping centre stores then you've been…read moremissing out. The label's West End warehouse is a treasure trove of colour co-ordinated home wares. With on-trend copper as you walk through the doors to tones of navy or coral there's everything you could want to add accents of colour to your home. Prices vary but on the items that took my fancy -- all reasonable. So, chop chop. Grab your go card and jump on the 199 bus to Montague Rd.

Cute boutique in the west end. Perfect for gifts, or if you want to treat yourself to something…read morespecial. Reasonable prices. High-quality candle selection. The women's clothes were a little bohemian for my taste, but pleasant nonetheless.

This two levelled antique store is a world of all things outdated and old school. At times, it's…read moreeven historical and educational. The sheer size of their collections leaves one in awe. There are multiple cabinets devoted entirely to what I call 'man face mugs'. If it's ceramic, has a man's face moulded and painted into it, and it contains a liquid or solid- it's a 'man face mug'. Then there's the cabinet of rose pink glass wear. Be amazed at the cabinet full of egg holders and salt and pepper shakers, not to forget the cabinet of ceramic clown dolls, and try not to make a scene when you lay your eyes on the cabinet full of old, ornate pocket watches. There's a huge section of the store that houses military paraphrenalia. They have old war uniforms, badges, rifles, hats, navy gear, war propaganda posters- you name it, they've got it. There's your usual antique store wears: vases, tea sets, dry food canisters, books, clothes, and jewellery. They keep the furniture downstairs. What's neat about the furniture is that some of it has been organised into scenes. If you go downstairs and look to the first scene on the right, you'll find a dining setting that conjures up ideas of 'early colonial Australia'. The dining scene is set against a wall hanging of indigenous Australians walking through the desert. Again, 'early colonial Australia' pops up (actually, the last scene of The Proposition comes to mind, but banish that). It's up to you to decide whether it's tasteful or not. I can't afford anything in this store, not even a thimble, or spoon. It's an antique store, and so the prices are always jacked up, but this particular store's prices a bit over the top. A pair of no frills clip on earrings? $26- $40? No thanks. I will happily spend hours looking through your pretty things though. Thanks.

The unlimited possibilities that hit you when you walk into Southside Antiques is overwhelming. As…read morean avid fan of the Paddington Antiques Centre, I had a lot of high expectations walking into here. The thing I love about different antique centres is that they all stock the same types of things, but never ever stock the exact same things. That's the point right? They're antiques, sold for whatever reason from a previous owner with the possibility of delighting a new one. Well, Southside Antiques may be smaller than Paddington Antiques Centre, but it doesn't dull in comparison by any means. There's a beautiful ancient phone set just near the entrance that we aren't allowed to touch guys, just ask for assistance before you attempt to examine that one. There are antique tea sets that cost over a thousand dollars, vintage shoes and clothes, and the most beautiful and intricately crafted wooden chair I have ever seen in my life. There are even clogs for those of you who are Dutch! Everything is appropriately sorted into areas, and the kitchen looks like it's been lifted from a quintessential 50s advertisement with country-style drawers, old-school utensils, and nostalgic signage on the wall. Stumble along a little further and you'll find old movie posters, magazines, sewing patterns, and LPs, which I thought was just fantastic. You get so caught up in the glory of upstairs that you forget there's a whole untapped area of furniture downstairs with sets and singular pieces and clocks still ticking away marking time. There are some really beautiful Singer sewing machines and a fully fledged and restored washing mangle. Some of the items in this place fill you with wonder. So if you're scouting around for great antiques centres, make sure this one is a stop along your itinerary.

Not a bad little store, Du Monde is located in Paddington's "antique district". Sandwiched in…read morebetween two antique shops, I admit I prefer the antique shops. I also prefer the nearby Green Tangerine if I'm in the market for homewares. My main stickler is the price at Du Monde. In most cases, it seems a little exorbitant for the goods, which include furniture, gifts, home ware, fashion and uncommon luxuries. You can get the same "uncommon luxuries" at other stores for a cheaper price, even in the expensive Paddington (The Trading Circle is a better alternative). In terms of fashion, I also prefer Green Tangerine. The homewares at Green Tangerine are still expensive, but slightly less so and the merchandise is still fairly unique. Du Monde's strength is in its unique furniture offering. As Oliver H. pointed out, the goods are primarily French in origin. So if you're not exactly short on cash, or you need something expensive and foreign as a gift for a wealthier friend (e.g. your boss), you can probably find it here. There are large kerosene old-school lamps, well-made wooden chairs in bright colours, throw pillows (at $135 a pop) and an array of chairs, both wooden and wicker. There's quite a few wicker goods here, actually. There was an oversized wicker-inspired wreath we saw, which reminded me of an oversized crown of thorns. Ideal for someone with a Jesus/God complex?

Du Monde is French for "of the world", which is fitting considering the number of air miles the…read moreowner, interior designer Daryl War, puts on in the pursuit of the best home-wares on offer. As the name suggests, the products are mainly French in origin, with a lot of the buying being done at Frances 'bricolage' markets. The layout of the store is divine, wonderfully showcasing the provincial home wares, iron furniture, textiles, soaps, candles and other delights. They also sell some clothes, though I suspect these are from local Australian designers. I recently acquired a very finely made rectangular wicker tray here as a Christmas present for my mother. At over $100 it wasn't the cheapest around but it was exactly what Mum wanted and the quality spoke for itself. If you're looking for a gift that will impress the aesthete in your family check out this exemplary home-wares boutique.

Karene A is right, those looking for a second hand store experience that earns them hipster cred or…read morekitsch points should look elsewhere for their fix. That's not to say that you won't find items that fit that bill at the Red Hill Salvos Store but it's unlikely. Red Hill Salvos has been a spot I've spent many a hour searching for homewares, books and on the odd occasion kooky costumes for a 70s highschool teacher inspired photo shoot. This is the spot you come to if you're looking for something unique for your home- something that tells a story and stands out from the run of the mill flat pack furniture. On many occasions I've found (much to my delight) fantastic crystal pieces including small milk jugs perfect for the kitchen table, vases and other knick knacks for my home. If you're in the market for larger furniture items that tell a story and have a bucket load of character then be sure to wander into their back shed area where you'll find enough desks, dining tables, chairs and wardrobes to fit any decor or need. While I've done my fair share of 'shopping' here it has also been a fine spot to give items I no longer need a new home. Books, clothes and other kitchen items that I no longer need are donated to a good cause and handing them directly to their warehouse teams means I'm safe in the knowledge my donations are not being ruined by weather waiting for a donation bin to be emptied.

Rummaging through the piles of second-hand goods here, one is sure to pick up a bargain antique…read moretreasure. While it's not the place to pick up quality retro clothing, you will find plenty of old picture frames, antique furniture (banged up antique furniture but it's all about character, right?), vinyl records, old-school suitcases and shelves and shelves full of cute little statues and retro kitchenware that all looks like it should be in Grandma's kitchen. Their pricing system is a little haphazard; the price markers seem to know the value of some of the antique items but overlook others. Sometimes I can pick up an old suitcase or port for $20 whereas on other visits the same sort and quality item will be upwards of $50. There are definitely bargains to be had if you visit regularly though. As well as lots of really old stuff (I'm full of such technical terms), they also have plenty of newer second hand furniture, linen, toys, sports equipment and a section with discounted supermarket items such as toilet paper, shampoo, detergent etc.

New kid on the block Glory Box might be New Farm's youngest clothing store, but it has all the…read moremakings of an old faithful. I entered mainly to escape the midday heat, but I stayed for the sequins, the taffeta, and the gorgeous pre-loved shoes. Vintage fanatics will have a field day rifling through the well stocked hangers and with service this friendly, why not? The website isn't live just yet, but I was promised by shop owner Amy that it was coming soon. Take advantage of this brand new store's youthful energy and duck in after your next New Farm brunch date.

I love the name of this shop and the paper cut out style of the logo. The shop fit is stylish and…read morespacious and the collection represents a respectable cohort of international and Australian designers. This is the sort of boutique that would make my top ten shopping destinations when scouring for a party dress. Unfortunately on this occasion, the range of outfits were hit and miss. Although a lot of the clothing caught my eye, none inspired the effort of actually pulling it off the rack and trying it on in the change room. The shop assistant was my favourite kind - the laid back sort who's content to let you browse but helpful when you enquire. Although I couldn't find anything on this visit, my verdict on Paper Doll is that it's definitely worth checking out again in the future. To quote from one of my favourite books The Princess Bride 'The potential was overwhelming.'

Paper doll sells some unique clothes. Situated right by its more famous neighbour - Princess Polly,…read moreI feel that this store gets overlooked. Paperdoll Boutique sells some unique designs that are perfect for many party occasions. Like many fashion stores, not everything will be too your liking, there are some dresses that are a bit too "cut-out" or short for my liking. However, I have found some cute dresses with vintage-inspired designs and cute collars that are more to my liking. If you are heading down to Princess Polly in the city, I suggest you also give this Paperdoll Boutique a go while you are there, you will find some equally as cute and unique clothes.

Upon entry, New Farm Antiques doesn't look quite as impressive as the centres in Paddington and…read moreWoolloongabba. Don't let that put you off though, because this place is absolutely packed with treasures from times gone by. Some of the furniture at New Farm Antiques is absolutely incredible, and the stock appears to include some of the most genuinely antique pieces around. I came across oh so many things that I wanted to take home that it is probably a good thing that a) my credit card was at home and b) none of the bigger items would fit through my tiny apartment's front door. The staff are lovely and are happy for you to browse for as long as you want. You'll want to put plenty of time aside, because the store goes on and on and on and everywhere you look you'll find another little corner to explore.

This May marks the New Farm Antique Centre's 20th year of antique trading, and I actually cannot…read morebelieve I haven't fallen across this place yet. I was amazed and utterly awestruck when I walked up the ramp and found myself in this absolutely spectacular shop. Its plain and unassuming exterior belies the world of wonder you find yourself in as soon as you walk through the door, and that magic only intensifies as you meander through the quiet maze of antiques and collectables. Naturally, that consists of your staple antique items such as china, silverware, candelabras, chandeliers (lots of those), old telephones, clothing, jewellery, and bags. But the real drawcard for me here was the books. Oh my goodness. I bought a work of Sir Walter Scott's poetry with an inscription from 1871. 1871! The book is in incredible condition and the lovely gentlemen who run the centre obviously take great pride in preserving and selling these beautiful works of art. Speaking of works of art, they also have a few of those splattered across the walls. Near the entry you'll find one wall with framed pictures on it (of which, yes, I did buy one) and in the back you'll find a range of prints without having to pay through the nose for them. It's simply divine walking in here and I was utterly spellbound for at least an hour. It's not as big or winding as the Wooloongabba Antique Centre, but it's got a quixotic charm that envelops you the instant you walk in. It's like stepping into another world; opening the cupboard door and finding yourself in Narnia; it's mesmerising. You find yourself singing along to whichever soundtrack features that day (when I went in it was Abba) as you stumble across things like a Japanese pinball machine, a Singer sewing machine, and old charm bracelets. The more unique element about New Farm Antique Centre is that it's more culturally diverse than other antique centres I've visited, and that includes the Paddington Antique Centre. Where in other centres the shop is split into rooms in a home and categories, here things are split according to the culture to which they belong. I'm talking Aboriginal weapons, didgeridoos, and artwork; Oriental dressers, vases, and cupboards; African art pieces; Buddha statues positioned ever so casually. It was all I could do to not get too overwhelmed in its brilliance and breathe it all in. The lovely gentlemen here greet everyone as soon as they walk in the door, and they make you feel comfortable instantly. And then down the far back corner there is even a reading space where you can take a load off and pore over the old books in the bookcase. I'm in love with this place, and it has completely bewitched me.

Previously a store on its own, My Money's Uncle still maintains its famous shop space along…read moreAdelaide Street, but now also shares with Princess Polly. The two occupy the same spaces they normally have, now with the benefit of an open pathway between each. They have literally taken away the wall between the two stores so you can now amble between the two at will. It seems fitting to me, because they both harbour such gorgeous fashions and when I couldn't find something I liked in one, I'd just pop straight over to the other just next door. My Monkey's uncle has really fine and feminine pieces from tulle and cut-out dresses through to bodysuits and some serious bling. There's an option for almost any occasion whether you need a going-out dress or some short shorts for a festival. The clothes at My Monkey's Uncle are always very sweet and fairly priced, with the staple expensive pieces you love to try on but never really think about buying. Make it a regular stop on your shopping days and you won't be sorry. My Monkey's Uncle has what every girl loves in a clothes store: promise, whimsy, and a whole lot of lace and tulle.

My Monkey's Uncle has been a trusty place to get a new outfit before a night out for years now. I…read moreoften found that when I was down on my shopping luck everywhere else, My Monkey's Uncle would supply the goods. They have some labels that you can buy in Myer or David Jones, but also some less seen high street brands and local designers. The prices are very reasonable and they change their stock often so you won't get bored of never finding anything new. In the past couple of months, My Monkey's Uncle has lost a wall so it now adjoins Princess Polly next door. This works well because they have always been very similar shops and now they've almost combined into a larger entity of similar style. Like all stores, you won't find something in here every time, but you will most times and it'll usually be an instant favourite at a very good price.