I can see why this place is called MOST WANTED. Every time I…read morestep into this little store I inevitably end up lusting over some vintage do-dad or furnishing. The space isn't big but the owners have cleverly made the most of it making you feel like you have stepped into a store straight from the 50's. These hand-picked vintage pieces range from furniture, groovy lamps and sparkly costume jewelry to home wares and art deco statues. (My favourite part of the store has to be the small collection of records and comics.) The only shame is their lack of online presence, It would be good to see some of their awesome collection on the interweb but as such it's hard to see their name pop up under anything. (even the yellow pages.) Conveniently located on Boundary st, I recommend you give these guys a visit.

What a strange combination of items this place sells. Their sign states they are purveyors of fine…read morejewellery, antiques and retro furniture. It would make sense that the jewellery is second hand considering the other items they sell, but I'm not sure that it is. I think what's happened here is that a retiree has decided to open a shop selling exactly what they feel like, which has resulted in the odd combination. Moving on from their stock, it's a nicely set out shop and most of their stuff is really quite lovely, especially their range of furniture. It's definitely worth a look if you're after a one off piece to complete your home.

I was on a bit of a Woolloongabba wander last week, making my way from Brown Dog Cafe to the WAC,…read morewhen I spotted this place setting up their signs for the day and placing some of their stock out on the street. "I don't have anywhere else to be..." I murmured to myself as I scooted inside. AddVintage (a bit of a play on words... want to give your home an Advantage? Then Add Vintage!) is a warehouse space filled with some excellent wares - a lot of brilliant lounge sets and dining sets, big pieces of furniture covered with smaller vintage finds. I'm particularly fond of their colour tables - one table full of green glassware and dinnerware, one full of orange/yellow, one full of pink! They made me grin, and also made me want to throw out all my own glassware and dinnerware and start over with one brilliant colour. Little signs saying "All of our prices are negotiable! JUST ASK US!" are all over the shop, though I still couldn't bring myself to bargain for the ridiculous radish-shaped (and coloured) serving dish I found. Maybe I'll just have to go back... they may still be running their 10% winter discount sale, too...

It had been quite a while between visits to Jamieson's and it showed. They've extended the showroom…read moreand now have an extra space to show not only their mad styling skills but their range of beautiful linen bed covers, furniture and prints. The effort put in to style and carefully select the products sold in Jamieson's is evident. It's a place to invest in a lifestyle - from the clothes you wear, the bag you carry and the linen you lay your head on each night. Every piece compliments it's shelf mate and their collections would suit anyone from the Bohemian Chic lover in your life to the Hampton's fan wanting a pop of colour in their cushion collection. Similarly, whether you're looking to spend a little or a lot - there's pieces to match most budgets. That said, this isn't a $20 for a throw rug kind of store. Purchases made here are less of the impulse kind and more of the deliberate and considered for a while kind. Still - it's worth the stroll through for inspiration and to find something worth saving your pennies for!

I love all of the pieces in this adorable little shop however, after just experiencing the owner I…read moream not so pleased any longer (the other staff are fantastic though). I went to return a necklace that I was not happy with and she gave me attitude and said 'I am not happy to give you a refund for the necklace because I don't see anything wrong with it so I will give you a store credit'. Don't get me wrong, that is absolutely fine, I would have preferred a refund but it's ok, BUT I definitely did not need the attitude. I approached her with a smile and a friendly 'hi I just want to return this necklace the clasp keeps opening'. Conveniently when the owner tried opening it herself she really struggled, but the bottom line is, hey your customer isn't happy, so lets keep the peace and keep her coming back by just giving her a friendly transaction of a store credit. I feel as though because I was a lot younger than her she just walked all over me. There was just no need for it. I am so disappointed, I understand her frustration because she obviously thought I was making it up that the clasp was faulty but there is not need to make a fuss. So, from a younger person who has spent years in retail and customer service, to an older more mature woman. Be kind to your customers, because bad feedback travels a lot further than positive :-)

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.

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.

Oohlala, oui tres bien! My French may be awful, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the…read morecharming quality of The French Corner. The shop boasts an air of cluttered decadence; everything is kind of mashed into one place but it only adds to The French Corner's magic. They have some singularly gorgeous pieces, including a thickset white bedframe and the most amazing 20th century vanity and mirror I have ever seen. They also have an array of dazzling jewellery and accessories littering the side cabinets. Wading through the organised chaos is half the fun, because it allows you stumble across some hidden treasures. Just make sure you don't bump anything. I find that walking into The French Corner transforms you into a glutton; you can't just stop at one item. Once you pick up one thing you see a million others and can't bear to leave them behind. And yes, some of their pieces are rather expensive, but they also have a range of fairly priced items - most of them unique items that you'd be hard-pushed to find elsewhere. You can distinguish the shop easily from its trademark sign and if that fails, its beautiful vintage luggage and dressmaker mannequins lining the shopfront will give it away. It's an excellent place for gift ideas and for bits and bobs to add a stylish and quaintly furnished touch to any décor. If you're in the area and have some spare time, I definitely recommend popping in for a look and getting lost in another world.

Driving along Enoggera Rd, The French Corner entices you to stop and have a look. You know it is…read moreopen when the entire outside is lined with unique furniture, classy mirrors, old clocks and all sorts of other glorious decorations. You can tell that it gets a lot of customers from the road as cars pull up out front just for a quick browse. It is the kind of store that is way out of my price range (most of my furniture is second hand and falling apart) but is filled with the stuff I dream of having. There was an old clock outside that I would die to have but the $260 price tag was enough to stop me from impulse buying it. Walk inside and there are three rooms packed with everything from a dining table to a small model vespa. If you are like me and never know what to get someone for their wedding, or birthday than this is the perfect place. Everything is that little bit fancy and very very French. There is barely enough room to walk and if the place has more than a few people in it you end up doing those awkward dances to get around each other. But it is well worth it just to look at all the decadent decorations they have on offer.

This store is among the many in the op-shop drag of Annerley,…read moreand while it isn't the best I've come across it still packs a hefty vintage punch. What I relish most about entering an op shop like the Asthma Foundation is the little thrill of not knowing what exactly I will find. There are the usual thrift store finds; dubious stained polo shirts, crinkly business attire and old jewelry, but if you persevere you may find the odd clothing gem or two. And while this store hasn't yielded me as many bountiful bargains as its ipswich road brother and sisters, I still very much enjoy lusting over the piles of fur stoles and jackets and the groaning retro rack on hand. Well worth a gander when out and about in Annerley.

This op-shop may be in an up and coming suburb, but for now it's a diamond in the rough that packs…read morea punch. Here you'll find primarily fashion vintage and thrift finds and minimal housewares. It is small but don't let that deter you - there are still plenty of treasures to be discovered.