If money was no object, Weekend Trader would be my number one stop for furniture and home decor…read more The new location looks like it's come straight of the pages of Architectural Digest. Lots of clean lines, raw metal, marble and rich fabrics. I am particularly taken with their brass anglepoise lamp, which I am saving my pennies for. I'm also a fan of their horse prints, which, dare I say it, are similar to the ones in St Clements. Slowly, as I start to buy pieces for the new house that I plan to cherish for a long time, I predict there trips to Weekend Trader will become more frequent, even if it's only to dream...

Corso De' Fiori embodies a combination of casual elegance and sophistication. "Founded in 1989 by…read moreMargot Acland, Corso de' Fiori has been delighting cognoscenti with a meticulously curated collection of quality, design-led treasures and homewares from around the globe". Browsing through the covetable items at one of the cleverly styled Corso De' Fiori stores is an experience in itself! They have some fabulous pieces of furniture that are best described as fashionable, fresh and unique. Shopping here can be a bit of an indulgence but well worth it, in my opinion. It's the perfect place to pick up an unusual wee gift or a little exotic treasure or two for your home. I'd love to get my hands on their latest sideboard and library unit but for now; I'm thrilled to have finally found a store in New Zealand that stocks Malle W Trousseau kitchen implements! I purchased the spice grinder and hand-held mandolin from the Auckland store a few weeks ago. Drop in at the Auckland store and don't be shy to ask Tony and Erin for help, if you are after something in particular - they offer great, personalized customer service. Some of the items in the store are displayed at very close proximity and there isn't really any room to maneuver a pushchair etc., so I wouldn't take young children along. If you have time to kill, stay and soak up the atmosphere at one of the wee cafes in the beautiful historic Jubilee building. It's the perfect spot for a wee lunch-time escape during the week! I had no problems with parking as I was at the Center for a course but according to their website; there is ample onsite parking. I was too busy having fun to take pictures but I have uploaded some pics from their website so you can get a feel for the place!

Le Monde is just the place to buy that unique, beautiful, stylish piece of home decor, for yourself…read moreor a loved one. Plus, if you have the money (lucky you!), then this store have the furniture to match. Gorgeous layout, right down to the handpainted door behind the checkout that is more of a feature wall than an actual door. Its all about aesthetics here. In a room towards the back Le Monde have sale pieces, such as the brass, antique-looking clock and compass that we bought for $10 instead of the original $90. All that was missing was the glass covering over the compass that sits at the base. We can live with that. This shop is located just behind the La Cigale markets, with parking onsite. Worth a visit if you like style;)

I literally want to buy EVERYTHING in this store! BLOC is a collaboration of a number of cool…read moredesigners - kind of like a mini department store. There's beautiful, beautiful homewares, WORLD Beauty, fashion labels and even a cafe. I would even go as far as to say that BLOC has made me excited about christmas present shopping. Granted it's not the cheapest but some labels are more affordable than others (Citta, Father Rabbit) and thankfully, we have a small family!

BLOC is a super stylish department store w Citta design and Father Rabbit downstairs and Peppin…read more(children's clothing), 8 paws (dog clothing) and collected upstairs. There's also a delicious cafe in case you work up an appetite. I was lucky enough to go to one of the Bloc's special shopping nights with wine and cheese as well as discounts and goodie bags. As a marketing exercise, it worked. I explored the Blocs offerings fully and I now know where to go to get that gift for someone that is hard to buy for. The wide variety of things for the home, for the inner self and for the fur baby ensures that The Bloc will solve the gift problem.

I grew up in a home filled with art on the walls, sculptures on the mantelpiece and designer…read morefurniture all over the place. Having a well travelled father and designer mom inspired me to enjoy the finer things in life, and also to develop my own taste. These days my home is filled with artefacts I've collected on my many travels, art I've bought at auctions and a few pieces that my wife collected along the way. One of our favourite stores is Uno in Grey Lynn. Sandwiched between the two Jetset Bohemia stores, Uno is home to stylish furniture and artistic jugs and jars. A peek in the window will draw any passerby to stop and enjoy the individual flavour of their stock. From rattan light fittings to moulded glass jugs, anything and everything to beautify a home. I can't always afford the items I like best, but there is nothing stopping me from enjoying their beauty.

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.

Walking into this store is like stepping into the bedroom of your dreams. Harrowset Hall is has…read morenarrow spaces between beautifully dressed beds with stunning duvets, quilts, blankets and hand embroidered throws, so many cushions and plump pillows. French armoires are open displaying more bedding and down the back of the store there are plush organic cotton towels from Portugal and bed linen, 500 plus count sheets made from Egyptian cotton. All of the beautiful French furniture in store is available for sale so you can recreate Parisian sleeping bliss in your own bedroom.

I had a squiz at this garden centre when I stopped to get a coffee at Cigana which is just 50…read moremetres away from it. I'm not much of a gardener but I do appreciate a good stroll around a good garden centre. There's always a bit of a serenity about it. And this is exactly what the Sunhill Garden Centre is like. As soon as I walked in the shop assistant asked me how I was going and if I needed anything. The other staff member was busy helping a man with the best plants for his garden. She obviously was so knowledgeable plants and had so much information for him. There were loads of different plants and a cute gift shop too. I really love my fresh herbs and I was delighted to see they sell three herb punnets for $10! That's so cheap and they smelt amazing. Basil pasta here I come!

For being located on such a busy road, Sunhill Garden Centre is surprisingly peaceful. Perhaps it…read moreis the tree-bound setting combined with the trickle of the water features that distracts you from the sound of traffic, I don't know. But what I do know is that Sunhill Garden Center has a really great wide range of plants, from perennials and succulents to dwarf shrubs and citrus, which are all clearly labelled and well organised in the garden out the back. You can also pick up Oakdale Organics vegetable and herb seedlings starting from 3.99 each or 3 for 10, which seems to be a good deal. Inside you will find all sorts of gardening supplies and also plenty of gifts, such as potted plants, ornaments and various gardening accessories. And if you have a little one with you, then Sunhill has arranged for that too, with a small playground at the back overlooking the Apirana Reserve.