If you're an antique collector or you just like to fossick through old stuff then you should go to…read moreSue Claytables Antiques Curios and Collectibles on Duthy Street at Unley. This antique store is run by Suzanne and Clayton Tregilgas. Both Sue and Clayton are avid collectors so they know what they're looking for when it comes to sourcing old stuff. Their Duthy Street store is filled with all sorts of antiques and you can find almost anything there. I saw a vintage trike, a rather funky vintage ladies hat, old glass jugs, chairs, plates, glasses, toys, lamps, picture frames, crockery ... phew the list goes on and on. My one word of advice is when you visit, is to make sure you give yourself plenty of time to have a good look through the entire store because it does take time to look at everything properly. Sue Claytables Antiques also specialise in collecting old Lego with a range of classic Lego for sale. Any lego sourced by Sue is usually built first before its put on display. Go and have a look through the shop if you're in the market for old bits and bobs.

Antiquing anyone? There is nothing I like more than to spend my spare time dropping into musky…read morestores looking at old furniture and other odd treasures. Maybe even squeeze in some time to pluck my nose hairs......no, I actually enjoy that.....hurts like hell but sure is satisfying! Anyways, not the biggest fan of most Antique stores, though I do like the ones that hide random things of interest, which is what I found with Sueclaytables. I particularly like the owners obsession with Lego, I'm a space ship builder myself! There is a lot to check out, so if you are looking for a quirky bit of old school appeal the store is worth checking out.

This antique store has some really nice furniture for not too expensive a price, so that's all…read morefine... The one thing that creeped me out about this store was the man who owned it (I'm guessing it was Peter Stapleton). He just sat in his chair and stared at everyone who walked in, with constant eye contact. I always feel weird when I walk into antique stores because I feel like the owners don't trust me, being a young person, and wondering why I'm looking at expensive items I could never afford, so the eye contact from this man didn't help. It also didn't help when he almost yelled at me for having my phone out (I was just replying to a message... not taking photos), but I understand that rules are rules. All in all, I wouldn't go back, though they have some pretty nice things.

Wow. I've been into some unfriendly shops before, but this one takes the biscuit. No music, no…read morefriendly greeting, just obvious utter distrust and paranoia that I was taking photographs to bring in burglars. Yikes. Actually considered buying an item, but with that level of creepy surveillance and awful service I just decided I didn't need it that badly. Sad really, they have some beautiful timber items. Just be prepared to be seen as a petty criminal if you're young and not wearing your fanciest outfit.

Looking for a fur coat? I know I was and I found it here, upstairs amongst a vast array of vintage…read moreclothing. I must admit it did take me a while to find my fur, mainly because it took me so long to make it up stairs, and that's because I was distracted by the jewelery. So much vintage jewelery...you know, the stuff you used to drool over in your nanna's jewelery box when you were 6, and maybe like me, you haven't stopped drooling. The broaches, the hat pins, the hair pins, the earrings, the bracelets and the rings, it's almost too much to process; like a sugar overload. Another cool thing is that they have a hug book shelf dedicated to matchbox cars and there are so many random/ weird household items to explore! I will say that it gets slightly creepy as you delve further into the store, there's a book shed out the back which resembles a small library, this place has everything.

I made mention to a friend of mine one lunch time that I was looking for places that sell…read moresecond-hand books, and he showed me this place. At first I was a bit baffled because there only seemed to be antiques in the store, that is until I looked out the back and found a huge collection of books. I have to admit that their books actually aren't that great, and some of them are a little over priced (such as the Enid Blyton book that they are selling for $90.00 which I ended up getting elsewhere for $10.00 - needless to say that they still haven't sold it). While the books were pretty ho hum, the collection of antiques was nothing short of awesome - everything from clothes to household furniture to toys. While there are better second-hand bookshops in Adelaide, this is a place to check out if you like antiques.

Ron is the white haired and feisty fellow who will keep a sharp eye on you if you start mucking…read moreabout in this gallery showroom of remarkably beautiful objects. Mirrors and light fittings rule, but there are some amazing old wood objects like gigantic sideboards and tables, from those days when heavy meant good and solid meant heavy. Some of the chandeliers here will blow your mind. I photographed one that is at least three and a half meters long and is made up of cascading crystal with cut glass balls. Really beautiful if you like that sort of thing. Check out the photograph, although it may not look as big as it really is in the picture I took with my camera. There are quite a few pretty amazing things here and the prices are varied, some things seem inexpensive given the detail and style of materials used. I really admire some of the mirrors particularly; very old style. Some of the lighting fixtures are reproductions, just like the garden statues that are all pretty splendid even if they are made of concrete and painted or given a brushed finish, they still look quite impressive. If you have come into some money and want to make your home look really extraordinary this shop is worth a visit. If you live in an old home and want to give it a historic touch, or if you just want to knock someones socks off by presenting them with a totally gorgeous antique may I suggest you come in and discuss your budget with Ron, let him guide you - he's a very fine chap, ad the stock he has collected here is also very fine.

Well I didn't win any lotto dosh for New Years Eve so I won't be buying what I want from this…read morewonderland of antiques. The shop is busting at the seams with all manner and variety of items and all in usable condition. The centre piece I think of this place is the huge chandelier, just think of the musical Phantom of the Opera and if you've seen it, there's a massive chandelier which comes crashing down when everything goes horribly wrong romance wise...well there's one in here - I might be exaggerating a little but it is huge! If someone buys it, I reckon they'll have to cut a hole in the roof to get it out! Besides chandeliers hanging all over the place, there is a load of other lighting available suspended, wall fixed and standing. Plus furniture, garden statues, dainty french style wire furniture, birdcages, gorgeous mirrors huge, large and small, urns, pots, stone benches and more stuff. Oh and there are some really, really impressive pearly gates...I'm definitely in heaven here.

This second hand shop goes on forever. You walk in and immediately you are overwhelmed. It just…read morekeeps going. Not just hardwood furniture of every shape, size and era - but nick nacks and what some people might call bits of old junk is hidden throughout this shop. There is a little workshop out of the back of the warehouse style building where some of the old furniture is being collected and some restored. I have been in this shop a few times over just a few weeks, and in that time - they had all new products to choose from, which made it another furniture adventure all over again. The furniture is affordable and you can let your imagination run wild with ideas for your home. The staff are incredibly friendly and they are passionate about furniture, restorations and helping their customers. They even offer to deliver large items for free to homes within the area. Martha Stewart would love this place.* *I assume

McKay's Mart Secondhand furniture located on Unley Road is definately one of the better city based…read moresecondhand furniture retailers. The products range from pretty scruffy, to fully restored but all the prices are super competitive and many of the pieces are excellent quality. They have a lot of armoirs, dressing tables, wardrobes and desks. Many pieces are wood and most sorts of timber are well represented. The big warehouse-like store is well laid out so you can walk up and down aisles with very few problems. No fossicking required! Definately a place you must check out if you get into the recycled furniture caper and lack the time to actually attend the auctions yourself.

This gorgeous little haven is a time machine back to the finery of the early 20th Century decades…read more It is filled with authentic jewelry as well as costume jewelry from the period, as well as beautiful old hats and stoles, gloves, fascinators and knick-knacks. The shop has that fantastic smell of old things, a mixture of dust, age and moth balls. You can spend hours looking at all the pieces in here, and admiring their craftsmanship. The owner's daughter is great to have a chat to when she's in. We lament together how 'people of our generation' don't appreciate antiques, and that they only like 'vintage' because it came into fashion. They don't understand where it came from, what it symbolised in its time, and how differently most pieces were made to the way they're made now. We should be wearing some of the stoles and old lady hats from the store and drinking tea while we have these types of conversation. Whether you're a true appreciator or not, this is a wonderful little gallery of the past to enjoy a trip into.

I've only had a brief look in here. One of the things that I love doing sometimes is to visit…read moreantiques shops, just because of that atmosphere that the objects in the shop seem to exude. The smell of old books, the old world craftsmanship of the furniture, the curiosities that looked like they were cutting edge technology in 1935, it's just a good experience. Tusmore's isn't any different. It's got all the sights and smells you'd expect. They had some beautiful furniture when I went in there. There was this dresser that I'd just love to have sitting in my bedroom. Mind you, as with all beautiful antiques, the price tag was quite substantial. Well worth it, but I'll be waiting and saving. They do do auctions at Tusmore's, and they've been appointed as the South Australian consultant for Sotheby's, so you know that they have a good reputation.

A store and restoration workshop in one, you can't go past this place for beautiful pre-loved…read morepieces. Staff are lovely to chat too. They're most know for their Victorian Era and French Style gilded mirrors. A great place to browse if you're looking for that something special for your new living space.