Amaryllis is exactly the kind of florist you'd expect to stumble across in Primrose Hill or…read moreWestbourne Grove. Housed in a beautifully fronted, boutique shop opposite The Old Market theatre and arts centre, it specialises in elegant, stylish, unusual and exotic flowers and plants. The owners describe themselves as 'flower designers' rather than florists and supply most of the posh hotels and restaurants in Brighton and Hove with fresh flower arrangements. They also provide stunning table decorations for special occasions and weddings. If you're after a bunch of dramatic lillies, avalanche and grand prix roses or birds of paradise - this is the place to go. They also sell fantastic vases and plant pots that you won't find anywhere except antique shops. Oh and it's my birthday coming up...

I love walking into a decent flower shop, could it possibly be the huge waft of flowers you get?…read moreCould be. Amaryllis is one of my favourites and the interior of the place could also pass as an antiques shop with its old fashioned furniture and Victorian sink. When your clients include Mr & Mrs Saatchi and Zoe and Norman Cook, you must know your doing something right. This little shop really sets itself apart from the rest with its flower arrangements and manages to create more of a work of art than a bunch of flowers. You'd (I'd) expect the staff to be a bit snooty but they aren't in the slightest. Really friendly and can always work around your budget however big or small.

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.

Mosey is a pleasing little home ware shop, as such things go. Stocked with porcelain drawer…read morehandles, faux-antique clocks and handmade cushions, it feels homely with a whiff of sandalwood, and a soupçon of hempen fabric. Lovely outdoor candles share their distressed wooden floorboards with enormous lamp-like candle holders, and I was quite taken with a desk light that looked like a telescope (not in the model of one, just reminiscent of one, which is as far as it needed to go). It's all a bit washed out and pastel coloured for my immediate tastes, but many of the things they sell would make nice gifts and judging by the nice lady in charge they'd probably wrap them for you with little bows on. The whole experience can really be summed up by the word 'nice' - it feels like a dinky little business run by someone fresh out of Swiss finishing school, but with a lot more imagination and flair than such things usually have. I'd definitely come back if I were poking about in Ditchling again.

Abode is the perfect place to find homeware gifts for a loved one…read more Or for a loved one to find gifts for you! Situated about halfway down Kensington Gardens, it's charming boutique store that has lovely side tables, console tables, room dividers, fringe panels, floor lamps, table lamps, pigeon lights, marimekko fabrics, wall stickers, mirrors and luxury bedding. If you already have everything you need in the lounge and bedroom department, they also sell gorgeous kitchen and bath accessories from china, glasses, tea-pots and coasters to candles, soaps and towels. Don't know if they still have any in stock, but last time I went in I fell in love with the wicker bulls head and the Ibride ostrich console table.

Abode is a lovely little lifestyle boutique, which sells all sorts of fancy things for your home…read more Scented candles, velvet cushion covers, vases and more are laid out in uncluttered, attractive displays around the shop. They also sell small items of furniture, including some really classy wooden side tables and stools. Christmas is by far the best time to visit the store, as they have all sorts of beautiful decorations for your tree. They have a gorgeous selection, including gold Christmas trees and stars as well as some really beautiful glass decorations in the shape of parrots and other pretty birds. I bought a few last year in turquoise, white and gold and they really transformed my tree! In fact, they're so lovely that I've hung them up in my bedroom all year. Abode is a shop full of things you'd rarely buy yourself...quirky light fittings, gilded bird cages and some really delicate chinaware. It is almost impossible to walk around without starting a mental wish-list, making it the perfect place to start your Christmas list, whilst picking up a few gifts yourself! You can even create your wedding list at Abode! NB. Everything feels a bit delicate, so it's not a great place to bring the kids!

These decorative and original, hand sewn textile and woollen gifts are ideal for adults and…read morechildren alike. Each item made is a one off which is a rare thing these days. They are very environmentally responsible and only use sustainable natural organic and recyclable materials. Their textile pictures are my favourite and could brighten up any wall in the house or ideally a nursery.

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.

I have noticed this shop when I have been in the Southover Grange gardens before, but I had never…read moreventured in. I expected it to be small, but actually it expands down the length of the north wing of Southover Grange House. It is a shop/gallery which sells the work of the Sussex guild, a group of designers artists and craftspeople, whose members live and work in Sussex and the surrounding area. The various artists' and designers' work for sale includes pottery, jewellery, furniture and art. It ranges in price and style, from homey crockery painted with cartoon-y chickens, to elegantly painted silk clothing, to wooden furniture for upwards of two grand a piece. The guild also runs classes, such as how to make fused glass jewellery, or turn wooden bowls, or do quilting. To inquire about courses you can telephone or visit the shop.

This shop/gallery is inside the grange next to the tearooms. There are lots of beautiful arts and…read morecrafts in there. With everything from embroidered cards and pictures, to hats, bags, clothes, gorgeous jewellery, glasswork, workwork (the wooden bowls are amazing, but you do pay for their beauty!), paintings, furniture. A lot of it is a bit out of my price range i have to admit, but its very inspiring to look round and see what people have crafted out of various materials. Its the sort of place that leaves you wanting to go home and make something!