I am so passionate about this shop, it's like falling in love over again but with an innate object…read more Yeah, that sounds corny but it's true and anyone who sees it can't drive or walk past without going inside, it definitely has the 'IT' factor. A small shop but chock a block as its black and white colour scheme with neutral tones and spots of colour here and there, is a lovely combination. Black exterior, big picture windows, white interior and the name MAPLE in white against the black in simple font, is a classy effect plus the items they stock are just as dramatic. Once you look past the candles, jewellery and all the filler stuff every other shop in Adelaide carries, it's certainly different to what you'll find anywhere else and you can be sure of that. If this was the only shop available for lease when the owner was looking, she has chosen well....I think any larger and it would have taken the charm away. The owner has sourced items from everywhere including overseas, I remember once seeing these cute little, rustic fabric looking birdhouses, which came from New York made by a textile artist by the name of Tamar Mogendorff, and I noticed there still some of her creations in the shop like the little owls. Unfortunately I have to add they're mega expensive, hence I didn't buy one. The hessian sack textile crafts from India, Dinosaur Designs resin bowls, clothing, wall art, glassware, home decor, vases, nautical items and driftwood themes and tones, really too much to mention. It's a shop where the feel comes through of the owners' desire to source and stock items they love, otherwise what's the point of doing something you don't love day in day out! Do yourself a favour, it's summer, the Adelaide Hills are a short drive from the city and....go to there.

I guess it's a home wares store... or something. Kind of a random set up, it's been there for quite…read morea while but my sister only just noticed it the other day, so it's making a really great impression on the people of Stirling... It's a 'things' place, if you need a new thing for your bookshelf or your mantlepiece or your walls or your dresser, this is where you would find that thing. the latest is this weird feather piece, looks like the feathers are stuck to a plate, it's really expensive and similar to what they have on the walls at Parisi's. Again, if you don't have a fair bit of cash or aren't willing to spend it, then don't even bother going in. luckily if you do go in and the prices are enough to put you into shock, the pub is 2 seconds walk away.

I go a little bit weak at the knees when I think of gift boxes, ribbons, candles and vases. The…read moreessential niceties of party favours can be found at Baldocks, along with any cake decorators dream supply of icing bags, cutters, edible flowers and chocolate making kits. Baldocks has a wonderful variety of ribbons that you can buy in bulk but unfortunately does not sell gift boxes by the carton. It is also a tad more expensive and limited in range than your typical Spotlight. However, if you're looking for something a "little bit different" and noice then Baldocks is your place for every crafters/event organisers need. The ladies behind the counter love a good chat about any craft or cake decorating project you are doing and always willing to offer an opinion. They are a tad unwilling to come out from behind their desk and help but that just allows you to browse the store for hours unattended - something I strangely love!

From the owner: The Merchant on Queen Street. Open to wholesale and retail customers.read more

22/12/2011 Lamp shades and all those itsy bitsy pieces that…read moremake you say, wow! This nicely hidden, tiny, crammed and crowded shop packs in quite a lot of different things to add to your home. It's all cute, I especially liked the white desk lamps. My eyes were so busy looking around this store. I really liked how the staff asked me if I needed any help, and if I couldn't find it in here, they directed me to three other stores that I could look in. So helpful. The only reason I didn't rate this higher was because it was so packed, and hard to move and look around, that I just needed to find my item elsewhere.

I can't really fault this shop. It's one of my favourites! Full of bags, jewellery, candles by…read moreGlasshouse (which smell amazing by the way), home wares, well-being and inspirational books, journals and unique finds. Each time I have come into Fireflies I've had a warm welcome. The staff are very friendly and helpful. I have bought two Christmas gifts from here and they kindly gift wrapped for no extra charge. I also bought my travel journal from here (after looking everywhere else in the city); the lady got together all the travel journals they had which gave me a range to choose from. In the end I left happy with my purchase. If you are looking for a special gift or a treat for yourself, you'll have no trouble choosing something. Go in, have a browse, and I'm sure you'll come back for more!

Presentation is everything as my mother would say, and this gorgeous store's front gets top marks…read moreevery time. Now located a few shops down the Regent Arcade from their Renew Adelaide pop-up, the store has settled in and the Arcade's vibe suits it well. Stocking the hand poured Zuki & Boo soy candles in some truly delectable scents, this is my primary reason for swinging by. I'm a real lover of a 'natural' smelling candle (as opposed to the saccharine qualities many other scented candles give off) and this stock is top notch. Available is different glass jar sizes and also available poured in a tea cup (with the saucer to match), they make great presents for yourself or others. My current fave is Bergamot & Banksia but the Coffee Bean is just right to get your day started (I work night shift so burning candles after waking is perfectly acceptable at 6pm!). Check the candle 'menu' for some potential favourites and the staff can let you know when they become available (or pour some for you). The store also has a beautiful array of posies and floral arrangements with the ladies happy to create a floral arrangement to your colour palette or floral taste for an excellent price, however I can never go past the gorgeous bouquets often sitting in the store front (and often so cheap!). Succulents at various stages of growth and in an array of pots plus terrariums can be picked up and once again, all very reasonably priced. Other assorted soft furnishings are available, cushions and throws, as well as some stationery and assorted homewares. A great place to find a gift for yourself. I'm a fan.

Having had a good lurk of places to check out over yelp whilst killing time waiting for a car…read moreservice I decided to check this place off the list! It's like a florist for the young and funky where you can grab terrerium pieces planted into clever little pots, glasses, teapots and large jars. Being a fiend for cacti and succulents I went absolutely bananas over the place and was stoked the owner shared my enthusiasm for her awesome little shop! There was so much I wanted to buy but budget limitations meant I just left with a large jar with some little leafy babies inside for the bargain price of $45 (so little considering it has five little varieties included). VERY well priced and lovely woman I want to come back and grab a teapot with some scented candles next time I'm in town for sure so please leave me one haha... so make sure to check it out!

BUYER BEWARE - DO NOT SPEND YOUR MONEY HERE Paid $239 for a…read moresmall rug & returned today within 14 days from purchase & this con shop store only offer store credit if the purchase is bought instore YET if you buy the same product online then you get a full refund!!!!! So much for encouraging purchasing in store PLUS the store credit is only valid for THREE MONTHS!!!! What the hell. Served by 2 teenagers who couldn't give a crap, the whole experience was RUBBISH NEVER EVER EVER SPEND MONEY INSTORE AS THERE IS NO RECOURSE FOR YOU

This is one of my favourite places to shop for gifts and basically for myself! With a bohemian mix…read moreof Fair Trade products, mirror stitched Indian ottomans and cushions, unique wrapping papers, wide range of jewellery by Elk and Polli, travel journals featuring the capital cities of the world; there is something for everyone. My favourite would have to be the vintage printed hankies, priced under $12 and the red donkey memo holder. Book lovers would love the wide variety of interior, art, travel and cookbooks here. If you're planning a trip to France soon, you may wanna check out the range of books here dedicated to the culture and travel of France. Flourish also stock skincare range from Mor and others that are deliciously good on the skin. Too bad you can't eat them! At every visit I make, the shop is bustling with activity and foot traffic. I'm not surprised as you can really shop for your whole family here! A must visit if you haven't already.

Greg works the weekends and Julianne keeps everything happening through the week. This is a great…read moregift shop with heaps of really amazing carved wood and lots of other stuff, but it's the carved wood that is featured. Giant critters of all kinds. I was originally attracted to the big spiders for hanging on the wall, because they are kind of unusual and not so real they'd freak you out; upon closer inspection the shop is crammed full of all sorts of really wonderful odds and sods. Bangles, beads, book ends, wall hangings, candle sticks, sarongs, bags, a few baskets; all pretty much imported stuff from all over the place. Not too expensive and a great variety of things. African carvings and probably Indonesian, Indian, some Australian as well, I've been in several time and still see stuff I didn't notice the first and last time, if you get what I mean. It is a family business (as in wife and husband), so you can rely on them if you are looking for something unusual to help you out - they know their stock pretty well and since so much of it is wood they do a fair amount of polishing and keeping things fresh. I really like wood so I really enjoy having a look through this shop. Some items are quite small and then they vary in size through to really large features objects like elephants and giraffes. Its fun browsing and hard to visit without seeing something you want to take home, so be warned!

From the owner: Hand crafted giftware, including wood carvings, iron and wooden wall decorations, mosaic and shell…read morebowls, platters and coasters, art canvases, sarongs and accessories. Range includes abstract carvings, cats, dogs, giraffes, elephants, African sculptures, buddhas, dragons, snakes, and more.

There are a few House and Garden stores in Adelaide, however they all have their own unique feel…read more My local is Unley however I stopped at the Magill Road store in Stepney to pick up a Christmas gift and found a completely different arrangement to the Unley store. They stock a similar range, but have a large room at the back and an upstairs area with a great selection of furniture. Upstairs is more shabby chic white metal furniture and artificial plants. You can always find great specials in the front downstairs section of the store with many products discounted, glasses, Maxwell Williams, gadgets and lots of other things that the kitchen. There is also a small, cute selection of baby toys which make perfect gifts. The home decor here is not that different to what you find in a House and Garden magazine without the pricetag. I have bought beautiful bedside tables for under $100 and I have made good use of a white dresser with cane drawers in my bathroom - a large three drawer tallboy for around $350.

House & Garden is an Adelaide only affair with a store comprising of furniture, kitchenware and…read moretableware for your humble abode as well as a few other decorative pieces. The items on offer have a strong rustic vibe with the main furniture displays featuring "retro" vibes and old country manor feelings-there is a hell of a lot of wicker, oak and lacquer here! A larger and more spacious showroom allows for a greater volume of stock and better displayed furniture pieces. Your stock standard kitchen brands of Maxwell and Williams. Scanpan, Raco, Salt and Pepper and Circulon are all here with more platters than you can poke a stick at but I find the store lacks a decent utensil and kitchen tools range. Staff at the Magill store aren't as helpful as at the Malvern store, I've been carrying items in my arms and been ignored a few times and did have the delightful experience of being told that the floor staff didn't have enough time to look up the price of a piece of furniture on the floor for me. So although I love pieces in here, based on past experiences, I'd head off to the Malvern store as I love the friendliness.

Yes Husk is a women's fashion shop with a range of exotic and "artisan inspired treasures", but…read morethere are also brilliant gifts for the women in your life, e.g. books, homewares, jewellery, candles, scented oils, boutique organic teas etc. Also a great cafe/providore with fantastic organic coffee and a range of Moroccan influenced salads, wraps, and other fine and yummy things. Tables to sit and chat while you are waiting for someone else to shop. Fire in winter. Great music courtesy of Pandora, you could request French Cafe or perhaps Groove Armada channel if you prefer? Dancing has been known to occur, happy days!

Do you enjoy a spot of gardening? If so then you can't go past The Conservatory Garden and Home on…read moreUnley Road. This is a high end garden shop supplying quality plants so you will pay a little more but the benefit is your plants are more likely to survive if they have a good start to life. Plants at The Conservatory are all very lush and the staff do everything from selling single plants, to giving advice on making your garden thrive, to designing complete gardens. With flowering plants, climbers, trees, shrubs and a selection of plants guaranteed to survive Adelaide's extreme weather, the guys at The Conservatory know there business and are happy to share their knowledge with customers. Even if you're not buying, just walking through this garden shop is quite an experience - it's like a mini botanic garden in the midst of suburbia. Inside you'll find The Conservatory is more like a house than a shop and the interior is set up with a range of giftwares and books set out in different rooms. Some of the items you can buy there, you just wouldn't expect to see in a garden shop. In addition to everything else, they can deliver your plants if they won't fit in the car, gift wrap your purchases and will always send you on your way with a smile on your face. If its too tricky to find a park on Unley Road (as is often the case) I find their off-street car parking in Irwin Lane very handy.

The Conservatory looks -and is - a wonderful place to decorate your home & garden. The beautiful…read moreshop front on Unley Road looks more like a high class, expensive estate, but houses perfectly manicured plants for the front garden of your upper class home. The inside is filled (not really suitable for kids, too much to touch and break) with homewares, furniture, decor, prints and lots of pillows. However wonderful this place is to look through, it is very expensive - which makes it exclusive to the higher income market. Everything is of the highest quality though, go and have a look through - if not to buy, just to get ideas!