Dwell is the younger sibling of Tempted, a lifestyle store about 50m down the road…read more Where Tempted sells smaller more lifestyle oriented products (think photo frames and vases), Dwell stocks bigger household items like couches, floor lamps, armchairs and dining tables. Dwell isn't a high-end furniture store, but it's not competing with Fantastic Furniture either. It's a comfortable mid-range sort of store that is on par with the likes of Freedom (perhaps a little lower) in terms of price, but the stock is available in MUCH smaller numbers. If you want something for your home that isn't from the usual suspects like Freedom, Ikea, Plush, etc. without paying a fortune, Dwell is a great place to start. Oh, and should you see something you like but isn't quite right, make sure you let the staff know. They have catalogues full of things that can be ordered just for you.

I love the furniture in DWELL. I think that they have some beautiful pieces. And the staff are…read moreamazing, cant' help enought So wonderful and enthusiastic. My experience was disappointing though in customer service from the owner. I wanted to redo my home office, and was ready to purchase a few pieces of furniture. I went in a couple of times, and even dropped off wall paper samples to help me match fabrics. I was so very disappointed that the owner never got in touch with me about the samples and helping me to finalise my choices. The staff were great - fantastic actually. They were so wonderful to me, but in the end I felt like the owner was too busy to spend time helping me. Feel sad, cause I was really looking forward to getting a couple of the pieces :)

Love this store! Everyone is so helpful and the deliveries are prompt and professional! Great…read moresales! Check it out! Todd helped us and made us feel right at home! We go here all the time! Definitely worth a visit!

Worst ever! Ordered click $ collect, no one picked the order. Called the next day to follow up, got…read moreput on hold for ages, eventually someone said they would check and never called back. Gave up on that and went down to the store to do it myself, checked on the order.... still nothing. Do yourself a favour, don't bother shopping/ordering online, go somewhere else. Go anywhere else. Nice staff but useless store. Something that should have been so easy and should save you time, had me pulling my hair out.

Wilkins and Kent stock some beautiful things. Kitchenware, ceramics, organic soaps and candles, and…read moreof course well-made and divine woodwork are scattered around the space. On my last visit I spent a lot of my time eyeing a long handmade redgum bench. Sleek and simple it stood in the middle of the store and radiated comfort. Unfortunately the price tag (well over $1000) and lack of space in my house meant that I didn't have a hope in hell. But I can dream. Wilkins and Kent have some great kitchenware ranges including the Nigella Lawson range, and some exquisite ceramic bowls. On my last visit I bought some ceramic birds that hang from the wall - glazed with beautiful colours they are beautiful little pieces of art and around the ($50) mark, weren't too expensive. The service at Wilkins and Kent is always great, although the store can get very busy so it may take a while to get some service. But friendly and well meaning, the sales assistants are helpful and knowledgeable about the products.

Wilkins and Kent is one of those must-visit stores for me on Brunswick street. Filled with a…read morekaleidoscope of products from pretty table ware to chic bakeware and printed lamps. This is also one of those stores that you need to slowly work your way through in order to appreciate it for what it really is. Incidentally, it would be easy to mistake this shop as a homeware store, but in actuality, Wilkins and Kent specialise in custom designed furniture. And from what we hear, the bosses Jeremy Wilkins and Stephen Kent are the actual furniture makers. If you're looking to create a custom designed piece or are just looking for something to complement your home with, check out this lovely store. Wilkins and Kent also carry a wide range of household décor items, stationery, gardening tools and other bits and bobs - perfect as gifts.

Issimo seems to exist to sell France, as expressed in a range of knick-knacks and ornaments. But…read moreonly a certain version of France, no Vichy propaganda, or photos of De Gaulle, or mementos of the '68 riots. It's all about pictures of hot air balloons in a 19th century style, about blue and white-stripped milk jugs, about large expensive wire models of the Eiffel Tower. While it's a little delusionary, the store definitely has a lot of charm about it.

Tempted is what I like to call a 'stuff' shop, but I believe the commonly accepted term is…read more'lifestyle store'. The prices are exceptionally reasonable and it's filled with nice bits and pieces that make for perfect gifts when you're stuck for an idea (and their gift wrapping is rather pretty too). To give you a ballpark for what to expect, over the years here I've bought: - Several photo frames - A set of cheese / pate knives - Cushions - A makeup bag - Lots of cards - A brooch - A lamp - A candle And only one of those were for me. Definitely worth a trip... just don't be surprised if you come out with something you didn't know you needed.

Lots of lovely smaller homewares and personal products that make great gifts for friends (or…read moreself!). Prices are very reasonable. So much so that I sometimes have to check the tag twice to make sure I shouldn't get my glasses out - some things are just soooo cost effective. Service is fine and the gift-wrapping is really stylish, and still free. Definitely worth a visit if you need to organise a decent pressie in a hurry.

Every suburb needs a knick-knack/gift store that isn't naff. For Port Melbourne, Mister White is…read moreit. This designer homewares store offers the usual suspects of small furniture items, mantelpiece adornments, scarves, bags, cushions, giftcards, saltwater sandals, happy socks. If you've seen one, you've seen them all, but that doesn't mean that Mister White is not worth the trip in - it means there's a good chance if you know the type of gift or item you're after, you know that you'll find it here. Nice layout, quality products and good range across price ranges makes Mister White a cut above the competition on Bay St.

Mister White has a really lovely range of gifts and homewares and I used to shop here whenever I…read morehad to find a unique birthday present. I purchased a homeware product for myself though and when I got it home it just wasn't right for the space. I had spoken with the assistant when I was purchasing and she had said that I could bring it back if it wasn't right. I returned the product the next day, expecting that I could get a refund. I was told however that they won't refund any products - only a store credit. Whilst the woman I spoke to when I purchased it did not specifically say I could have a refund, it definitely wasn't made clear that it would only be a store credit. The assistant I spoke to when I was trying to return the product was also quite rude during our entire interaction. Given they are a homewares store and that some of their products really need to be placed in situ to see if they are really right, their store policy seems quite unfair. In any case, if that is the store policy they wish to enforce then they could make it a lot clearer before purchase. A small sign near the register doesn't really suffice. For this reason I won't personally be shopping there again as it's a deal breaker for me. It is a real shame though as they have the potential to be great.

My goodness is this place beautiful. 70s tiki bars, leather Danish sofas, oak desks and red-striped…read morebutterfly chairs - everything that would get your apartment immediately photographed by Frankie Magazine. I stumbled upon this store walking home from Barkly Square. I spotted a bamboo tiki bar (with matching bar stools) in the window and immediately gravitated towards it - it was so damn beautiful. Naturally, as most things are, it was hugely out of my price range but WOW it was nice to imagine it in my living room. Angelucci 20th Century don't just do furniture! They also have great homewares, mirrors and a variety of knick knacks (everyone loves a knick knack). A great warehouse for Saturday afternoon browsing or if you have a nice budget to spend on home-decorating or are looking for a gift with a difference. This is the second Angelucci store, sister to the Fitzroy store, and acts as more of a warehouse than a retail store.