Run by veteran antique dealer Paul Downs and his partner April, SWAG is a stylish and unique…read moreshowroom that displays distinctive pieces of antique furniture. Everything is sourced by the couple themselves and as a result, you'll find old leather arm chairs and 1930s sofas next to stainless steel cabinets, wooden chests, trunks and unusual lights. The quality and originality of the stock means the prices venture towards the expensive. For those with a smaller budget however, there's also a small selection of paintings, decorative letters, statues, world globes and mirrors. Since the couple are so friendly, it's also worth making them an offer if there's something you really want but can't quite stretch to.

On first glance I thought this antiques shop looked slightly austere, and in fact I wasn't even…read moresure it WAS an antique shop at first, so sparsely arranged and high quality is the furniture. However, on closer inspection Swag proves to be a very stylish showroom of the highest quality antique furniture and home furnishings. It is an unusual experience compared with many of Brighton's other secondhand furniture dealers, who generally inhabit musty, cavernous shops, characterised by clutter and chaos. Swag is clean and polished; full of 1930s and 1940s office and home furnishings that would fit perfectly in a Film Noir set. I particularly like the metal desk lamps...they really capture something of another time. Although I personally enjoy the rummaging treasure-hunt aspect of the more casual antique/ junk shops in town, I do admire the experience and precision and with which the owners have sourced their collection. The stock is beautiful, just a little pricey for me! A great place to find striking one-offs if you have money to burn.

Home decor and designer's accessories store. This one in Brighton, four others in different parts…read moreof London. They sell desiger's lights on the ground floor, designer's furniture on the first floor and basements you will find rugs. Ask for their interior design service if you need some suggestion.

Hands down the best furniture store in Brighton, Heal's is a four storey building that specialises…read morein stylish and cool furniture, storage and accessories for the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, lounge, living room and office. What distinguishes it from other homeware shops is the quality and creativity. The company clearly appreciate style and they go out of their way to employ established and up and coming designers. There's classic Eames chairs, Phillip Starck lights, Tim Dixon chairs, hot pink flock chandeliers and cushions by Nitin Goyal. I could happily buy most of the things in this store but the thing I really, really want is one of their Chesterfield sofas. The first problem is, I don't have a spare three grand. The second problem is, they offer it in about 30 different shades of leather and I can't decide which colour. Should I go black, white or turquize?

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!

On the look-out for a new armchair or lamp?…read more England At Home is a lovely boutique shop that sells furniture and home accessories that wouldn't look out of place in Elle Decoration or Living Etc. As well as a small assortment of leather and wool chairs and loungers, they sell swish side-tables, lampshades, chandeliers and mirrors. If you're after something unique as a gift, they also have buddha statues and cool cushions embroidered with everything from Union Jack flag to burlesque girls in kitty heels and underwear. If you plan to go soon, could you pick me up two of the latter?

One of several quirky home decor store in Brighton. I love the tail wagging clocks of dogs in…read moreblack hanging on the wall as soon as you enter the store! They sell interesting stationary too.

First of all: assess your budget…read more If you've got a few grand to spare: read on. If you're normal: you might as well not bother. Money aside, I'd vote Rume one of the best, if not the best, independent furniture store in Brighton. Amongst other things they stock two in-house ranges, Baker & Belgae and Jet Baker, that comprise everything from Victorian style Chesterfields to Opulent Chez Longs. They also stock various other pieces including lamps, clocks, cushions and cabinets. If you've serious cash then you can even get a bespoke item made to you exact specifications. If it wasn't so bloody expensive I'd be a bigger fan of this place but I can't give five stars to a business that charges over £3000 for a sofa.

Rume is one of those places that makes you wish you played the Lottery…read more An independent store selling stylish and eye-catching furniture, they sell classic chesterfields, chaise longues, day beds, corner sofas and arm chairs by established names and resident designers Jet Baker and Baker and Belgae. Laid out in an open, warehouse style space, they also sell cool and funky coffee tables, cabinets, dining tables, lamps and chandeliers. If I had a spare three and a half thousand, I'd be tempted to buy Mool's incredible, life-size horse lamp. It makes me laugh every time I see it and would shock visitors. In reality, my budget only stretches to Tom Dixon mirrorball lamps and their divine cushions. Should I pick the rabbit and lettuce ones or pigeon and jelly?

The shelves of Pansies are so packed, I found myself standing in one place for several minutes…read moretrying to take in everything in front of me - it took awhile to get through the shop. Items for sale include home décor and unique gift ideas, displayed in a colour-coordinated and organised manner. It would almost be a shame to take something off the shelf; everything is set up so nicely. A couple of my favourites were the scented bath balms shaped like cupcakes and the Civil Partnership money pot. So, I do agree with the sign outside - Pansies is an 'Aladdin's cave' of gifts - and free gift wrapping is offered with each purchased. Nice touch.

What a fabulous little place this is. They've only been set up for about five months, so they're a…read morerelatively new addition to The Lanes. I walked in and was immediately greeted by an extremely friendly shop assistant who asked me if I fancied a coffee because the kettle had just boiled how wonderfully unheard of is that in these days of surly, unenthusiastic retail stuff? It put a grin on my face for the rest of the day. Describing themselves as an 'Aladdin's cave of gifts and interiors', I couldn't NOT go in here it's full of gorgeous things like delicious smelling Yankee Candles, jewellery, hand-painted money boxes, artificial flowers, gift cards... all laid out in a wonderfully higgledy-piggledy way so that you feel as though you really are rifling through a mini cave of treasures. The lovely man I spoke to was more than happy to chat to me about all the stock telling me what's popular at the moment and what would be great for Mother's Day. He also mentioned that they offer a gift wrapping service which is another rarity these days. Although a lot of the bits in here are a little more at the pricey end, they present you with such a wonderful shopping experience that it's worth spending a bit of extra cash.

If you've ever wondered what you look like whilst shopping, you should check out Bo Peeps, where…read morethe surfaces of about 80% of the selection are mirrored. Everywhere I looked, there was me - looking: in dressers, nightstands, tables and, of course, the large supply of decorative mirrors. Some pieces of furniture were made from wood - I saw a few wardrobes and a dining room table in the basement. (It really felt like I was walking into the basement of someone's home, actually - there was a couch down there as well.) Other items included lamps, chandeliers and smaller home décor items like little silver boxes. Prices were a bit on the steep side - £500 for one of the larger mirrors (shaped like a sun, very cool), over £1000 for the couch - but it's some nice stuff and there's a post-holiday sale at the moment. Some items - not the greatest ones, of course - are up to 70% off.

If you're the kind of girl or boy that likes to throw disco parties, you're probably already…read moreacquainted with Bo Peeps. If you're not, you need to pull on your fake fur, shimmy down to the Lanes and check out the store's selection of eye-catching lighting and furniture. There are no mirrorballs sadly but there are dozens of chandeliers, glossy bar stools and chairs and sparkling mirrors. Bo Peeps piece de resistance however, is their unique range of mirrored and mosaiced furniture. The price tags aren't cheap but if you want your pad to look Superfly, you'll have to dig deep in those pockets!

I have no aspirations to be a domestic goddess. If I did…read morethough, I'd slip into my marigolds and my kitten heels And I'd scoot over to Bert's at least once a week. A local homestore two minutes from Jamie Oliver's Recipease, they sell every cute and kitsch accessory you could wish for - from spotted cake tins and stripey aprons to colourful bowls, chopping boards, whisks, spoons and tableware. Oh and the essential items for budding bakers - cupcake and muffin tins!

This lovely little store is a new addition to Western Road, building on Bert's successful original…read moreoutlet at 33 George Street in Hove (their web-site has not yet been updated to include the new venue). Basically, they sell things for the kitchen, like crockery, cutlery, draining racks, chopping boards, gadgets, and so on. Although the range is not that large - only a few styles of cutlery, for example - they do have lots of useful things, and the store is lovely just to browse around. The place was buzzing with happy shoppers, doing just that. (In marked contrast to the January Sales hell that characterised the rest of Brighton). I have spent hours trying to find an small olive spoon, for example - and they had one, and an olive spear, and a spring-loaded pickle fork, and... We also bought a really large, heavy beech wood chopping board - from a sustainable source - for under £8. Something else that caught my eye were several designs of nice wire draining racks, in bright funky colours - no horrid plastic tat. Oh, and lovely, friendly, helpful staff. I hope they succeed.

This is a fascinatingly strange place, specialising in elaborate masks…read more The range includes some wonderful examples of mask-making: bright colours, elaborate decoration, full feathers. The prices aren't as extortionate as you might expect either, and while some masks are pricey, others are available for under £20. The only problem is - what the heck would one do with these things? I'd quite like to own one, but I very much doubt it would get much use. Perphaps as a wall decoration?

There's something a touch Eyes Wide Shut about Mariposa…read more An old fashioned antique shop in the Lanes, it's been selling unique and chintzy figurines, ornaments, presentation plates, glass fruit bowls and lamps for the last two decades. The thing that dominates the walls and windows however, are an eye-catching array of handmade, papier mache masks with decorative feathers, glitter, silk and paint effects. According to the owner, some people buy them just for display purposes whilst others snap them up for balls, special occasions and fancy dress parties. Personally, I can't look at them without thinking of Stanley Kubrick, Tom Cruise and amoral sex games with masked strangers.

Try the cafe from breakfast to Sunday lunch , ask for Mark the cafe manager always willing to help…read moreall the girls are patient, nothing is too much trouble , oh ask louis to cook your breakfast I'm doing weightwatchers and he has been very helpful. The main wyevale garden centre offers so much it's hard to list . Always an array of colours a bountiful haven for any budding gardener , or just to look at .

Property is so expensive in Brighton that what would be considered a bin yard up North is…read moreconsidered a spacious front or back garden here! Being lucky enough to have both a spacious front and back garden, I am always on the look out for gorgeous new plants. I usually buy my lavendar and herbs from Flower City round the corner and go to Wyevale Garden Centre for everything else. It's expensive but the stock is always varied and extremely good quality. They have plant pots, soil, gardening furniture and seeds inside and a massive selection of seasonal and perennial flowers, plants and fruit trees inside. I've bought everything from rosemary, thyme and chilli plants to dahlias and rose bushes and everything has grown beautifully. In fact, if I could afford it I'd go back tomorrow and order fig and olive trees for next spring.