If you need to buy gifts for anyone, then this is the place to go. You can browse around, and there…read moreis nobody looking over your shoulder. The store is laid out for a quick stock turn around, leaving one item on show and the rest packed in boxes ready to become much loved gifts. I have yet to enter this store and not find a suitable gift for anyone and everyone. They stock vases, bowls and home decor pieces. During the Christmas period, they were selling the most beautiful decorations you could find, and they were cheap as chips. Initially I thought they were just opening up to cash in on the Christmas gift rush, but this outlet store's popularity is making them it the one stop gift shop on the Shore. The lady that served me offered to wrap my gift, a service that adds to the five stars they've already achieved.

If money was no object, Weekend Trader would be my number one stop for furniture and home decor…read more The new location looks like it's come straight of the pages of Architectural Digest. Lots of clean lines, raw metal, marble and rich fabrics. I am particularly taken with their brass anglepoise lamp, which I am saving my pennies for. I'm also a fan of their horse prints, which, dare I say it, are similar to the ones in St Clements. Slowly, as I start to buy pieces for the new house that I plan to cherish for a long time, I predict there trips to Weekend Trader will become more frequent, even if it's only to dream...

What an awesome shop! This is a collection of quirky, fun and interesting pieces of furniture and…read morehome decor items that the owner sources from around the world. The pieces are a mix of French and, Asian and Bohemian, you'll find French chairs upholstered with bright coloured fabrics, Asian styled cabinets in soft duck egg blue with an almost tribal feel to them. They also have a great range of little wood stools and other interesting occasional pieces of furniture that would make for an interesting addition to your place. Home decor items include anything from large glass jars, vessels, cake domes and candles. It is a great place to come for gifts too and with the prices ranging from $20 to $2000, I also think very good pricing. They have some draws and cabinets that I would say are comparable to what Red Current stock but at almost half the price. The layout of the store is really funky too, organised chaos, a great store, something that little bit different.

Zoo Warehouse recently opened along with the launch of Ponsonby Central and what a fine addition it…read moremakes to P Rd. If you love quirky pieces and shabby chic style you'll love the pieces crammed into this little shop - everything from large wooden cabinets to candle holders, vases and large, colourful cushions. I received a lovely glass cake stand from here for my birthday, and it was slightly faulty and the owner was very understanding, in the end giving me a discount which I spent on something else in the shop. They have new stuff coming in weekly and if you follow their Facebook page, as I do, you can even get a sneak peek at the new shipment products. Definitely my kinda place!

Okay, so this store has pretty much every bloody kitchen appliance you could ever want in your…read morewhole entire life. If you like homeware or you're my mom, you'll be able to spend hours in this joint. Hours and dollars. The Home Store stocks pretty fancy kitchenware - KitchenAid, Le Creuset etc. Basically, if you need a gift for someone who likes to cook or bake or entertain, this is the place to go. You literally will not be able to leave this store without finding something to buy someone for their wedding, or for your aunt or your sister. There are other home accessories as well as kitchenware - straws and cookie cutters, teapots and porcelain and pegs. Another plus: their gift wrapping service is on point, so that's a bonus.

This store is one awesome store. The Home Store has the good stuff. Not to name drop but they sell…read morethe likes of Cuisine Art, Kitchen Aid appliances, Le Creuset, Villeroy and Boch. If you love baking, they have an massive selection of cupcake and cookie things as well as anything you could possibly need to decorate a cake. This would be the place to come if you are really into entertaining, no matter what the occasion you'd entertain in style. The Home Store also stocks cute things like pretty coloured paper straws, little glass milk bottles, ice cream cups, popcorn bags which would be great for kids birthday parties or baby showers. The Home Store has a great range of high quality brands, a great store to find gifts for others and things for your home that make every day chores more fun, such as pretty coloured pegs and peg baskets and the Joseph & Joseph range. The merchandising in this store is equally fantastic and they do have a gift wrapping service and wedding gift registry services.

'Nest' is an urban, chic, contemporary brand that oozes style. If you haven't ventured to 'Nest'…read moreyet - go now! They offer (Winter) wool 'moss' (dark grey/light grey/indigo) blankets for $299, charcoal/duckegg/seafoam linen sheeting and duvet covers from $59 (pillowcases)... Stunning. I adore the marble enamelware in grey that is both practical and stylish. There is a bargain table of discontinued product (by the entrance) which is worth looking at... From $6 for duck egg facecloths and other essentials. You are left to your own devices to browse and do as you please. It would have been an exceptional experience if the staff interacted with me about the product! Maybe next time?

I was going to go to the Newmarket store for a few things, but I was told this one had a larger…read moredisplay of stock. It's in a warehouse, not a storefront, with easy parking outside. Brimming with beautiful bed linen, home decor and tableware, I was easily able to make my choices. Must bring my daughter here, there's loads of things that would appeal to both of us. Love the blush pillow, copper baskets, wooden hooks and the classic white risotto bowls for only $8. Great city find.

I recently visited the Design Store in Wairau Park looking for some stylish pieces to spruce up the…read moreliving area. This fabulous contemporary furniture and accessories store has really top quality furniture and items that make your home look a million dollars. If you can spare a bit of change the items at the Design Store do not come cheap, it's the price you pay for elegance and character. Stunning mirrors, paintings, leather couches, ottomans, coffee tables. You name it; they can spruce up any home or office. Sometimes, like me you're just looking for that signature piece to place on a table and emphasize colour, I found exactly what I was looking for in the form of a lime green bamboo place mat! Just perfect and matched up with the colour theme throughout the house. The staff are very approachable, which is wonderful as sometimes in expensive stores you can feel a bit ignored. They will give you tips and choices if you explain exactly what you're after. If just browsing however, you can do so with leisure.

I very often pop in here for a wander. There is a shitload of stuff to look at and it can take a…read morewhile to make your way around the entire store to take in all the cool stuff in it's entirety. Because of this I'm very thankful that the staff aren't the kind to be breathing down your neck and constantly asking if you need a hand! There's a wide range of home decor things in here. mirrors, candles, kitchen things, furniture. A bit of everything really. If you're buying you mother or your grandmother or your aunt a present pop in here and there will almost certainly be something appropriate. Some things can be a bit pricey but there are other smaller things to take away too. Pretty much something to please whoever I'd say.

Oh my god I want everything in this store. I wish I had my own house! And lots of money to be able…read moreto fill it with the beautiful pieces Harrowset Hall stocks! Mohair blankets, ornate mirrors, waffle cotton sheets, velvet cushions, linen bedclothes, cow hide rugs - Harrowset Hall is a treasure trove of textured and eclectic home decor delights! Everything in Harrowset is gorgeous and the quality is undeniable. This fine quality does mean that most of what Harrowset Hall stocks is quite pricey, but boy is it worth it! Your house would be the envy of all your friends and just by purchasing items from this store you feel better. I know when I bought a classic lace and embroidered nightgown from Harrowset I felt like a million dollars - I felt like a 'real lady'. Harrowset Hall is just that kind of place - it makes you feel like you've found hidden treasure. Exploring their signature store on Nuffield Street is a great way to lift your mood and motivate you to redecorate your home! Tip: Handmade soaps both from within New Zealand and imported from Florence are also available in Harrowset and they smell AMAZING. Not too fragrant, as a lot of scented soaps tend to be, these are just right and would make lovely gifts.

Citta is every home lover's dream. In fact, I don't own a home and it's still one of my favourite…read morehome decor shops. French provincial furnishings, bedding and lovely knick-knacks, Citta inspires grand designs and grand ideas for redecorating! Whether you are looking for a nice throw for your couch or bed, plush towels, elegant chests and coffee tables or a fabulous centrepiece, Citta will have you well and truly covered. Everything in the store has a really fresh, innovative feel about it. You can just imagine how beautiful the items would be in your own home, however it's also a great place to buy gifts for others. Mothers and in-laws in particular would love anything Citta has to offer. The outlet store makes Citta products very affordable, while maintaining a really high standard of quality. Highly recommended!

First port of call for gift ideas is Citta Outlet store in Mt Eden. This warehouse space is filled…read morewith a selection of modern and very stylish household gear ranging from linens to platters, crystal to stuffed toys. If you want to kit out a new home or apartment this is where to come. You'll find towels, robes, bath mats and rubbish bins. For the dining room table you are also spoilt for choice with their range of dinner plates, crystal glasses, flutes, wine glasses and tumblers. They have table runners, table cloths and place mats. Pick up a bean bag here or an interesting funky shick picture frame. My purchase, a breezy scarf which on these warm nights doubles as a shawl.

Gifts Galore is crammed with fun and one of those shops where you don't know where to look first…read more There's everything in here from soft toys of all sizes (even those excellent giant Hello Kittys that I'm really not allowed to buy because it's silly), to stationery, hair accessories, socks, mugs, posters, and make up. And everything has that awesome Korean twist to it, so if you need stickers of your favourite K-pop artists, here's where you head. The staff don't speak heaps of English but they are really sweet and approachable, and I'm sure their Korean is top-notch! When I had trouble figuring out if the alarm clock I bought there would play music or not (I really can't stand that end-of-the-world beep beep beep of doom), they unpacked the clock, put batteries in, and demonstrated it for me. Now that's good service.

I have been coming here for over a decade, just because you get older doesn't mean you have to grow…read moreup. Gifts Galore has just that, a lot of gifts, packed from wall to wall with cuteness. There are two sides to the store, one mostly stuffed toys and the other is stationary. Everything from pens and notebooks to mini staplers and writing paper, you will find it with Winnie the Pooh, Hello Kitty of Miffy the Rabbit all over it. The fun doesn't stop there, umbrellas, earphones, bento sets and flasks, absolutely everything. Gifts Galore also boast an impressive range of scented pens. If you haven't written with ink that smells of oranges, you're missing out. Such a fun shop, great for the young and young at heart.