Amazing staff, beautiful products. Quite happy to order in stuff that they don't have.read more

My house is slowly becoming a rainforest. Seriously. At this point I have more plants than cutlery…read moreand I'm looking to add more to my clan. On Sunday morning, while my hankering is normally for a Bloody Mary and some granola, I instead craved fresh plants. It had been a long time since I visited Northroy Nursery and was pleasantly surprised by what I found. From the exterior it appears to be your basic nursery, primarily selling pots and soil however when you walk in you will find quirky cacti, hanging plants and succulents as far as the eye can see. But what is best about Northroy Nursery is their indoor plant section. I was very surprised to see an abundance of fiddle leaf figs (if you're not in the know, these are a very cool plant right about now), which are often very difficult to find in Melbourne. While these were quite small, they were retailing for an eye-boggling 20 clams! I had never seen them so cheap before! They also stocked a LOT of fruit salad plants, hanging plants and also moss for if/when you attempt a terrarium. If you're in the market for some good indoor plants, definitely stop boy Northroy.

Lock up the credit cards! You're going to want just about everything in this store to make your…read morebathroom smell better, your kitchen look pretty, your bedroom feel cosy and your loungeroom more achingly hip. From the rafters adorned with leather bunting down to the floors that hold baskets overflowing with nic-nacs and gorgeous items you simply can't live without, The Shelley Panton Store is an absolute delight to explore. I love the tables filled with colour co-ordinated items, the book selection (food, design and travel genres all well represented), hand-made ceramics and the items dangling from the roof (THAT bunting, light fixtures and even feather dusters!). There's complimentary gift wrapping too, which is perfect if you're in the market for a special gift. They'll offer a variety of papers and twines to match your purchase and the vast gift card selection makes this a one-stop-shop for all your gift giving needs.

Quick! Hide your credit card when you come here! It has an amazing array of home wares and art for…read moreevery single room of the house, and every occasion you can think of. This is my idea of heaven. Seriously. OK, I admit it. Sometimes it feels like us Southsiders are a little hard done by with a lot of cool crafty places north of the river. Shelley Panton helps to fix this with an eclectic range of products - whether you're looking to buy for yourself or for a gift, you're bound to find something here that tickles your fancy. The shop is beautifully decked out - visualise baskets of good overflowing with cute little pieces, colour coordinated products lovingly laid out on tables and also friendly service. Leading into Christmas and special occasions, they will have late night trading (complete with glasses of prosecco and a cheese platter - for real) and special dinners for events such as the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Best of all? Shelley who own the place also has her own pottery for sale (visualise gorgeous plates and kitchen goods) and Jess the resident rescue dog is a beautiful black lab that often wanders around for a little bit of customer love. OK, I admit it. I want to work here. I want to be surrounded by beautiful things, play with Jess all day and lovingly wrap presents and adorn them with ribbons

This stall has been at the market forever - okay, since 1961 - which is a long time, so they must…read morebe doing something right. A truly amazing range of kitchenware, with reasonable prices and some real bargains. The stock turns over fairly quickly so it is worth checking in every so often for a browse. You never know what you might find.

so, I recently had a frustrating experience with Third Drawer Down while trying to purchase a gift…read morefor a friend. The item I wanted didn't include dimensions, so I reached out via email and phone to get this essential information. Initially, I called and was transferred multiple times, eventually providing my number for a callback that never came. After waiting three days without a response, I emailed again but received no reply. I decided to give it some time over the weekend and tried again the following week. Finally, someone provided the dimensions, and I went ahead with the purchase. However, after a week and a half without any shipping updates, I emailed for an update since I had already been charged. I received vague communication indicating that someone would follow up, but no one did. After another follow-up, I requested a refund if shipping details weren't forthcoming. I received a refund shortly after, but again, with no further communication from the company. Overall, my experience with Third Drawer Down has been extremely disappointing. The lack of customer service and communication throughout the process has left me feeling frustrated. I do not recommend this company--it's best to steer clear.

Absolute scam site. Ordered an item and box arrived without it. When I emailed them they claimed…read more"the warehouse doesn't have it in stock". Site still has the item available for purchase though. I emailed them multiple times and I still haven't gotten my money back. I still have not received a response from their trash-tier customer service. Stay away!

It's great to see a locally owned business thriving! I love the minimalistic design and how each…read morepiece is made from recycled timber and is customised. They look wonderful and are also environmentally sustainable. The owner, Peter, is friendly and knowledgeable. He's outgoing and always happy to go the extra mile when it comes to creating a bespoke piece.

From the owner: We handmake custom furniture to your specification, using localled sourced recycled timbers that we…read moresource and refine ourselves. We make indoor and outdoor furniture, with a special penchant for minimalist designs and high feature-grade timbers.

Tucked away from the bustle of Sydney road is the no car traffic street of Sparta. A little oasis…read moreof small unique stores, cafe, and artists hangout. The design store sits here, and sells a range of handmade kids clothes, blankets and other crafts. They also stock amazing Marimekko collection and small collections from independent jewellers, cards, and other things. It's a lovely little shop that you will surprisingly spend Way too much time in.

Kew Nursery is a really popular location for locals old and young in the Kew area. I say old and…read moreyoung for a good reason: in my experience a lovely old couple or a mother with her child usually frequents this nursery and café. Everyone can appreciate beautiful plants and flowers, and everyone likes having a hot chocolate. While Kew Nursery may not have as broad a range of plants as other gardening centres like Bulleen Art and Garden, it does have really great vegetable section and some beautiful native shrubs and small trees. The staff are all really helpful but sometimes it can be hard to pin one down when its busy, that's the only problem I've had. I really like coming here because not only do I get to exhaust myself walking around and discovering some new species I previously hadn't seen, but I then get to head off into the café and enjoy a coffee and serve of eggs benedict ($13). Heaven.

Chai latte was unfortunately really bad. Lunch is good and…read moreservice was prompt and friendly. Not a lot of parking nearby Smaller nursery compared to others.

DOESNT EXIST ANYMORE. Sigh. Like maybe don't make people drive all the way there if the shop…read moredoesn't even exist anymore?

Went to one of their weekend Garage Sales. Found out about the fortnightly event on Facebook…read more Picked up some vinyl and an awesome table.

At a certain point in your twenties you move on from buying silly shoes and dresses and are more…read moreattracted to homewares and furniture. I think it is sadly one of the first signs of officially becoming an 'adult', and it's stores like Tait that don't help this change. This cutesy little store on Johnston street could easily be missed if you didn't know what you were searching, but once you get here you'll be calculating how much money is still left on your credit card. If you're decking out your backyard, or even inside and you're looking for something different and quirky, Tait is for you. They stock gorgeous designer furniture and lifestyle products with a great deal of it coming from local designers. So forget Ikea! Who wants to build their own furniture anyway? Nothing says summer like an obnoxiously bright umbrella for your backyard and thankfully Tait Outdoor has got some in stock.

One of Johnston Street's best, Tait Outdoor sells an incredible range of outdoor furniture and…read moreaccessories that are most definitely mid-century inspired design-wise but are also thoroughly cutting edge and contemporary. Selling pieces by designers such as Adam Goodrum, Justin Hutchison, Ross Gardam, Alastair Keating and more, Tait's aesthetic is colourful, simple and clean with classic monochromatic tables, chairs and loungers alongside the occasional Schiaparelli pink stool or sculptural cerise table. I know Tait's pieces aren't to everyone's liking, some finding them too bright and playful, but a visit to the Tait showroom on Johnston Street is almost like a visit to the National Gallery of Victoria's design wing. Prices are steep, with a big cushion sitting at around the $260 mark and industrial steel stools in myriad colours coming in at around $600 each, but if you love great Australian design, Tait Outdoor is the place to go.

We went here for brunch today. The service is great and food is very good…read more Price range about $16 to $20 - the serving is a good size portion. However, the Forest Mushroom is a bit salty for us. The Sweet Potato Waffle is very nice texture and seasoning, Citrus cured salmon is so nice done...taste great The Dips Plate is so nice for sharing as well. We all love it and will be back to try out other dishes

Wow, my 'lunch specials' choice was amazing, perfectly cooked & generous portion of salmon with…read morecrispy skin sitting on cauliflower mash with bok choy. So delicious, and with a half glass of prosecco for under $20.00, what great value! The service is friendly & even on a cold winter's day there are enjoyable views including the city skyline.