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.

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

A company that sells mid century furniture from WITHIN a mid century building are either extremely…read moreflukey or crazily committed. Im going to choose the latter. A 1950's yellow brick house in Westgarth is the location for this recent addition to the vintage designer furniture/home wares market. The stock is made up the expected sleek Danish pieces, arm chairs, side boards, dressers, tables and cabinets. Theres a real mix of the high and low. So even if you arent able to pick up the four figure Swedish buffet you can still walk out with a cheaper selection 60s/70s crockery, bric a brac and art. I have seen a few pieces (70's vases, framed prints) considerably cheaper in op shops and larger vintage stores but there is still enough variation in their stock to warrant a visit from keen collectors.

I have a friend who went from ordering atomic 'inspired' chairs from Ebay - provenance: China,…read morevintage: last week - to filling his bachelor pad with exclusively mid-century Scandinavian design within a matter of months. People who fall for Scandinavian design tend to fall hard. For mid-century design junkies in Northcote, Know Your Product is the place to go. Stocking a small but extremely well edited range of 60s and 70s furniture and design from Scandinavia and Australia alongside cult pieces like 70s West German pottery lava vases and the like. Sure, an original sixties Danish teak cabinet will set you back a cool $2,000 but for those serious about good design or simply seeking some inspiration ahead of a trip to Ikea, Know Your Product is a great place for a browse.

Looking for gifts for every kind of person in your life (especially yourself)? Then look no further…read more- Five Boroughs seemingly has something for everyone. From jewellery to children's books, to bike friendly backpacks and locally crafted furniture. I'm just a little bit in love with everything here... especially the custom Monsieur Truffe chocolate bars! Milk chocolate with popping candy wrapped in a Emily Green designed wrapper? YES PLEASE!

It's pay day, your best mate's birthday is this weekend and you're feeling particularly generous…read more If you've ticked all these boxes you simply NEED to come to Five Boroughs in East Brunswick. Here you will find all the finer things in life - locally designed jewellery, delightfully smelly soaps, adorable baby booties, Danish-style desks and coffee table books for days - I mean, the list goes on! I popped in to buy a 30th birthday present for my dear friend and instead walked out with a soft leather wallet from Melbourne label Status Anxiety for myself. WHOOPS. SOZZLE! It is simply one of those stores that you will want to buy everything but will become broke in doing so. But hey, if you want to shop hardcore you've got to pay hardcore.

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.

We purchased a Fireclay sink, the external diameters were what we needed, no where on their website…read moredid it explain that there was narrowing inside, the reason we bought this particular sink is because the Fireclay sink that is in the kitchen doesn't narrow, which rendered the item we purchased from Schots useless. The first response we received from Suzanne Karras who is supposed to be their Customer Service Manager was "As you did not seek further information from our staff to find out if this sink would meet your requirements prior to purchase we cannot be held liable for the incorrect purchase made by you". She also included a highlighted section of their website that said "Never construct cabinetry without first measuring your actual purchased sink" to which we responded "we have not constructed cabinetry without measuring the sink. We do not appreciate you making an assumption and find it extremely insulting, and we ask that you refrain from making such claims" After explaining again that it was not advertised to have narrowing, we received from Suzanne Karras "We are at a loss to understand why this sink that you have purchased does not meet your needs." After explaining it AGAIN, we were met again with an insulting assumption "As the internal dimensions of the sink is not listed on our website, it is a shame that you have assumed that it would fit your special requirements of needing to fit a certain size dehydrator tray without consulting and seeking advice from our trained staff that deal with these products to ensure that it would be suitable." After many many failed attempts to contact Suzanne Karras, and even after a request to speak with the owner Neville Schot, we were then met with "I have spoken to the Director Neville Schot and he has asked me to advise you that he will not be contacting you by phone to discuss this any further." The lack of BASIC customer service, tact and kindness from Suzanne Karras and Neville Schot is disgusting. Buyer beware!!!! However, I would like to thank the young woman from their Clifton Hill Head Office and Jeanna from there Moorabbin show room. These ladies certainly know how to give PROPER customer service.

Everything you need for renovating your period home…read more Schots is serious business for the stylish do it yourselfer. Multiple levels of decisions await you from knobs to knockers, furniture to fireplaces, tubs to tiles, doors to decor and so much more. There were plenty of staff available and importantly they were willing to help, even on a busy Saturday. If all that decision making leaves you needing to quench your thirst or stave of hunger pangs there is an on site cafe. I am yet to try it though.

For those not proverbially rolling in it, a trip to the Northcote showroom of mid-century design…read moreshop Grandfathers Axe is almost akin to a trip to an art gallery in that its furniture is so valuable and so expensive that you don't tend to walk out with anything other than a greater appreciation for awesome design. Specialising in furniture from the fifties and sixties, Grandfathers Axe really does have an extraordinary selection of extraordinary vintage tables, desks, chairs, sofas and more. That said, a nice vintage armchair of Spanish or Scandinavian provenance will set you back around a cool $3000, making Grandfathers Axe more of a window shopping destination than anything for me. The company itself is all class; all primrose yellow company Volkswagen outside; high-end design and fashion magazines strewn around the place and staff that look as if they'd be just as comfortable lecturing on an industrial design degree. If you have deep pockets and a penchant for incredible mid-century furniture, Grandfathers Axe is the place to go.

From the owner: Importers of Fine Mid-Century Furniture & Objects from Scandinavia and Other Parts of Europe.read more

Jimmy Possum is a furniture store for grown ups. Free from directional floor arrows, children's…read morecreche and $2 hot dogs Jimmy Possum's price tag includes assemblage. The Jimmy Possum store is on Alexandra Parade, bordering Clifton Hill and serves as a showroom for domestic desire. The range of products is centred around their classic timber furniture range and extends to occasional furniture, soft furnishings, lamps, paintings, rugs, candles etc. Jimmy Possum designs include a high level of quality and warmth that makes the house look like a home and not a contrived gallery space. Their pieces are user friendly while still conveying relaxed luxury. I like this companies philosophy, they are "the "largest producer of furniture manufactured from recycled timbers" and also create furniture from new timbers sourced from commercial/sustainable forestry. Their philosophy comes with a jaw dropping price tag. Not gonna lie a gorgeous massive timber dining table will set you back around a cool $5000. Excuse me while I lie back and quietly lust after (recycled) wood.

I can whole heartedly recommend Thomas & Co. to anyone looking for something a little more unique…read morethan is ordinarily found in homewares stores in Australia. Beyond the vast (and eclectic) range of goods, the service from all staff is exceptional. They are truly willing to go well beyond expectations to make absolutely certain you are happy with your purchase. Having purchased a custom made Salon couch from these folks (that ended up not fitting in the house - long story, but the store is looking after the issue perfectly), I can honestly not sing their praises highly enough. I've read a few reviews from unhappy customers and simply can't understand how their situations arose - you'd really have to try to have a negative experience here.

Thomas Gannan is one of those great shops that just seems to attract people. From its clever window…read moredisplays and quirky products, it certainly seems to have a lot going on. And this is very true. The busy store carries a wide range of homeware - from dazzling lighting, jazzy cushions, trendy table matter, witty décor pieces and functional kitchen ware. It also has a lovely range of children's toys, room accessories and gifts. But more importantly, Thomas Gannan carries a good mix of exclusive Jardan sofas and stunning Arthur G lounges. It also features a selection of environmentally sustainable Australian timber furniture, which can be custom made to suit your needs. I've bought quite a few presents from this store and have always been impressed by the service. It's not often that a sales person asks whether you would like a new piece but they do here!