This is one of the most beautiful homeware stores I've ever stepped foot in. It is huge and packed…read morefrom floor to ceiling with products. There's clothing, jewellery, elegant stuff for the bathroom, pretty cushions, bags, candles, clocks, vases - the range is immense. The layout of the store is great, with one large room on the ground floor. Up some stairs and you reach a balcony housing a thousand different temptations for your nose, as candles and the many other modern inventions for making you want to eat air huddle along shelves. Once you drag your nostrils away from this section you find yourself facing a long corridor lined with towering shelves holding soap dispensers, towels and much more. Along here a way and you'll come to a tiny room full of cushions in every colour of the soft, cuddly rainbow. It was a lovely place to explore - if you have Houdini-like children I probably wouldn't bring them here.

This is kinda like a "general store" of fabulousness…read more Want a cute Xmas card with a cute tin star on the front? Or perhaps a sweet dress from Fleur Wood? How about a bathrobe so soft you feel like you're enveloped in a cloud when you try it on? Or Xmas decorations, homewares, handbags, toys? I could have pottered around Olive for hours - it's quite literally crammed to the rafters with bits'n'bobs. Not all of them cheap, but if you're a fan of poking around, so to speak, you'll love it here. As is so often the case with me, I spied with my little eye, something beginning with S (for sparkly) so I spent an age at the jewellery counter, trying on all sorts of bling. I was particularly liking the Kardashian range of jewellery which is actually super cool (who knew?) and the shop assistant told me that I probably like it because it's apparently designed by the same people who do Nicole Richie's jewellery line, House of Harlow 1960 (which, in fact, Olive sells too). I reckon there's a little bit of everything to keep most people happy in here.

I've been to a lot of home and living shops in my time, and this one is a stand out. Why? Because…read moreit's interior is unlike all the others; it's laid out just like a house...well a very strange house at that. I mean, who has a bed in the middle of their lounge room? Anyway, oddly positioned bed aside, the place itself is beautifully fitted out with a simple beige colour scheme. There's an emphasis on furniture; wooden stools, wicker chairs, wooden benches and drawers as well as the usual suspects; candles, cushions, lamps, cutlery and ceramic crockery. Just be prepared to part with a fair bit of dosh - prices are a little on the high side.

I find Paddington to be a bit like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates when it comes to shops; you…read morenever know what you're going to get. Some places are full of gorgeous things that don't make my eyes widen at the extraordinary prices, while others are also full of gorgeous things, but with terrifying price tags. Both of these options are scattered throughout the suburb, so when you walk into a little boutique, it's always a bit of a gamble. Looking at Villa & Home from the outside it seems a fairly safe bet that this place falls into the latter category. It has to be the smallest homewares store I've ever seen. At first I thought it was quite narrow, but that it extended a fair way into the building. It turned out there's a mirror on the back wall, so the shop is not as big as I was first optically tricked into believing - an ominous sign that it was going to be pretty pricey. My theory was proven correct; they had umbrellas in there for over $200. Obviously what they sell is high quality, designer stuff, but it didn't look too exciting to me. And in stereotypical hoity-toity fashion, the majority of their products were beige or cream coloured. If you're willing to spend hundreds of dollars to look stylish as you hurry about in the rain, go for it.

I didn't go into this store because I wanted to buy homeware goods. I wanted to see what had become…read moreof this building - or rather, house. The structure has struck me as beautiful for years; when I was a child, this house was literally my dream house. I visited this "house" today. Because I wasn't intending to buy anything I looked at it all without worrying about price tags (though when I did glimpse a few it confirmed my suspicions: expensive). I felt like I could therefore just enjoy the store as an experience, because the homeware items, toys and antiques here are really quite quirky. I wandered about, absorbed in what felt like looking at art, and suddenly there was a bustling cafe in my face. I realized I'd become so absorbed I'd hit the base of the stairs leading to a cafe. Even the existence of the cafe seemed other-worldly; you don't see many coffee shops inside homeware stores. Unsurprisingly, I got lost on the way out. (Partly the result of embarrassment over having almost fallen onto stairs, partly because the place is quite maze-y.) A lovely staff member approached me, comprehended my dilemma and helped me. She also laughed at my self-deprecatory jokes, which is obviously the most important thing.

Blake and Taylor sell some of the most adorable furniture and home-wares that are either recycled…read moreor new pieces with a vintage edge. This store is not cheap but the merchandising and make a fun experience. This is the sort of store I can imagine myself shopping in if I ever become a 'lady who lunches' so I could invite my friends over for tea and show off my Blake and Taylor furniture. A lot of the things sold here have a vintage look that somehow manages to look modern. I think painting everything white and keeping everything free from too much embellishment is what makes things look chic rather than look like something your grandma would have in her guest room. I found the most amazing vanity at this store. It was all white with a huge round mirror and there was a cute little stool to go with it. It was adorable but at $350, I really did not need it (who really NEEDS a vanity anyway). Blake and Taylor is a treat to visit. Even if you are not a "lady who lunches" yet, it is a nice store to walk around and look at all the pretty things.

Yet another homewares store; there are so many of these hanging around. This one is pretty…read morestandard. What sets it apart is like so many stores in Paddington, it's lucky enough to be housed in one of the former residential houses that have been remade into a shop. The room to room style of wandering through the store certainly adds a certain amount of charm to the place. Les Salles specialise less in the small things for around the home, more in larger items, like furniture and lighting.

Not a bad little store, Du Monde is located in Paddington's "antique district". Sandwiched in…read morebetween two antique shops, I admit I prefer the antique shops. I also prefer the nearby Green Tangerine if I'm in the market for homewares. My main stickler is the price at Du Monde. In most cases, it seems a little exorbitant for the goods, which include furniture, gifts, home ware, fashion and uncommon luxuries. You can get the same "uncommon luxuries" at other stores for a cheaper price, even in the expensive Paddington (The Trading Circle is a better alternative). In terms of fashion, I also prefer Green Tangerine. The homewares at Green Tangerine are still expensive, but slightly less so and the merchandise is still fairly unique. Du Monde's strength is in its unique furniture offering. As Oliver H. pointed out, the goods are primarily French in origin. So if you're not exactly short on cash, or you need something expensive and foreign as a gift for a wealthier friend (e.g. your boss), you can probably find it here. There are large kerosene old-school lamps, well-made wooden chairs in bright colours, throw pillows (at $135 a pop) and an array of chairs, both wooden and wicker. There's quite a few wicker goods here, actually. There was an oversized wicker-inspired wreath we saw, which reminded me of an oversized crown of thorns. Ideal for someone with a Jesus/God complex?

Du Monde is French for "of the world", which is fitting considering the number of air miles the…read moreowner, interior designer Daryl War, puts on in the pursuit of the best home-wares on offer. As the name suggests, the products are mainly French in origin, with a lot of the buying being done at Frances 'bricolage' markets. The layout of the store is divine, wonderfully showcasing the provincial home wares, iron furniture, textiles, soaps, candles and other delights. They also sell some clothes, though I suspect these are from local Australian designers. I recently acquired a very finely made rectangular wicker tray here as a Christmas present for my mother. At over $100 it wasn't the cheapest around but it was exactly what Mum wanted and the quality spoke for itself. If you're looking for a gift that will impress the aesthete in your family check out this exemplary home-wares boutique.

I walked into The Trading Circle with trepidation. It's immediately evident from the store signage…read morethat this shop, established by a non-profit company to support women in poverty, has the potential to be quite expensive. I can't think of a better reason than charity for supporting Paddington's higher prices when it comes to non-essential shopping, but I was surprised to note that merchandise here was far from overpriced. Not only were the prices reasonable, the merchandise spans a large range of trinkets, gifts, toys, clothing and jewellery - the perfect place to pick up a gift or a treat for yourself. I bought a beautiful blue beaded bracelet for $4.50 - the packaging contained a picture of the child who made this particular bracelet, her name and other personal information. Such jewellery is made by children suffering from AIDS or are exposed to conditions of poverty where AIDS flourishes. All of the hand-made goods here are ridiculously gorgeous and well-crafted. One section of the store reminded me of a hippy store, with colourful knapsack-style bags, purses and pillow cases lining the aisles. (However, the quality was clearly much, much better than your standard hippy store.) Another section, featuring hand-made soft toys such as clowns, clocks and other critters reminded me of a toy shop. Yet another part had me drawn in for a good ten minutes - the jewellery selection. Here are some absolutely gorgeous earrings, totally unique and respectable in price (around $25 a pair and sturdily made). The store also sells cards, home ware and coffee, tea and chocolates. The staff are friendly but not pushy - the perfect combination. There is also a free gift-wrapping service as an Xmas bonus. This is one of the best places to shop in Paddington. I have to admit I was very surprised by how much there was to see here, how unique the merchandise was and how perfectly the Good Shepherd Sisters have pulled together this store. I'll be coming back again soon for some last-minute Xmas shopping, for sure. And it certainly won't be the last time I'll be coming here.

The Trading Circle is a fantastic initiative set up by the Good Shepherd Sisters. Their mandate is…read morehelping women trade out of poverty and they do this by focussing on helping women in poverty stricken areas set up micro enterprises, usually with a community focus. So what does this mean for you? In this one spot you can find a wealth of unique, quirky items that not only feel good to own, but feel good to buy. This store is particularly good for anyone buying for kids (think beautifully crafted toys and clothes), however it's also a great shop for homewares and gifts. The items you buy at this store are not only beautifully crafted, they are also helping women across the world AND have the added benefit of novelty. Your gift will not be the same as anyone else's and you can feel a wee bit smug that your money went to a good cause instead of feeding big corporations. They also have a great range of Christmas decorations, and during December are open from 10am - 2pm on Sundays to help with the demand.

Thousand Island Dressing; ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod. My attention was split five thousand different…read moreways walking in here because there are literally so many beautiful things everywhere. You walk in and straight away there are shelves and shelves of jewellery in every style and colour to greet and entice you. They have the most incredible range of jewellery with pieces that are adorable, in particular a teapot/teacup set of earrings and floral headbands that you just can't find anywhere else. There was even a silver necklace with an envelope that opened with a letter inside. Cute! The jewellery is colour coordinated, making it very easy to find pieces you want and match them to anything you have in mind. They have bags, wallets, soaps, books, pillows, lights, jewellery holders, literally everything! The place has been converted from an old Paddington house and the fixtures that decorate it mesh so well with the very pretty and very original items. French brand Taratata Bijou is also featured and they have quite a big range of cufflinks for the boys too. You pay a little more here but it leaves you feeling like you've spoilt yourself to something special. Everything is ornate and really gorgeous - perfect for gift ideas and birthday presents. They even have aluminium Christmas decorations for the season. They cover homewares, accessories, and jewellery and you definitely won't find it difficult to find something here; the problem is settling on just one thing.

I am very sorry to sound like a grouch but I just do not get the big deal about this place. Yes, it…read moreis colourful and beads are falling out of every angle. Yes, it does sell nice jewellery that I probably would like to wear. And yes, you could probably find a nice gift for someone here. All of these positive points do not change the fact that I have had awful customer service from this place. So much that it has put me off going there altogether. Ok, so here is the scenario that has happened more than once. You walk in, there are a couple of staff members standing in the corner gossiping away. Usually this does not bother me that much even though I know it is not considered to be good customer service. When I actually go to counter to pay and actually have to wait 5 minutes for someone who is not busy at all to serve me, that is what annoys me! When you try to make small talk with the sales assistance, you just get ignored! I am not the only person who find their customer service awful, my sister has had a similar experience. Maybe I'm just being sensitive or have only been to the store during bad times, but this place needs to consider opinions like mine. I'm not asking for the best service of my life, but a little bit of service with a smile would be nice.

What a gorgeous store, lovely items for your home and some amazing party decorations to brighten up…read moreyour special event. No photography is allowed so you have to take my word. The prices are a bit pricey but the items are in no way cheap looking and would really make your home beautiful. Go on take a look next time your in Paddington

This adorable store contains an eclectic mix of all things cute. Bags, stationary, clothing and…read moremuch more, all sporting unique patterns, come together to make this a very enjoyable little shop. All the knick knacks are cute, but I was most enchanted by the clothes. I did gulp a little when I spotted a sale rack down the back proudly proclaiming everything on that rack to be $100 and under - not exactly my personal definition of a bargain. One thing I adored was their range of greeting cards. All of them featured the most beautiful images. It was a lovely store, a great place to get a gift for the (or any) lady in your life.

Maiocchi sell some of the cutest little knick knacks I have ever seen. I am more impressed by the…read morejewellery, accessories and household decorations of the store as some of the clothes remind me too much of what I would expect an eccentric high school art teacher to wear. As I walk into the store, I am greeted by a sales person who was dressed in accordance with the store- cat-eye glasses, red lips and one of the store's dresses, I found her to be very welcoming. I instantly gushed at all the adorable looking jewellery- the wooden pendants and earrings shaped like bunny rabbits and other cute animals and quirky brooches are just too cute. I nearly bought myself a clock that was shaped like a bunny, but had to remind myself that $70 was a bit much for a clock. If I had more money, I would love to buy a necklace, earrings and a clock from here. Although the clothes are not particularly my style, I can tell that they are definitely very good quality and that they would last a long time. Maiocchi just screams cute and quirky. You do not have to be an eccentric art teacher to appreciate what this store has to offer.

Rosalie Village Garden Centre is a bit like a secret garden. You'll be walking along Baroona Road…read moreand all of a sudden, you'll come across a quaint garden path, blooming with flowers of all different colours, shapes and sizes. You'll be drawn in like a bee to pollen. Outside of being an extremely pretty nursery, it's also got some very cool plants that are considered a bit of a rare find in these metropolitan parts. Amid their fruit and veggie section was a small pineapple plant. Now, I'm a bit of a gardening nut, and I haven't seen any pineapple plants for sale anywhere in Brisbane. When asking the owner as to why this is the case, he replied with "well, I guess it's just easy to buy a pineapple from the store, and then if you want another pineapple, you can just cut off it's head and put it in the ground, and it'll grow. There's no real need to sell them as plants". But he still does, and I think it's great. He's also got infant versions of iconic trees like white jacarandas and yellow flame trees. Rosalie Village Garden is so crammed with plants it looks a bit like a jungle. If you can find the owner through the greenery, just ask him what you're looking for, because he's far better equipped to help you out in an efficient manner. Even if you're not a green thumb, I'm sure most people would appreciate this tucked away humble little haven on an otherwise high end cosmopolitan strip.

Don't let the tiny entrance fool you, this place is larger than that entrance makes it out to be…read more Walk in and you will notice a pathway that will guide you to pleasant garden the size of someone's backyard. There is something very homely about this gardening nursery. Without sounding too corny, the plants look happy and alive here. Although it may not be very large, there is a large selection of plants here. I am not an expert in gardening but from what I noticed there was a good range of flower pots, herbs, vegetable gardening equipment and garden decorations. It would be easy for a place so small with such a range to become cluttered but surprisingly everything the place is well organised. At the moment, they have really cute small sized Xmas (pine) trees which are an excellent size for many of the homes in the area since Rosalie has many apartment buildings. 'Rosalie Village Garden' is the answers to anyone with a green thumb living who do not want to drive 20-30 minutes outbound to buy their plants and gardening goods.