This place sells some funky furnishings to brighten up your home. They also stock some great…read morefurniture, jewellery, and gift ideas. The bright colours and textures of items spilling out around their small entrance is what drew me in for the first time. I have shopped there several times, and although I love their stuff I do have to mention that the service has not always been so great; staff are often too busy socializing, or have little knowledge of their own stock; once I left my phone number, wanting the price on a particular item that they couldn't quite get at, physically, and they never phoned me back.

I had a disappointing experience with this store…read more I received my order and immediately noticed that the clothes had a very strong fragrance smell. Given that I ordered premium organic children's clothing, this was quite concerning and contrary to what many parents expect - minimal processing and no added scents. They also sell diffusers and candles, which may explain the scent contamination. I emailed the same day I received the package to request a return and refund. It then took a full week to receive a response, which simply instructed me to return the items to a warehouse address, with no clear process. I replied the same day asking reasonable questions -such as the warehouse opening hours, whether I could drop the items off in person. It has now been another week with no response. This was also confusing because their company policy states that online orders can be returned to any of their retail stores. This would have been far more convenient, as they have multiple locations with set opening hours and staff available, so you know you can actually speak to someone and have the return handled properly. Overall, the lack of communication, slow response times, and inconsistency with their stated return policy have been very frustrating. For a brand positioning itself as premium, I expected much better customer service and handling of returns. I would also caution other parents who prefer unscented, minimally treated baby clothing to keep this in mind when ordering.

Father Rabbit is the absolute best. It seriously turns me into a gushing 16 year old. They've got…read morebeautiful, beautiful homewares, candles, children's clothing and there's a small amount of adult clothing too. This store is larger than their Ponsonby one and is located inside Bloc, which is dangerous in itself. But back to F.R, the brands they stock are all seriously stunning - lots of whites, neutrals and soft pastels.... it's my dream to make my house look like this one day... Not surprisingly, Father Rabbit has become my go-to for gifts. It isn't outrageously expensive and they've got a wide range of products, something for everyone. Check it out next time you're in Mt Eden....the ultimate one stop shop.

I bought a lamp from these guys just yesterday. I went in knowing roughly what I was after, however…read moreit sometimes pays well to also have a good look around in case there is something you had not considered, it is also good to see what is on offer - and this store have a nice array to chose from. Luck was shining my way too, they had a sale with some items up to 60% off! Yippee for me! I was after a desk lamp for ambience, not so much practicality, however it needed to be a certain size and I didn't want to settle on something generic and boring, which I had seen through most of the department stores I had been to already. The staff member that served me was very good at her job, considerate enough to introduce herself and let me know that she was there to help if need be but not so in my face I could't breath. Friendly, efficient and clued on, thank you! So, to end my personal story, I walked away with something even better than I had envisioned and cheaper than I had expected; $60.00 total for an ornate brass base, off white shade and an energy saver light globe.

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!

If I could live at Citta Design best believe I would! I love the sale prices they have there…read moreespecially the bags. The bags range from picnic bags to those funky basket bags. I have bought at least three bags from there and they have all being under $30. Other than the bags the bath robes there are those thick white fluffy ones that you get in those lovely spas! I wear mine all the time, when I am lounging around at home. My mum and I always go to Citta outlet to get a few things for the bathroom. The selection is always tasteful and classy with modern designs. We bought my fave wine glasses here and tea towels for the kitchen amongst other things.

This is a great shop for picking up unique presents that once unwrapped, won't immediately scream…read moretheir price point at the recipient. And if you're looking for a bigger commitment, the furniture is pretty much unique within Auckland. Buana Satu has changed a lot over the years. It's evolved from something more along the lines of The Third Eye, into a more upmarket, modern haven of unique art and homewares like rugs, bags, cushions, and crockery. When I last visited I was completely smitten with the little mermaid sculptures hanging on the wall - glittery, kitsch, and with little moko. So adorable. And surprisingly inexpensive. There are a lot of things with a slight kiwi bent available here, but they're definitely not souvenirs. They're much nicer than that. In sum, it's a kind of "I bought this for someone but on second thoughts I might just keep it for myself" haven.

This store really surprised me. From the outside it looks like it's going to be your typically…read moreoverpriced home-wares store, but on closer inspection, it's actually got some rather nice little Kiwi-centric gifts such as traditional greenstone necklaces and other New Zealand made jewellery. It's a really great gift shop to find things for friends or family abroad and even better for visitors to the country to buy something distinctly Kiwi to take home with them. I also really like the selection of Buddhas they have in the store, made from stone and resin and available in a variety of sizes and styles. It's a spacious store, with nice lighting and relaxing music on the stereo. making for a very pleasant browsing experience and the lovely guy behind the counter really knew what he was talking about when I made an enquiry.

This was a beautiful shop! Such a lovely place to buy some New Zealand made items to remember my…read moretrip by. I will recommend this trip to everyone I know!

Mixt Art and Design is one of my favourite places to find great Kiwi inspired gifts and unusual but…read morebrilliant wee retro knick-knacks and decorations. Fantastic embroidery, sculptures, platters, vases, pillows, books and wall decals are just a few of the funky finds that Mixt offers. I recently became obsessed with the wall decals they stock - brightly coloured and incorporating my favourite things - animals and flowers, the decals are also reusable so you can move them around your room without worrying about ripping the paint. What's not to love? Another great thing about Mixt is the price. Though most of the products Mixt stocks are made locally, everything is still really reasonably priced and you can feel good about supporting Kiwi creators too! Having recently relocated to the building right next door, the new Mixt store is spotless and funky and compliments the stock as well as the women that work there. Next time you're looking for that perfect gift, or want to liven up your room, make sure you check out Mixt!

It was nice to see such a lovely little shop pop up in Birkenhead, since, let's face it, the…read moreshopping area itself is a bit down-at-heel. Crave and a few other little cutesy boutiques are giving this shopping centre a new spark of life, which is fantastic. From the outside the shop is very enticing, with a great mix of funky homewares and a few gift items thrown in the mix. My personal opinion is this shop is a bit over-priced though. I picked up a few items to see the price tag and almost immediately set them back down again. As cute as a box of stripey paper straws is, I'm not paying $12.50 for it. Perhaps if they got in a few reasonably priced options I'd be back.

Crave is a top quality home and gift store that is a new comer to the classic Birkenhead shops…read more Located at the corner of Mokoia Rd in Birkenhead, you will be in for a delightful shopping experience at this stylish boutique. They are award winning as of 2012 receiving a retail excellence award- so enough stated really. If you wondering what to buy a friend or family member who seems to have everything and anything. You might be lucky in finding a few special pieces in this original gift and home store. Stylish cushions and jewellery are my fave's here, because they have flair and style and standout with oomph! The staff are friendly and will help with your needs, all you need to do is call out. If you have found that perfect pressie they will also wrap it up to look gorgeous darling! A real shopping experience with class and sophistication.

Awesome store! Such a fantastic range of homewares and furniture that are really unique, I find…read morethis store to be a breath of fresh air, so vibrant and even on a dull day the colourful fabrics and prints are really lifting. This is a very good place to come for gifts, or to buy stuff for yourself, Allium stock brands and ranges that other stores do not or from international brands that would be risky to have delivered due to their fragile nature. The store merchandising is always fantastic though I suppose this is a give in considering it is owned by a designer. Allium is not just a store, they offer a free measure and quote service, in store interior and interior design consultations. So if you're looking for inspiration and staff with the knowledge to help you get the look you're after or don't yet know you are after, give Allium a visit.

Allium has been in Newmarket for a long long time, however they have just recently moved to a new…read morelocation and definitely for the better! When you walk in to their new store they have this amazing feature wall that is just breathtaking and what's even better is that you can purchase the wallpaper that it is made from! They offer lots of beautiful products from linen and home wares to furniture. I have always had really friendly service whenever I have been in. Their prices are expensive but you don't come to Teed St for cheap shops so you do expect them. Allium also have a great online store where you can look at their product ranges as well as purchase.