The Antique Polishers is an antique shop in an old Queensland-style shop front. They sell antiques,…read morebut they also trade in them so you can sell to them. As well as buying and selling antiques, they restore them so if you have an old gem lying around that needs a scrub up and a coat of varnish, these guys can help you out. I love walking past the Antique Polishers because there's always so many things to look at. There's a lot of genuine antique furniture like chairs, tables, and shelves, but there's also cute little lamps, trikes, kids chairs etc. They get new stuff pretty often, and things get snapped up fast so if you find something you must have, buy it straight away. I missed out on a vintage Coca-Cola crate because I decided to think about it for a day or two.I've never had anything restored here, but if the day comes when I need anything polished up I'd bring it here.

Oohlala, oui tres bien! My French may be awful, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the…read morecharming quality of The French Corner. The shop boasts an air of cluttered decadence; everything is kind of mashed into one place but it only adds to The French Corner's magic. They have some singularly gorgeous pieces, including a thickset white bedframe and the most amazing 20th century vanity and mirror I have ever seen. They also have an array of dazzling jewellery and accessories littering the side cabinets. Wading through the organised chaos is half the fun, because it allows you stumble across some hidden treasures. Just make sure you don't bump anything. I find that walking into The French Corner transforms you into a glutton; you can't just stop at one item. Once you pick up one thing you see a million others and can't bear to leave them behind. And yes, some of their pieces are rather expensive, but they also have a range of fairly priced items - most of them unique items that you'd be hard-pushed to find elsewhere. You can distinguish the shop easily from its trademark sign and if that fails, its beautiful vintage luggage and dressmaker mannequins lining the shopfront will give it away. It's an excellent place for gift ideas and for bits and bobs to add a stylish and quaintly furnished touch to any décor. If you're in the area and have some spare time, I definitely recommend popping in for a look and getting lost in another world.

Driving along Enoggera Rd, The French Corner entices you to stop and have a look. You know it is…read moreopen when the entire outside is lined with unique furniture, classy mirrors, old clocks and all sorts of other glorious decorations. You can tell that it gets a lot of customers from the road as cars pull up out front just for a quick browse. It is the kind of store that is way out of my price range (most of my furniture is second hand and falling apart) but is filled with the stuff I dream of having. There was an old clock outside that I would die to have but the $260 price tag was enough to stop me from impulse buying it. Walk inside and there are three rooms packed with everything from a dining table to a small model vespa. If you are like me and never know what to get someone for their wedding, or birthday than this is the perfect place. Everything is that little bit fancy and very very French. There is barely enough room to walk and if the place has more than a few people in it you end up doing those awkward dances to get around each other. But it is well worth it just to look at all the decadent decorations they have on offer.

I honestly expected a place named after a British comedy show to be a little tacky, but absolutely…read morefabulous is far from tacky. There's weird and wonderful knick-knacks, toys, books, and gadgets to delight and entertain even the dreariest of company. There is choice everywhere you look: For that morbid friend you have, there is a guide to hypochondria; for the friend that won't trade in their old wallet, there's a range of vibrant colours ad luggage to match; for the friend who's trying to make their place more homely, there are countless pillows and kitchen utensils with a twist, pant-shaped egg cups, and china sets; and for lovers of jewellery there is a vast array of wooden styles to add an earthy feel to your outfit. There are just bits and pieces of everything littered around this store, in a good way of course. Everything is almost retro-modern, especially the furniture they have sitting outside the door. Absolutely Fabulous is that place where you know you'll find a birthday or Christmas gift for anyone, because their range is far too widespread for anyone to dislike anything.

Absolutely Fabulous is one of those stores that will impress…read moreeven the grumpiest person in your clan. I have seen all sorts of people happily walk through the Ab Fab doors ...and really why not? This place is one of the best little retro/gift stores around. A haven of quirky goods and trinkets, this place has everything from bird key holders, pug bookends and novelty shower caps to art cards, beautiful gift paper and vintage ornaments. This store is in my arsenal of places to go to when a person is annoyingly difficult to buy for or is someone I don't know very well. (I can guarantee you will find perfect gifts a plenty here.) Ab Fab is worth a definite gander when out and about in Woolloongabba!

Walking into Samarang, I immediately got the impression that this Asian style furniture store was…read morethe real deal. What I mean is that there are a lot of tacky, cheap pieces you see in home ware shops such as Loot or Bali at Home that looks like it has been inspired by South East Asia but they're just imitations. In Samarang, there are some wardrobes and drawers which have clearly been re-fashioned from antiques. The intricate carvings in the wood and the details sewn into the textiles speak of the craftsmanship behind these exquisite pieces. The staff was clearly passionate about his work and was happy to share his knowledge about the history behind particular pieces. He also informed me that the woven material which I assumed was cane or wicker was actually water hyacinth - an aquatic weed from the Amazons which can cause a lot of environmental damage but happily, the Indonesians have worked out a way to use it to weave furniture. I was particularly impressed by a low set hard wood coffee table with an oval indent in the middle, designed like a mortar to ground chillies. Pity I've already got a perfectly functional coffee table - though admittedly with no in-built chilli grinder. If you like the style of furniture at Samarang but couldn't find the perfect piece, speak to their friendly staff. Samarang can create custom made pieces specifically for your home.

We stumbled upon this sweet vintage gift shop after a coffee at The Single Guys and I'm so glad we…read moredid. This place is packed with an eclectic mix of goodies from homewares, lighting, jewelry, board games, and old vintage pieces - you'll definitely be able to pick up a unique gift for those hard to buy for. I found some beautiful old dressmaker sheers made of copper and cast iron that I've put on my wish list. Definitely visit if you're in the area.

Hobohemia is a collection of vintage charm, retro kitsch and a truck load of effort from the two…read moremasterminds behind this operation who source the store's wonderments. The items given space on the shelves, floor and outdoor area of this converted cottage are exceptional and have earned their stripes with a story from yesteryear. The range might be smaller than other locales but you know they've been hand selected and vetted. I've admired Hobohemia for a while but what really stamped them in my heart as a great antique, vintage and more store was recently talking to one of the owners Mike about wanting to hunt down old Queenslander doors for a bit of a DIY project. They didn't have any at the time but a few weeks later I got a wonderful message from Mike saying they'd had a few doors come in and was I still on the hunt. It's this commitment to the cause that makes Hobohemia a wonderful delight to visit.

As you're walking up the garden path towards the front door of this eccentric little antique store,…read moreyou feel a little like you're in some kind of gypsy camp thanks to the quirky range of odds and ends littering the yard. It was with great trepidation that I stepped over the threshold, but I was thrilled to find a delightful store packed with treasures. Not only do they have great stuff like vintage rocking horses and rustic old tricycles, but the prices are a lot more reasonable than I expected. It's a must for anyone that likes something a little different in their home.

This Paddington op-shop is, as its name suggests, full of second-hand designer clothes as well as…read morebric-a-brac, old vinyl records, books, and a huge collection of vintage clothes from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Upstairs is full of shoes, bags, jewellery, hats and men's, women's and kid's clothing from big and small designers. Downstairs is a veritable treasure trove of high-waisted 50's skirts, pleated dresses like the ones grandma wears, evening gowns from all decades, leather coats from James Dean's glory years and my favourite, a rack of enormous faux fur coats from a time when people were a little bit classier. The clothes in here might not be as funky as what you will find in a dedicated vintage store but the prices are much easier on the eyes and if you dig deep you can often find something a bit special.

Ah Endo's, the place where clothes go to be reincarnated. Endo's is kind of like a bit fancier, bit…read morefunkier Vinnie's where the clothes have been sorted to ensure that only things with the potential to be reborn are allowed through the doors. This is great for op-shoppers in a hurry who would rather skip trawling through pilled Kmart dresses that aren't quite vintage and more early 2000s. The convenience and funky factors do mean that the prices are a little higher than in your average secondhand charity store, but usually you'll find something in Endo's that makes that worth it. Especially since you can find it in half the time thanks to their excellent stock selection. Whether you're a novice op-shopper or just a lazy one like me, Endo's has done half the work for you and all you need to do is pick what you want and pay for it! And then when someone compliments you on your new dress or jacket and asks you where you got it, you can feel very suave and hip when you reply with a wave of your hand 'oh, this old thing? It's vintage'.

If you're looking for fabric, lace, trim, sewing notions, curtains, haberdashery this is THE hidden…read morejem in the further-est recesses of the oldest part of the Cannon Hill shopping center. If you're a sewer and crafter this is a must visit if you can find it!!!