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.

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.

For great home ware that's a bit different form the regular generic stuff look no further than the…read moreWheel and Barrow. They have a great selection of glass ware and kitchen ware and you will often find allot of the great products will be on sale and the price will be heavily reduced. The staff who work there are all friendly and helpful and will be glad to help you find just what you are looking for. It is a great for shopping for gifts when you are in those annoying situations where you have no idea what get. It's great for this time of the year because you can get all of your Christmas cutlery and at the same time get presents for loved ones. They also do wrap the presents which takes that hassle away from you to leave you with more time do some of shopping. They also do gift registry so if you are planning a wedding you can sign up with them so that you know that you will get great looking and quality gifts.

Debra & Steve, forgive me that it took you opening a physical store to finally have a piece of…read moreSheets On The Line to call my own. Founded originally as an online store, I've long admired, bookmarked and pinned the range of organic sheets, linen, throw rugs and more that Debra and Steve curated under the Sheets On The Line banner. Today, however, they opened the doors to their first physical retail store and let me tell you, Yelp, it's bloomin' marvellous. Located on the upper end of Latrobe Terrace, past the Antique Centre but before the darling non-denominational chapel, Sheets On The Line's new home doesn't feel like so much of a shop as it does a living, breathing bedroom. There's their existing range of products and I'm told soon there'll also be collaborations with local pyjama companies. Sheets On The Line's range is organic and while I hear you scoffing, you can tell. Each piece feels luxuriously soft and the patterns range from classic and crisp white, to the on-trend and cute breeze block. Now with the bricks and mortar store front I'm excitedly saving my pennies to invest in the larger range I know will come to call Sheets On The Line home - cushions and throws to name but a few. Price wise, it's actually no more than your standard well-known linen brands but there's an added level of delight in knowing you're supporting a Brisbane-local duo.

You know when you stay at a gorgeous hotel and you just want to spend all day in bed, rolling…read morearound in king-sized sheet luxury and stuffing the bathroom amenities in your suitcase? A visit to Sheets On The Line is kind of like that. You'll want everything. You'll convince yourself that having beautiful sheets on your bed will make you a better human, that a soft throw blanket on the end of your sofa will help you to establish yourself in society as an upstanding citizen. Heck, the scented candles will no doubt cure world hunger. Trust me, you really do need these things so just whip out the credit card and start working on your nobel prize acceptance speech.

If Alice of Wonderland fame had fallen down the rabbit hole into this place, she never would have…read moregotten out. The store is a maze of aisles with seemingly no order at all. Paths between merchandise veer off unexpectedly, making it a bit of a 'choose your own adventure' type experience. You never know what you'll find but if you go the wrong way you'll struggle to find your way back. When I entered the store I expected something like Bunnings (probably the only hardware store I've ever been to) with its lofty ceilings and manicured aisles. I was surprised at the low-ceilinged but deceptively large shop that greeted me. Apart from the ceiling height difference, this place sold everything any other hardware store does. Each section also had its own information desk, with a staff member waiting patiently for customers with queries. I kept arriving at 'clearings' to find an eager shop assistant gazing anxiously at me as I tried to back away while maintaining eye contact. The odd mix of charming, maze-like layout, head ducking and exceptional customer service combine to make this a place I would highly recommend.

Before entering Paddington Hardware, maybe give everyone in your group an air horn or just tether…read moreyour group together, because you will get lost in this giant warehouse of aisles. On the other hand, I don't mind getting lost in here. It made me remember that hardware stores don't have to be boring. After visiting Mitre 10 and its peers back in the day as a little girl with my father, this is a positive mansion of hardware needs. At first indifferent, I wandered absent-mindedly amongst rows of containers of different types of screws, and I was reminded of my father's workshop. When I was little, Dad's workshop (attached to the house) was out-of-bounds for kids. Of course this meant I snuck in there as often as possible. I used to ooh and ahh over the smell of cut wood, the jars of different sized nails and screws, curly wood shavings on the floor. It felt like being in Santa's workshop. And it also felt like this here. Now, Paddington Hardware isn't Santa's workshop - that I'm aware of. For all I know he could be stuffed in the back, pumping out dinner tables amongst a group of singing elves. The store's that big. I'm somehow sounding sentimental about a hardware store. In spite of its size, though, the staff are so friendly that it contributes to the happy-wonder vibe of the place. From a stock perspective, the scope of hardware is so extensive that I think most handymen would find what they wanted here. As an aside, I came to Paddington Hardware to buy a shower curtain because I was moving out of my rental property and they wanted it replaced. Shower curtains are sneakily expensive. However, Paddington Hardware was the only place in Paddington I could find a shower curtain. It was a damn nice curtain, so I hope the new tenants enjoyed it. A word about parking here: there is on-site parking, but since Paddington Hardware is sandwiched between boutiques and restaurants, it was once packed with cars from non-patrons. However, there is a strict Hardware Parking Only sign on site, and increased security on this front means that legitimate Hardware store customers should be able to find a spot.

Consensus among historians states that the biblical Garden of Eden was probably somewhere in modern…read moreday Iraq. I think Mappin's on Montague Rd has a legitimate claim to being a contender for God's original garden. Hey, they even have the infamous snake/s there, plus a number of fruit trees (which you are probably forbidden from tasting too, unless you're willing to buy it ;) These guys are water plant specialists, with their massive aqua-filled terracotta pots home to oodles of different aquatic plants, like water lilies and edible water chestnuts. I bought one of the latter once and put it in a water feature in my yard. After a few months we yielded a few delicious chestnuts. They also have an impressive range of cacti and succulents, which are easy to care for, decorative and make a great gift. The innovative decorative pieces designed by local artists are also good present fodder, but be prepared to pay in the hundreds for some (they are after all 'art').

A green thumb I am not but I read a mythical legend that Zanzibar Gems are house plants that are…read moreincredibly hard to kill. They only require watering once a month! And thus begins the journey that led me to the West End wonderland that is Mappin's Nursery. And can I end that train of thought by pointing out that it is a freakin' nursery less than 4kms from the CBD?!?! Okay. Now that I've got that out of the way. Mappin's is a green haven on Montague Road that have a range of plants and not to mention helpful staff willing to answer my silly questions such as, "What make great house plants? Can you show me your suggestions?" and I didn't dare tell my helper that I kind of like plates as saucers when she handed me a plastic saucer for my newly acquired plant saying, "I don't understand kids these days using plates as saucers. I can't let you do that." Did I spray myself with "Psuedo Hipster" this morning? How did she know?!? I'd looked for this particular plant at a household name hardware chain (it rhymes with running), and while I paid a fraction more for the same size plant at Mappin's, the plant itself looks healthier and you bet your bottom dollar I feel better (okay, maybe a little smug) that my money went towards a fantastic local business. Plus I feel like the extra coin went towards the handful of advice I was given about caring for the plant. When I enter the home owner game I'll be back at Mappin's asking them for their green thumb advice on a range of gardening 101. Oh and finally nabbing one of the beautiful Magnolia trees they sell!

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.

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.

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.