House and Garden is another of those great shops in Unley where you can just about get anything and…read moreeverything you need for the house and / or garden - funny about that! This place is another of my local haunts and is usually my first port of call when I'm looking for a birthday present for friends or family. The way the store is set out is with kitchen / dining room items in the back and living room pieces in the front. They stock larger items of furniture like buffets and bookshelves and of course the smaller pieces like occasional pieces and footstools. Sometimes things can be a little pricey but there are also times you'll find a great bargain. The black and white ottoman in the centre of my living room is just one of those pieces. It goes without saying there's a great selection of decorating pieces right through the store. Even if you're not buying, I find this place full of ideas - a little like a home decorating magazine come to life. I always manage to find a bargain there when it comes to things like their Maxwell and Williams dinner set range. A good bargain always makes me smile. I love buying something that looks exy but I've actually paid very little for House and Garden staff are always helpful. If you're looking for something and they don't have it, they will always call one of their other stores and attempt to get it in for you. When they're not run off their feet with a line of customers at the counter or gift wrapping someone's purchase, they're always up for a chat and a laugh.

This is probably one of my favourite home wares store, it's large, it has a big range, it's not too…read morecluttered, there are a lot of unique stuff, and things are decently priced for what they are worth. There's some pretty good quality things available. What I didn't like were the staff. The girls there seemed pretty rude, not acknowledging me one little bit, even when I walked straight past them. Anyway, I really like what the store has available, and I would even drive the distance to Unley Road just to go to this store if there was some thing I wanted/needed.

Etienne has lovely window displays, but I don't think they really give you the best idea of what is…read morehiding inside the store. I was expecting furniture and soft furnishings, and while you can certainly find them inside they're not the main attraction. Nope, it's the small gifts and nic-nacs that really take center stage in here. For the kids there's cute clothes, gorgeous lamps, felt mushrooms for decoration and lovely bunting to hang from the ceiling. For the ladies there's delicate jewelry, scarves and posh candles. For the men there's Herschel backpacks and wallets, fancy grooming products and snazzy socks. For the home there's great ceramics, vases, decorative table linen and high end kitchen gadgets. A little bit of everything, but perfectly curated and displayed in an environment that is comfortable and welcoming. Etienne is a must visit store if you're in the market for a gift that will impress and delight.

From the owner: A unique shopping experience, homewares, furniture, design, lifestyle products, great gifts for…read morehim, her & bub. We stock dinosaur designs, aesop, palas jewellery just to name a few, come &visit us in store or online at etienne.com.au

Much like a few other home decor shops along King William and Unley Rds, Empress exudes charm and…read moreambience in a tasteful manner. The theme is aimed towards casual home decor and not restricted to the indoors, but with class and entices the customer to take a piece of it home with them. There are some gorgeous pieces in here from paper weights to huge mirrors made to look like a window! I was so tempted to buy one just for the sake of it but the practical side of my brain talked me out of it. Several beautiful ornate candle stick holders take pride of place and stand with authority, whilst the under foliage of trinkets and whimsy items surround them. A well organised placement of items for the customer to easily browse through and no hidden price tags. Also in the store are some antique oriental pieces of furniture which blend in very nicely with the rest of the decor and whilst the theme is aimed on the oriental side, I feel it doesn't show it to full extent as it's a little watered down with modern items made to look old. But I can definitely pick up on the Moorish side of it as there are lanterns galore inside and outside. I can really see these hanging out under my balcony but problem is I'd have to deck out the rest of it to tie in with them. Yes it is a haven for interior decorators even the layman for inspiration and ideas with the strong possibility of a purchase!

Empress Gifts & Homewares is a new personal favourite store. I simply adore all of the retro…read morelooking boutique styled things to put around the home. Also, it smells really good. The furniture is simply gorgeous. So if you're looking for an awesome birdcage, Mandala trays, cake stands, or just some gorgeous furniture, then definitely make your way here.

Hyde Park has a string of homewares shops, each specialising in its own niche. Wheel & Barrow adds…read moreto this list of high quality and tasteful homewares products. With premium products, expect to see steep prices here. Kitchen Aid products, a good range of kitchenware and baking essentials, sundae glasses perfect for hot summer days, cake stands are some of the products sold here. I came across a handsome looking picnic basket going for above $150. A little costly for something basic, but with an affluent suburb like Hyde Park, I guess it's only befitting for shops to raise their prices. All in all, it will appeal to some who can afford to spend more, and for those who can't, there is always Target.

Wheel and Barrow is my favourite cooking shop, especially the one of King William Road. I don't…read moreknow why it is superior over the other shops, but I think it is the set out and the stock. It looks nice, everything is placed well and you can almost see everything when you enter the door. The items they stock are also better than those at other shops. I have a strange obsession with KitchenAid products. For my 18th birthday I got a red KitchenAid mixer, yes this is what I asked for. It may be because of the subtle influences of Nigella Lawson. Wheel and Barrow stock Kitchen Aid; toasters, mixers and more mixers. If you do want to splash out on an expensive appliance for your kitchen I would definitely recommend one of these. The shop also has thousands of other kitchen items. Glasses, cupcake stands, sushi making equipment and every bowl and plate you could think of. They also have a beautiful range of recipe books. It is not the biggest range, but they are good books that look so nice they could be coffee table pieces. The ladies working there are always very helpful. I am often in there frantically searching for a last minute present for Mum and they always come up with the goods!

At first I thought this was a cafe with the french style white outdoor wire setting out front but…read moreupon closer inspection it was a home decor shop, in fact I could've done with a coffee there and then. I decided to go in and have a look, wow, it is packed with shabby chic, retro and vintage style items like room dividers, framed prints, tea towels, the biggest round wall clock I've ever seen, large format art, decorative bird cages and you know those Keep Calm and Carry On posters...well they've got them on tea towels here plus lots, lots more. It has three rooms full of anything shabby chic and as for retro/vintage there is nothing actually here from that era it's only based upon. The Shop Next Door is joined to Kidzone with a doorway in the centre room so you can walk directly through to Kidzone. This is a completely different shop as it caters to children's room decor such as furniture, bedding, clothes, lighting, etc. It's worth a visit to The Shop Next Door if you're looking for gifts or home decor for your own home.

The Shop Next Door was the name of the bookshop run by Meg Ryan in the movie 'You've Got Mail'…read morewhich makes sense when you stop by The Shop Next Door on King William Road at Unley. It is a quaint little shop that shares a degree of old-fashioned charm with Meg's make believe movie shop. Rather than books though, these guys stock a range of home decorating items that are cute and quirky. I was first drawn to the place by the range of patio settings sitting out front. Each with a small table and two chairs, these pieces are painted in a finish that makes them look rustic and worn but still new and fresh. Inside you'll find furniture, clocks and home decorating pieces to bring your home to life. Divided into a couple of separate rooms there's one room full to brimming with more masculine pieces and then there's one that very girly and feminine. If shabby chic is your style then you're well catered for but if you're style is more understated classic, you'll probably find what you're looking for as well. It all gets back the division of rooms and styles. Its shabby chic meets retro styling meets vintage decor. If you're looking for that right piece to put on your wall, I'd visit The Shop Next Door. They have wall furniture and pieces of art that are suited to a variety of styles and decors and you're sure to find something that suits your needs. Stop by for a look - if you're into home decor you won't regret it.

One day when I have heaps of money I will by this shop, or at least everything in the store. So…read moremany great products and clever little gadgets to make your entertaining and cooking needs so much more palatable. I haven't had the chance to buy much. This is almost entirely due to the fact that when you enter you really need to concentrate on a few items otherwise $1000 later and little Timmy isn't eating that night. You'll have the means to cook them but not the food. I'm keen to buy a white handled set of knives (the European brand escapes me) but at $800 for the set they have a while to wait to be in my kitchen. But there really is everything here and it's a big store so it's a lot of stuff. From traditional copper cookware, the type the French love to quirky shapes for the cookies that you'll make once you have food again. Pricey but with everything you'll need I can support your culinary adventures in Homewares Direct.

Homewares Direct has a few locations, including Unley Road, Parkside…read more It offers a great range of good quality, well-priced kitchen items including, top notch saucepans, electrical goods and other great gadgets. There are also oodles of gift ideas here. The best thing about Homewares Direct is the fantastic service. Unfortunately many customers are making use of this service by asking for advice on products and then purchasing them online. I fear for the future of small, locally owned business like this if people continue to do their research at boutique stores and then shop online to save a few dollars. I guess we'll see if stores like this can survive competing with the department store 40-50% off sales as well as online stores with lower overheads. There is plenty of parking on-site. Keep an eye out for there occasional sale sign out the front. If you get in when the time is right, you'll get an even better bargain.

Such a cute little shop with its red and white stripped iron over hanging verandah, like the ones…read moreyou see on old homes, but it's more than just good looks this shop offers. Can you believe this business started as a gift store 26 years ago by a mother and daughter team! Amazing! The more I look the more I notice how many family businesses there are and how long they have lasted an still going...anyway on with the story. They ended up not only keeping the gift store aspect of the business but have branched out into a interior design business also. Which really goes hand in hand with the gift side of things as they are a home decor item. The one other interesting interaction they offer and which I think sets them apart from any other interior design consultation business, is to coordinate trades people! Really. Most of us know how time consuming and frustrating that can be in many regards, especially with unreliable ones! The two consult what you would like in your room or to coordinate the entire home starting from the colour paint on the walls to curtains, soft furnishings, furniture, decor items, lighting, I mean everything. It's a valuable service for people who have the money but no time as they're busy making the money, or they just don't have the imagination. But before you go ahead and book them make sure your styles and tastes match as they are more into the classic decor. I will have to first win x-lotto but they have everything I love, provincial, carved guilt mirrors, scrolled mirror frames, beautiful rugs, antique coffee tables and planter stands, I'm drooling as I write. Ahh that's the life, now I just need the bank balance to match.

One Rundle Trading Company is a shopping experience. With gifts, furniture, books, pictures,…read moremirrors and a whole lot more on sale, there's always plenty to choose from. I often like to just browse through there to see what they have on offer. If you wander through to the back of store - and trust me its not a small space to wander through - you'll find a range of beautiful fashion pieces as well. All in all One Rundle Trading is an eclectic mix of beautiful things. I love the way the shop is set out with a Ladies Room and a Gents Room at the front of the store - and by that I don't mean toilets but rather rooms for of things specifically for men and women. There's also a children's room and a garden or outdoor room as well. They offer a Bridal Registry and an Interior Decorating service and best of all a free - yes free - picture hanging service. The space itself is massive and once served as a 1920's Melba Picture Theatre. Located in Stuart Road at Dulwich, I recommend wandering through on a Sunday afternoon to take in the sights. When you're in there, don't forget to look at the beautiful old ceilings - they're as gorgeous as many of the trinkets and pieces you will just fall in love with.

Holy Moly have you seen this place? It's like a Church but instead of praying to God rich people…read morepray to the stock market. I stepped through the front archway into a glittering, vast space full of chandeliers and hallways leading into more beautiful rooms. I avoided eye contact and didn't want to touch anything for fear they would tell me I'm too poor to shop here. The rear section is clothing, and the books and pictures around the area with words like DIOR and CHANEL hinted at the fact I couldn't grab a bargain for twenty bucks. But a pair of shorts for five hundred? Sure, pocket change for you brokers and people with old money. What beautiful homewares they have, gorgeous lamps and paintings and sculptures, the only consistency being no two things are alike and yes, you pretty much could close your eyes and point and find a gorgeous antique chest or a marble sculpture of a blackbird and want to take it home so bad you nearly weep. I will never look at Ikea the same again. This store is glorious and completely unattainable for the likes of me.

Do you enjoy a spot of gardening? If so then you can't go past The Conservatory Garden and Home on…read moreUnley Road. This is a high end garden shop supplying quality plants so you will pay a little more but the benefit is your plants are more likely to survive if they have a good start to life. Plants at The Conservatory are all very lush and the staff do everything from selling single plants, to giving advice on making your garden thrive, to designing complete gardens. With flowering plants, climbers, trees, shrubs and a selection of plants guaranteed to survive Adelaide's extreme weather, the guys at The Conservatory know there business and are happy to share their knowledge with customers. Even if you're not buying, just walking through this garden shop is quite an experience - it's like a mini botanic garden in the midst of suburbia. Inside you'll find The Conservatory is more like a house than a shop and the interior is set up with a range of giftwares and books set out in different rooms. Some of the items you can buy there, you just wouldn't expect to see in a garden shop. In addition to everything else, they can deliver your plants if they won't fit in the car, gift wrap your purchases and will always send you on your way with a smile on your face. If its too tricky to find a park on Unley Road (as is often the case) I find their off-street car parking in Irwin Lane very handy.

The Conservatory looks -and is - a wonderful place to decorate your home & garden. The beautiful…read moreshop front on Unley Road looks more like a high class, expensive estate, but houses perfectly manicured plants for the front garden of your upper class home. The inside is filled (not really suitable for kids, too much to touch and break) with homewares, furniture, decor, prints and lots of pillows. However wonderful this place is to look through, it is very expensive - which makes it exclusive to the higher income market. Everything is of the highest quality though, go and have a look through - if not to buy, just to get ideas!