Charlotte R.'s
Where to shop for home decor
- 12House of HaghiNewmarketI’m obsessed with the kilims at House of Haghi. There is a huge range and plenty of beautiful Turkish rugs too.
- 22Madder & RougeNewmarketStepping into Madder and Rouge is like a small slice of France, Morocco and Istanbul all at once. Great for gifts or just to browse and dream of exotic locales.
- 39Martha's Furnishing Fabrics LtdNewmarketMartha's is my go to for furnishing fabrics. The selection is amazing and I especially love the range of natural and dyed linens and the exquisite jewel tones of the velvet. Oh to re-upholster all of my furniture in that luscious stuff. Also worth noting is that they sell feather pillow inners which can be hard to find. It helps that one can sit down for a coffee and a doughnut at Little & Friday after all that hard work.
- 47Father Rabbit LimitedGrey LynnIf beautifully simple homewares are your style then look no further than Father Rabbit. They have items that have a Scandinavian sensibility in a clean white background to showcase the pared back forms. Materials favored are - wood for chopping boards, handles on spatulas, rolling pins - stainless steel for egg beaters, flan tins, measuring spoons - linen for bedsheets and tea towels - enamelware for pie tins, ladles and roasting tins - white ceramic for cups and saucers, plates and mixing bowls and simple french glassware for tumblers and carafes. They also stock plant based cleaning products with alluring names such as Effortless Floor Splash and Premium Glass Polish which sounds like they do all the work for you.
- 52Macy Home LtdPonsonbyMacy Home have a varied selection of homewares that run the gamut from practical to whimsical. They have ceramics that look traditional but the decoration will have a twist, plump pineapple printed cushions, a great range of books, Laguiole steak knives, bright macrame plant holders, Pantone coffee cups and Union Jack rugs just name a few things. There are also candles, jewellery and other sundry small items.
Charlotte R.'s
Great design stores
- 11Simon James Concept StoreHerne BaySimon James Concept Store is a slick yet warm showroom with designs from luminaries such as Tom Dixon, Minimalux, Alessi and Established and Sons. Stand out items are Tom Dixon’s copper bowls, Benah’s simple but luxurious leather bags, Kings and Queenies linen pillow cases and the large selection of wooden animals. Also complimenting the wonderful homewares are Curio Noir candles and a well curated selection of coffee table books.
- 24the OBJECT ROOMPonsonbyThe Object Room has a huge wall of aromatics from Panpuri and Karmakamut which are worth browsing but I was drawn in by the beautiful glassware from Danish brand Muuto. Particularly the fine Corky glasses and the stacking muted grey Same Same But Different glasses.
- 31Design DenmarkPonsonbyIf you're after some art and design classics for your home head to Design Denmark where you will find products with the Scandinavian aesthetic. Some of my favourite items are the heavy cast iron candle holders from Normann Copenhagen and the acrylic Illusion Table by John Brauer. The Bubble Cushion also caught my eye on this visit, its extraordinary texture begged to inspected closer.
- 42Bob & FriendsPonsonbyBob and Friends is a showcase for modern British design with products ranging from spun wool pouffes by Donna Wilson, vintage look sofas and chairs with a modern spin by Matthew Hilton and colourful Japanese robots. I was excited to find that they are the sole stockists of the String Shelving System which is a design classic that I will be eagerly following up.
- 51Douglas and Bec - Mt EdenMt EdenThe Douglas & Bec store occupies an airy space in the BLOC complex which shows off the handmade furniture to its fullest. There are quirky linens, geometric ceramics, pale hued furniture and the collaboration with Kate Sylvester which includes the iconic swan and some beautiful leather, brass and wooden pieces. There is also a selection of accessible and useful objects d'art such as hexagon paper weights, marble candle holders and trivets, artfully printed tea towels, woven baskets, colourful mobiles and designer bottle openers.
Charlotte R.'s
Vintage curios and homewares
- 11Beggar's BanquetNewtonBeggar's Banquet is the most recent addition to the shops in St Kevin's Arcade. It fills a small corner space with it's eclectic treasures and is superbly curated. Named for the large table in the center, currently laden with mirrors, candles and an astronomy globe, the store has a distinctly mystical, slightly spooky, vibe. Dolls heads and plaster busts reside under glass domes and old wooden handled kitchen utensils and large pots hang from a perfectly weathered ladder in the window. There are character signs galore and interesting books to browse.
- 210Antique AlleyMount EdenI love stepping through the doorway of Antique Alley, already there is treasure mounting up around your ears straight away. It’s one of those shops that you need to stand in one spot and look for 5 minutes before you shuffle along a few steps and repeat. Taxidermy, German pottery, bone handled silverware, poker work folk art, English china, costume and fine jewellery, watches, militaria - it’s all here under one roof.
- 33Aunty MavisAuckland CentralAunty Mavis is a must visit for those looking for Crown Lynn, NZ kitsch and kitchenalia. The shop will remind you of your grandmothers house, in the best way.
- 45Jo's StallGrey LynnJo’s secondhand shop offers true bargains in the inner city, a rare thing these days. It’s the sort of place you will find the piece of crockery you need for finishing a set, a great vintage handbag or even a pair of old knitted swim trunks.
- 52The VitrineGrey LynnThe Vitrine is an impressive store - the walls are lined with stacked chairs, old crates, large lampshades in many shapes and colours and there are plenty of individual items such as plaster medical torsos and organs, educational prints and display cabinets. You can get sets of original tolix stools and chairs, German beer haus trestle tables and Ukraine army tables and stools which would also double as great bedside tables.
Charlotte R.'s
Retro and Vintage Furniture
- 16The Vintage ShopMt EdenIf you want a mid century sideboard this is definitely the place to head. They have a large selection but also have a great range of dining suites and well edited decor pieces.
- 21The Boiler RoomKingslandThe Boiler Room is a slice of New Zealand's industrial history but made into pieces that you can take home and live with. There are old shop display cabinets made into wardrobes, trunks as coffee tables, wire containers perfect for pens and pencils and larger scale pieces such as custom made tables with old signs as tops.
- 310Flotsam & JetsamGrey LynnFlotsam & Jetsam have a covetable range of curios and oddities for your home from Agee jars, large glass battery cases and Crown Lynn to large wooden trestle tables and old shop signs. The book selection is also fantastic.
- 41Kingsland Curiosity ShopKingslandThe Kingsland Curiosity Shop is in perfect harmony with it's surroundings. Kingsland is nurturing a growing community of secondhand, vintage and collectible stores and KCS is full to the brim with characterful wooden apple crates, styled as shelving units, printers trays, old maps, flags, tailors dummies, glass milk bottles and colonial furniture.
- 53The White ElephantAuckland CentralWhite Elephant has everything and the kitchen sink! Vintage bric a brac, crockery, furniture, old computers, clothing and even pre-loved houseplants. Enter with an open mind and you’ll leave with something you never knew you needed.
Charlotte R.'s
Great Vintage Clothing Stores
- 17TangoAuckland CentralYou can't beat Tango for vintage in Auckland. Driss has been pounding the market pavements in Europe and New Zealand for years and has amassed an eye popping selection of beautiful things in his cavernous Little High Street Store. Sequins, fur, Harris tweed, lurex, 40's crepe, 50's taffeta and psychedelic 60's shifts jockey for position on the racks, walls and mannequins and make for a captivating store to spend time in.
- 21Nigel & DaphneNewtonStepping into Nigel and Daphne is a bit like being in your great aunt and uncles house. Packed with frocks, hats, jewellery for her and shirts, waistcoats and shoes for him. Also English crockery and bits and bobs, it’s a vintage wonderland.
- 37Search & DestroyAuckland CentralA cult vintage and secondhand clothing shop that has bargains galore for $5, $10, $20 as well as a rack of more collectible clothing - but still at great prices. The shop is small but incredibly charming and stock is refreshed daily.
- 42Peachy KeenAuckland CentralPeachy Keen has great vintage but the selection of cowboy boots and western shirts are what will blow you away! The service is always friendly and they are keen to help and offer advice.
- 526The Bread and Butter LetterAuckland CentralBread and Butter has opened on K'Rd and has literally brightened up the strip. It is a spacious and light store with colourful vintage clothing and crafts to enliven the senses. With everything from macrame plant hangers from local Thieves Like Us, vintage threads for guys and girls, candles, greeting cards, prints and sunglasses to organic tea. Pop in and say hi!
Charlotte R.'s
Great plant shops for indoor greenery
- 130The Department StoreTakapunaAnnie Oxborough is back at The Department Store and her shop is better than ever. There is a large selection of macrame plant hangers and some great exotic succulents and indoor plants to green up your home. She also has some a beautiful selection of planters and spectacular terrariums to choose from.
- 26Ponsonby PlantsPonsonbyA delightful selection of plants for indoors and out, thoughtfully presented in the middle of Ponsonby.
- 32BioatticGrey LynnBioattic is a haven for the terrarium lover. There are many and varied sizes and also bonsai for dedicated indoor gardeners. They are displayed on clean, white shelves and benches and there is an air of zen in the sunny, narrow store. Also available is vintage pottery and other small collectibles.
- 420Roger Hunter's Garden CentreMangere EastI love Roger's. I love the pink wheelbarrows, I love the slightly spooky bungalow hothouse, I love the overgrown gully over the back - especially when it drizzles and it is misty, I love wandering around the plethora of plants in long rows. I really love that the plants are incredibly cheap - Sanseveria for $12, Aspidistras for $12, Staghorns for $12 and there are even some $5 bargains.
- 524Kings Plant Barn St LukesSt LukesPlant Barn has a fantastic selection of indoor plants from the unusual Burro’s Tail succulent to Peace Lily’s and orchids. They are reasonably priced and the plants are healthy and of a size that will quickly look established in your home.