I hope you have all brushed up on your Swedish and polished your allen keys because it is only one more sleep until IKEA Tempe opens (Thursday 3 November). It has been a long wait, almost two years of watching the Tempe store take shape but the big day has almost arrived. I drove along the Princes Highway last night and could only think that this was the calm before the oncoming IKEA mania storm.... 

The Antique and Design Gallery in Alexandria has to be seen to be believed. You can’t miss this bright yellow warehouse as you drive along Mitchell Road and it brings new meaning to the phrase “jam packed”! The ground floor is full (literally packed from the floor to the ceiling) with pre-loved items of furniture, clothing, accessories, instruments, surfboards, bicycles… you... 

Walking up Enmore Road, heading to Newtown for lunch, I recently discovered the treasure trove that is That Vintage Shop.  Located on Enmore Road (right across from Enmore Park and the new Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre), That Vintage Shop is vintage plus a whole lot more. It is an eclectic mix of furniture, accessories, chandeliers, bird cages, kitchen utensils, artwork and door handles.... 

Recently I set up a home office and I had to make the trek/expedition out to Rhodes Ikea. Seriously that place is a nightmare to get to. I thought I was being smart by leaving work early and going on Friday afternoon, there was no way I was going to deal with a weekend crowd at Ikea. My plan was really good in theory until I hit the traffic at 3pm Friday afternoon on Parramatta Rd, what a shocker. Anyway,... 

I am a little bit in love! Alice Street in Newtown is my new favourite place since I discovered Sounds Like Home and Mama Green. These two companies have a showroom on Alice Street which is open to the public. It is a treasure trove of furniture and homewares (other than food and street art – these are two of my favourite things). Mama Green is a contemporary eco design, outdoor furniture company.... 

How gorgeous is this floor mat! I bought it when I popped into Jaanu, on south King Street last week. It now takes pride of place at my front door. Great idea for anyone looking for a house warming present. It sure beats the boring “Welcome” mats. For those of you who might be curious about the name of the store, Jaanu means ‘sweetheart’ in Hindi. So pop into Jaanu and buy... 

I feel bad that I have been so neglectful of south King Street. Sure, I may have been a little preoccupied with making my house liveable but I recently took a stroll down south King Street and there are loads of great new things to see (well, “new” for me, probably not new for south King Street regulars). The first thing that grabbed my attention was the 7 Star Supermarket which makes a... 

Anyone driving along the Princes Highway at Tempe lately would have noticed the dramatic changes at the expanse of land on the eastern side of the Princes Highway (630 – 726 Princes Highway). In late 2011 Ikea Tempe is scheduled to open and things are happening there fast.  Buildings have been cleared and concrete is being poured. Here are some facts you might not know about Ikea and the new... 

How did I not know about this place? If you have never been to the Eveleigh Markets, it is worth a visit just to admire the space and the surrounding buildings – not to mention the great art, design, fashion and craft stalls. Despite my initial intention of going to the markets just to have a look (at least that’s what I told myself), I found myself continually pulling my wallet out the make... 

I really love Better Read Than Dead located at 265 King Street Newtown. What bookstore do you love most? (leave comments below)  Read More →