Online shopping has become second nature for most, but there’s something irreplaceable about the experience of going into a beautifully curated shop and seeing the pieces for yourself!
Luckily, Melbourne has more than a few independent, bricks-and-mortar design stores to explore. That’s why we’ve rounded up 15 of our favourites for your next shopping trip.
Plus, if you’ve ever wondered where you can buy work from some of our featured creatives (and where to find the pieces you’ve seen in our home tours), chances are you’ll be able to find it from the list below!
Step inside Ma House Supply Store! Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files
Mirror by Alke Store. Planter by Lightly Design. Smooth Shelf by Nicole Lawrence. Fruit candles by Nonnas Grocer. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files
Second-hand finds sit next to contemporary pieces! Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files
Ma House Supply Store has only been open for three months, but it’s become an instant TDF favourite thanks to its eclectic collection of new and vintage pieces hand sourced by its owner Ben Mooney
This is a store you can happily spend plenty of time in. Explore the objects Ben has selected to put on show, and you’ll be guaranteed to find a treasure to take home (old or new).
Where to find it:
54 Johnston Street, Collingwood
When to visit:
Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm – 6pm
Tantri Mustika’s stunning retail space in Collingwood Yards! Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.
It’s always a delight to visit terrazzo queen Tantri Mustika’s shop in Collingwood Yards. Alongside her beautiful hand-made ceramic pieces (made in the studio behind the shop!) you’ll also find a selection of curated wares from other small, like-minded businesses.
‘I love everything I have in store at the moment,’ she says. ‘In particular, my new Vice Versa vases and the ever so stunning NOKA Designs candles. Oh! And the oil burners, because burning yummy oils always brings the vibes home!’
Where to find it:
Unit 4/ 30 Perry street (the ground floor of the Perry street building in Collingwood Yards)
When to visit:
Tuesday to Thursday, by appointment only
Friday, 10am – 5pm
Saturday, 11am – 3pm
Customers can shop art and handmade homewares. Photo – Jessica Tremp
Windflower is always full of beautiful seasonal blooms! Photo – Jessica Tremp
We know Windflower isn’t actually in Melbourne, but we couldn’t resist including the dreamy Ballarat store in our round-up! The beautiful space is filled with gorgeous local blooms and thoughtful lifestyle products.
‘We source our products from small local makers and crafts people, and source Australian made as much as possible. Our flowers are always in season and Australian grown, which means they’re always fresh and in their prime,’ says Morgana Robb.
Among gems in the store from Ella Reweti, Bonnie and Neil and Geelong Weaving Mill, you’ll find plenty of spring flowers such as lilac, tree peonies and dogwood.
Where to find it:
415 Sturt Street, Ballarat
When to visit:
Wednesday to Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Fazeek’s popular glassware collections include their Wave Coupe Glasses, Vice Versa Carafe, Balance Vase, Photo – Courtesy of Fazeek
Fazeek also has a great selection of home fragrance, which are made in the studio behind the store! Photo – Courtesy of Fazeek
The popular Melbourne brand has been selling their brilliantly coloured glasswares and scented products since 2017, and this year (to the delight of many) they opened a flagship store in Fitzroy!
‘It’s our home now,’ says owner Jackie Fazekas. ‘Having been online for so long, it’s so rewarding to now meet our customers in person, take them through the range, see their reactions and share our designs.’
Her favourite things in store at the moment include the brand’s new Striped Dinner Candles and Wave Candle Holders; ‘We’re getting ready for dinner party season!’
Where to find it:
27-29 Best St, Fitzroy North
When to visit:
Monday to Saturday, 10am – 5pm
Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Colours in the Makers’ Mrkt showroom clash in the best way. Photo – Sean Fennessy
A Makers’ Mrkt line-up of hand-crafted ceramics and sculptures! Photo – Sean Fennessy
It wouldn’t be a TDF favourites round-up without Maker’s Mrkt. Kelly Thompson’s colourful store has caught our eye many a time, mainly thanks to her inspiring round up of products from local makers in Australia and New Zealand.
If the showroom’s pink and red interior doesn’t inspire creativity, then the fantastic line-up of local makers will.
Where to find it:
273 Raglan Street, Preston
When to visit:
Monday to Saturday, by appointment only
Timber speaker by Alex Earl. Photo – Emma Mash
Couch by Monde. Coffee table by Modern Times. Photo – Emma Mash
Ours Fitzroy is another exciting new opening for 2022. As well as championing local makers and creatives (you’ll find pieces by Objects By Kit and Billy Furniture), it’s also a gallery space and accommodation!
Owner Zane Curwen-Walker says he sources his wares from ‘local makers, artists, friends of friends and super secret trash and treasure hot spots’.
Where to find it:
248 Johnson St, Fitzroy
When to visit:
Friday to Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Pan After is our go-to for whenever we’re looking for something a little bit out of the ordinary for our home – or as thoughtful gift for a friend.
The curated boutique houses a collection of special handmade pieces from around the world, including Denmark’s coveted Telka fabrics, hand-woven vessels from South Africa, colourful Murano glass pieces by Italian brand LagunaB, and a wide range of indie publications.
Where to find it:
38 Cambridge Street, Collingwood
When to visit:
Monday to Saturday, 10am – 5pm
Craft Victoria are constantly updating their store with new pieces. Photo – Courtesy of Craft Victoria
Caro Pattle’s plush woven sculptures sit on the shelves! Photo – Courtesy of Craft Victoria
It would be remiss not to include Craft Victoria; one of Melbourne’s oldest and most established organisations dedicated to supporting local artists and makers.
Current favourites in the store include Caro Pattle’s Fawn Amphora, Real Non-Real’s Wall Formosa Coat Rack and a handmade ceramic oyster plate by Christopher Plumridge.
Where to find it:
Watson Place, Melbourne (off Flinders Lane)
When to visit:
Tuesday to Friday, 11am – 5pm
Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Toyo-Sasaki amber glassware available at Mr Kitly. Photo – Courtesy of Mr Kitly
Inside the light-filled store. Photo – Lauren Bamford
Friendly, quiet, and curated shops are hard to come by in mainstream shopping strips, but that’s why we love visiting Mr Kitly.
The store’s shelves are filled with ceramics and pieces from across Australia, Europe, and US, but has a particular focus on coveted Japanese products, stocking specialist Japanese pantry items, cookbooks and the iconic Akari lights.
Where to find it:
381 Sydney Road, Coburg (upstairs)
When to visit:
Tuesday to Friday, 11am – 5pm
Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Modern Times has been open since 2012. Photo – Elise Scott
Large Zenith Vase Ceramic Vessel by Mali Taylor. Glory Hole by Claudia Lau. Grand Corin Candelabra I in Glazed Stoneware by Hilary Green. Photo – Elise Scott
Modern Times is one of those stores that offers a bit of everything. Expect to find dreamy vintage furniture from Denmark, The Netherlands and Italy, alongside local pieces from some of Australia’s best local makers, designers, and contemporary artists, including TDF faves like Lucy Tolan, Tessy King, James Lemon, Nicole Lawrence and Kayleigh Heydon.
Modern Times has even recently launched their own sofa brand, Permanent Future, and holds regular exhibitions, using their brick-and-mortar store as an inspiring creative hub.
Where to find it:
311 Smith Street, Fitzroy
When to visit:
Tuesday to Saturday, 10am – 5pm
Pourer by Shelley Panton. Photo – Garth Oriander
The Panton Store sells owner Shelley Panton’s own pottery creations, and more. Photo – Garth Oriander
Shelley Panton opened The Panton Store at the height of the global financial crisis when she started her own pottery studio, which has since grown into one of Melbourne’s much-loved homewares and gift spaces.
It’s the perfect place to browse stoneware pottery cups made by Shelley herself, handmade soaps, and quirky products for the kitchen, living room and beyond.
Where to find it:
440 Malvern Road, Prahran
When to visit:
Monday to Saturday, 10am – 5pm
The eye-catching exterior of Takeawei on Gertrude Street. Photo – Courtesy of Takeawei
Takeawei’s dreamy line up of hand-crafted ceramics! Photo – Courtesy of Takeawei
Designer Chela Edmunds launched her fun and functional ceramics brand Takeawei in 2013, but the colourful store has really been turning heads since she re-located to Gertrude Street last year. With a distinctive and bright mural outside, you can’t miss it! Takeawei stocks everything from mugs to pendant lights made at Chela’s Torquay studio, blankets from Geelong’s weaving mill and goodies from other Australian brands.
Where to find it:
120 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
When to visit:
Monday to Saturday, 11am – 5pm
Sunday, 11am – 4pm
QVWC SHOP! is a feminist design concept store in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, showcasing products locally sourced and designed by Victorian Women artists, designers and makers. Photo – Bree Dunbar
Tees by Shuh. Photo – Bree Dunbar
The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre opened QVWC SHOP! on International Women’s Day in 2020 as a marketplace to further their work supporting women and non-binary creatives in our community.
The store works with local artists, makers, and designers from all across Victoria to sell ethically made gifts, fashion, art, books, jewellery and more on a consignment basis – and their store’s own profits go back into the women’s centre. Love!
Where to find it:
210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
When to visit:
Tuesday to Saturday, 11am – 6pm
Sunday, 12pm – 5pm
The Hub General Store in Collingwood. Photo – Courtesy of The Hub General Store
The store’s Creamed Honey. Photo – Courtesy of The Hub General Store
Aptly titled, The Hub General Store is a cleverly modern take on your traditional general store. Based in a classic red-brick building, it sells everyday provisions, homewares, gardening tools, art, cards, stationery and even ‘pharmacy’ essentials like organic toothpaste.
They even nominate a ‘product of the week’, which is currently their Creamed Honey, locally sourced in Central Victoria.
Where to find it:
36 Cambridge Street, Collingwood
When to visit:
Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Japanese cafe and lifestyle concept store, CIBI! Photo – Mark Roper
CIBI is a special concept store and cafe close to TDF’s heart, that brings together the pillars of ‘design, food and space’. The family-run business led by Meg and Zenta Tanaka opened in 2008 as a place for Melbourne’s community to shop quality produce, unique pantry products and design pieces (like this amazing Sori Yanagi butterfly stool!) the Tanakas have sourced directly from Japan.
But the cherry on the top is that you can also enjoy a delectable Japanese breakfast plate, Miso baked egg or soba salad at the store’s cafe before or after you shop!
Where to find it:
33-39 Keele Street, Collingwood
When to visit:
Monday to Sunday, 8am – 4pm
