Gold Chalk's must visit list of stores

well, here it is , my list of must visit stores in Melbourne (part one) - if you live in Melbourne and have not been to see these stores, then get your booty off the couch and start crossing them off your must visit list - you won't be sorry, but you will be if you miss out on them!!!!!!
It's so therapeutic crossing things off your to do list and last week I got to cross these little beauties of my must visit list - some for the first time, others, just because I love going back to them to see whats new!!!

First stop- The Woodsfolk in Hawthorn, this is a fairly new addition to Church Street - the store is full of gift ware and just stuff you want to stuff into a bag and replicate at home - I loved the bed set up with Kip and Co bedlinen, they have a great range of groovy cushion and jewellery.  Whilst you are here - cross over the road and visit Maiike, a beautiful for hand made children's products and ladies apparel.

The Woodsfolk
39 Church Street
Hawthorn

Maiike
54 Church Street 
Hawthorn

Next stop - the newly refurbished Crate Expectations - colour everywhere, lots and lots of eye candy, do make sure your wallet is full, this place will tempt the fussiest of purchases - I spied lots of my favorite suppliers, and all in the one place - what more could you ask for?????!!!!!

this couch is the highlight of my visit - i love it!!!! such a show stopper piece!

  beautiful bags, jewellery and cushions EVERYWHERE you look!

Crate Expectations
1 Llaneeast Street
Malvern

while you are here, just pop around the corner and drop into Hut13 (it's hidden behind a peach coloured door!) and Market Imports - While HUT 13 is mostly a homewares and gift store, it is also a space where local and aspiring artists and makers exhibit their goods. With each visit you’re sure to see something new, in fact the last time I was there, I saw a piece of art from The Block, and affordable too! 

Next, I decide to drop into Turner and Lane - again, this is a newish store that is fitted out with beautiful pieces for friends, family and the home. When I dropped in, the store was merchandised by colour - fabulous idea - lots to see in this store, printed pillows, body products, kitchenware and coffee table books, but it is the kind of store you could visit once a week and find something different each time.

The philosophy behind Turner & Lane is to inspire living spaces that do not necessarily have to match. Rather, they should be interesting, reflective of your own personality and filled with a variety of colour and style in surrounding yourself with things that you love - you must visit!!!!

Turner and Lane

1391 Malvern Road

Malvern

So many places to visit, so little time..... this is why you need to create a list and cross them off as you go, I am going to finish with a couple of more of my haunts and then stay tuned for part two!!! yes there are more great stores you have to see!!

Montebello Emporium is in Balwyn, its a lifestyle shop that offers, fashion, accessories, things for the home and my most favorite thing - they stock Megan Park accessories and homewares - visit her to lust over some great pieces and when you feel the need to splurge on yourself!! Megan Park is one of my favorite designers - I love visiting her store in Malvern too. It has some beautiful lighting installed above their counter - drop by when you are visiting Hut13.

Megan Park cushion

Montebello

a376 Whitehorse Rd, 

Balwyn

On the way home, do stop by Issa in Ivanhoe, I have posted about this store before here - it has the most divine things, again really worth a visit, I could browse this store for hours - sometimes I feel like a stalker, but the owner is a local girl and she doesn't seem to mind, shop here for inspiration, that special gift for someone or for a spoil me present for yourself!

Issa Ivanhoe

149 Upper Heidelberg Road

Ivanhoe

Lastly, for all you locals, you must visit this cafe/store/ - if you do nothing else, meet your girlfriends here for a coffee and some yummy lunch, it stocks a great range of gifts and one off pieces - it has a small fashion range also and my favorite - beautiful jewellery, i often pop in for a take away coffee and browse their wares while I am waiting!

Tancks Corner

461 Ironbark Road

Yarrambat

Well, that's enough for one post - I have so many of my haunts that I want to share with you!!! stay tuned for parts 2 and 3 - do pop back!! xx

until then, happy shopping!!!

cHALk TalK...........yes, finally

yes, true, I have been missing in action lately - not that there hasn't been anything going on - it's just that I have not had the energy to write/blog - but, hopefully it's a short lapse and I am back - although, finding the time is getting a little harder these days!!!!!! but I do love my blog!
Sometimes its nice to just work with colour, and since my main job these days is getting houses ready for sale, I sometimes do not have the time to work on colour plans, but every now and then, I make the time because it's fun and the end result is always so rewarding! So, with that in mind here's what I have been working on in no particular order:

I have just sourced this artwork for a client whose bedroom I am making over, we finally settled on this poster and will have it mounted and framed for the wall - I love this ! sourced from the US, made popular by Domino Magazine.

 I have also been choosing some paint colours for walls - here is my choice for a great dark wall - Dulux Otto's Boy - the most perfect colour to make a wall recede and your artwork POP! Doesn't it look fabulous here, this is the home of artist Emma Cleine, her house was recently featured in Home Beautiful Magazine, and that is one of her famous Mandela Prints.  

My top 3 Melbourne 
stores to visit this week!!!!

Moss in St Kilda (pictured above) this is a great homewares stores full of great buys. It has a great range of Armadillo rugs and cushions and some one off colourful pieces!

• Crate Expectations in Malvern - fabulous stores with loads of colour - I could spend hours in this store, actually I did!!!

• Issa homewares and gifts in Ivanhoe - this shop is FABO!!!! - you must visit - It is full of beautiful pieces, its a lovely stores to browse and feel inspired. Its owned and ran by a local lady who knows her stuff - well worth a visit.

do yourself a favour and visit one of these stores for a real feel good sensation, promise you will not be disappointed!!! (stay tuned for more of my favorite Melbourne stores next week!)

WHAT'S ON MY RADAR

at the moment!

if you're like me and a little scared to try Wallpaper full on, then this is for you..... gOLd cHALk loves The Wall Sticker Company‘s designer collaborations – especially when the latest pair-up is with Curio & Curio, a homewares business run by Real Living stylist Clair Wayman. Her wall sticker designs are quirky and cool, with a playfulness that would fit beautifully in either a kiddie space or a funky adult retreat. 

I am also in love with Anna Spiro's range of wall papers that she has designed for Porters Paints, they are simple, but when mixed with colour something magical happens - I really want to be brave enough to try one of these!

lots of houses to share with you soon - just waiting on the pictures to come through - stay tuned!!!!

hopefully the break wont be as long next time around.......