Home By Kirsty

Cardiff’s Victorian arcades are synonymous with independent retail. If shopping for the home or gifts in Cardiff pretty and cool Home By Kirsty in Castle Arcade is a must.

The Kirsty in question, designer-maker Kirsty Patrick, who is originally from Oxfordshire, and who studied in Carmarthen before “failing to make it back across the bridge” some 11 years ago. After five years of saving and planning, she finally realised her dream of opening a shop in 2014.

“Being in the city centre and in the arcades among other independent businesses has been really important,” she says. “When you first start you need the support of other businesses so that really helped.”

When you step into the shop, Kirsty’s background in visual merchandising is immediately apparent. Her covetable products are beautifully presented, including her own handmade lighting range, which she has been making since 2007.

“It’s good that the independents in Cardiff are sticking together and have a ‘We can do it’ attitude,” she says.

Her own can-do attitude has seen her launch the Get Lost In CDF map featuring the city centre’s indie businesses “to get people out there and exploring the city”.