Most of the objects in Mr. Golds were brought in by the cast.
The friendship between Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood is a nod to "Snow White and Rose Red", another German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.
Of all of the Prince and Princess couples that could have been the focal point of the series, Snow White and Prince Charming were chosen, because of Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains (1937) being the first movie Walt Disney produced.
The wardrobe that Emma was sent through when she's born (and recurs as a device in later stories) is a nod to The Chronicles of Narnia; it is even made from a special tree from a magical universe. Disney owns the film rights to Narnia.