L'Elite Bridal Boutique
If the third time's the charm, who says you can't wear white? This petite second-floor boutique stocks dresses by designers like Carolina Herrera and Angel Sanchez that run the gamut from traditional to totally casual. 276 Newbury St., Boston, MA lelite.com.
Common Ground Cafe & Bakery
Outside, it's simply a corner building in Dorchester. Inside, it's another world of wooden floors, thatched-roofed alcoves, and muted lighting. Half the space is a casual cafe, the other is a store with handmade shoes, furniture, candles, and soaps. 2243 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA .
The Main Office of U.S. Trust
The Main Office of U.S. Trust on Court Street has floor service—gray-flanneled men who greet customers at the door and direct them to the proper counter. Court St., Boston, MA .
Larry Moulter for Paul Mooney
The new president of the Boston Garden has introduced courtesy, better food, and celebrity cachet to the old arena. Whoever expected to see U2 shooting baskets on the parquet floor?
Sorrento's
Pleasant second-floor walk-up with a chef trained in, of all places, Switzerland. Uniformly good veal and pasta, something the rest of the unreliable North End cannot boast. 227 Hanover St., Boston, MA .
Heartwood Kitchens
Clients love Nancy Hanson for her made-to-order, expertly configured kitchens and baths—new construction as well as total overhauls of existing spaces—that range in style and scale from a cherry-wood traditional cabinet redo to a brand-new, floor-to-ceiling modern-in-concrete masterpiece. Danvers, MA heartwoodkitchens.net.
Eben House
A light, bright guest room at Eben House, in P-town. / Photograph by PJ Couture Housed in a building dating to 1776, this Provincetown inn eschews the floral ruffled bed skirts typical of historically minded B & Bs in favor of crisp white duvets, restored hardwood floors, and inspired breakfast options. Add in the saltwater pool opening this summer, and you may never want to take the short walk to Commercial Street. 90 Bradford St., Provincetown, MA 2657, ebenhouse.com.
Circle Furniture
Sourced from New England workshops (thus, Yankee to the core), this local company's beds, dining tables, and upholstered pieces are classically styled and built to last. And don't avoid the sales associates her—they'll help you navigate their catalogs to discover finish options beyond what's on the showroom floor. 199 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge, MA 2138, circlefurniture.com.
Masse Hardware Company
With its hardwood floors and terrestrial aromas of peat and pine, this Cambridge company feels more like an old-time Vermont general store than a busy urban garden and hardware center. It should: Masse has been delving out seeds, hoes, and sage gardening advice since 1888. 249 Walden Street, Cambridge, MA interiorpainter.com/masse.
Maxime
This intimate, two-floor spa and salon has brought top-of-the-line pampering and international luxuries to the South Shore. A cozy downstairs hair center turns heads with excellent highlights, while the candlelit loft area offers hot stone massages and heavenly (and hard-to-find) Valmont facials at the hands of carefully trained aestheticians. 124 Washington St., Norwell, MA maximesalon.com.
Home Entertainment Expo
Tired of pricey refreshments, sticky floors, and views blocked by the bald guy in the row ahead? Bring the big screen to you with help from this Sudbury showroom, where speakers, amps, and plasma TVs share space with custom lighting, European-made chairs, and touchpad control systems. 490 Boston Post Road, Sudbury, MA 1776, homeentertainmentexpo.com.
Hamlet & Kenn
Primarily a caterer, their cookies and petits fours are unrivaled. 123 Appleton St., Boston, MA .
Raffles Boston
Courtesy of Raffles Boston Did the Back Bay really need another luxury hotel? After catching a glimpse of this brand-new stunner’s three-story lobby with spiral staircase, 17th-floor bar and terrace with skyline views, and marble bathrooms with soaking tubs, we’d say the answer is a resounding yes. 40 Trinity Place, Boston, MA 02116, raffles.com.
Montage
Warm and beautifully curated, Montage’s showroom defies the perception that modern can be off-putting. A celebration of color and craftsmanship, its two floors showcase all the excitement of the finest European brands. Do know, however, that cutting-edge furnishings from Italy come neither cheap nor fast. 75 Arlington St., Boston, MA 2116, montageweb.com.