Catalano Architects
Classic, timeless, and inspiring are words that come to mind when you see a house designed by Tom Catalano. Committed to designing spaces that are both functional and enduring, his firm’s number one goal is to create homes that suit their inhabitants’ lifestyles. Equally as important is honoring the integrity of the structure and seamlessly integrating it with its surroundings — which imbues even newly designed abodes with a sense of permanence. 125 Pearl St., Boston, MA 02110, catalanoarchitects.com.
Love Notes by June
Known by one bride as “nothing short of a miracle worker,” Love Notes by June owner June Leung pulls off everything from simple romantic sweeps and tousled curls to textured low ponies and effortlessly stunning chignons accented with bedazzled combs. Hoping to add volume? The beauty buff and her talented team of stylists will gladly hook you up with extensions, too. lovenotesbyjune.com.
Neiman Marcus
Smaller boutiques deserve snaps for cleverness and class, but no one touches Neiman's when it comes to sheer selection. Sole searchers here can browse through zebra-print Manolos, steel-heeled Kors slingbacks, Marc Jacobs espadrilles, and bejeweled Christian Lacroix sandals. And with plenty of stock and attentive service, it's that much easier to walk out with your best foot forward. Copley Place, Boston, MA neimanmarcus.com.
Andre Dubus III
Released this winter, Dubus's Townie was a rarity: a Bay State memoir entirely lacking in Oirish flavah and Whitey Bulger references. Instead, Dubus chronicled his days growing up in the Merrimack Valley of the 1970s, broke and in a broken home, and learning to fistfight out his frustration. When redemption comes, it's a devastating punch to the gut, making Townie one of the best books of the year. andredubus.com.
Wishbasket
We're not typically the nesting types, but thanks to Wishbasket, our pied-à-terre has been looking practically hibernation-ready. Once inside the French country shop, we find ourselves stocking up on rustic dinnerware, super-soft throws, current cookbooks, and specialty sea salts. Once, we even walked out with bath soaps labeled 'bonjour' and 'bonne nuit.' Our purchases have changed our minds about quiet evenings at home. Or at least evenings spent quietly admiring our new home accessories. 50 Water St., Newburyport, MA 1950, .
Shelburne Farm
This farm is every kid’s favorite things about fall rolled into one: There are llamas, alpacas, goats, donkeys, and rabbits; a John Deere tractor-themed playground; and hayrides and cider doughnuts (plus hard cider for the grownups). And for the main attraction — more than two dozen varieties of apples are ripe for the picking, and dozens more are available for purchase. The best part? Your farmers-in-training will come home exhausted. 106 W. Acton Rd., Stow, MA 01775, shelburnefarm.com.
The Good Life, Cambridge
The latest addition to Brian O'Neill's growing empire, this new Good Life is perfectly suited to its Central Square location. The decor is, as in other Good Lifes, remarkably similar to your parents' den, only wings this good and spicy were probably not served at home. Wash 'em down with one of many beers on tap, or a tasty cosmopolitan (the bartenders seem to have a flair for this drink du jour). 720 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA goodlifebar.com.
The Independent
In the past year, Somerville has exploded as a culinary destination. And while the Union Square food scene may change as a result, there's one constant: our beloved Indo,with its relaxed service, bacon deviled eggs perched atop cucumber slices, and stacked beer list featuring favorites from both home (High & Mighty's Beer of the Gods) and away (Six Point Brewery's Sweet Action). 75 Union Square, Somerville, MA 2143, theindo.com.
Hi-Rise Bread Company
Photo by Anthony Tieuli Choosing just one of Hi-Rise's cookies is a little like being forced to choose between your children. The almond macaroons taste like an intense nutty cloud. The oatmeal coconut, studded with whole pecans, are as chewy as can be. But it's the deep, dark chocolate sandwich cookies—more brownielike than crunchy and double-stuffed with an extra scoop of vanilla cream—that truly take the, er, cake. 208 Concord Ave., Cambridge, MA 2138, hi-risebread.com.
Sayle's Seafood
No bivalve hut worth its sea salt is pretentious. So don't expect glamour when you push through the swinging screen door. At $35 per person, the Clambak—a bucket of thick chowder, a half pound each of steamers and mussels, corn, potatoes, a whole lobster, and melted butter (optional, and just as well, since everything tastes ridiculously good as-is)—is one of the sweetest bargains going. 99 Washington St., Nantucket, MA 2554, .
KitchenVisions
Photo by Michael P. Lefebvre If your design dreams are lacking inspiration, one peek at this Natick firm’s sophisticated kitchen projects should do the trick. You’ll find cocktail hour–ready bar areas, oversize islands for prepping and entertaining, mahogany pantries with storage galore, and majestic marble backsplashes — all of which, combined with the team’s thoughtful layout decisions, come together to make the heart of your home anything but cookie-cutter. kitchenvisions.com.
EcoClean Boston
We love the aptly named EcoClean in part because its proprietary supplies are made from sustainable materials, keeping things green, safe, and pleasantly unscented. But we also love them because they arrive on time and get to work in a whirlwind of efficiency. They might even surprise you—one day we came home to find our balcony swept of a winter’s worth of debris. Nice touch. ecocleanboston.com.
Montage
If couture décor is fashion for the home, then Montage is the Gucci of interior shops. Store owners Chris and Liz Bates have assembled an enviable collection of Italian "sleek-chic," meaning everything from B&B Italia to Cassina. Classic Barcelona chairs nestle up to the new Mister sofa designed by Philippe Starck, forming one of the most impressive conglomerations of high-end lines this side of Milan. 75 Arlington St., Boston, MA montageweb.com.
The Garden in the Woods
Don't dig up that lady's slipper! Come to the annual June plant sale at Garden in the Woods for wildflowers you can take home without fear of eradicating an endangered species. While the June sale is the largest, wildflowers are always available for purchase at the Garden, as well as books and other items in the charming gift store. But don't leave without a tour of the Garden itself, one of New England's unique treasures. Hemenway Road, North Framingham, MA .