Casa Design Outdoor
Kettal Bitta - Bitta Daybed - Casa Design Looking for an easy way to channel the tranquil vibes of that tropical vacation you were supposed to take this year? Pop into Casa Design Outdoor. Part of Casa Design Group’s family of showrooms, the petite SoWa space is outfitted with a lush faux-plant accent wall, artfully styled outdoor-furniture vignettes, botanical-print wallcoverings, and windows that stream in sunlight. Take a slice of paradise home with patio pieces that range from city sleek (Royal Botania dining tables) to coastal chic (braided Kettal daybeds, pictured), all so luxurious you’ll forget you’re not actually at a posh resort. 460 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118, casadesigngroup.com.
Laundromutt
What’s worse—a dog in desperate need of a bath, or one that returns from the groomer smelling like cheap air freshener? At Laundromutt, the emphasis on all-natural products means your pooch will be shampooed with olfactory-pleasing scents like honey-almond and pomegranate. Fido, meanwhile, will be in great hands with the company’s expert groomers, who handle matted fur and overgrown coats with ease. And if a romp in the mud needs urgent attention, there’s also the DIY bath, which doesn’t require an appointment. Waterproof smocks are included—hair in the drain of your home tub, mercifully, is not. 489 Concord Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, laundromutt.com.
Wolfers Lighting
After nearly 90 years in the biz, Wolfers Lighting continues to shine thanks to its thousands of fixture options, available in just about every style, finish, and size imaginable. Opt for a virtual consultation, and you’ll be delighted to discover such treasures as sparkling Quoizel chandeliers (pictured) and cloudlike Modern Forms pendant lights. 1339 Main St., Waltham, MA 02451, wolfers.com.
Local Root
David-Mellor Now that you’ve reorganized every inch of your kitchen (and garage, and bedroom...), it’s time for the next step: upping your culinary game. Load up on all manner of gear at Local Root, where curbside pickup makes easy work of achieving your latest recipe #goals. Still on the sourdough train? Browse ceramic Emile Henry bread bakers and Eva Solo mixing bowls. Planning al fresco meals? Check out the Rosle grilling tools, made from stainless steel. 77 Leonard St., Belmont, MA 02478, localroot.com.
Fort Point Arts Community
Meg Gugarty Pricey condos and global corporations may now dominate the Fort Point landscape, but this nonprofit’s commitment to the neighborhood’s long-standing arts scene remains just as strong as the day it was founded in 1980. With some 250 virtuosos producing the paintings, photography, and sculpture shown in its various galleries, the space (pictured) is a cornucopia of the city’s finest art. And in a time of social distancing, FPAC has stayed active with an art-lending program and public pieces, including floating installations in Fort Point Channel itself. Fort Point, fortpointarts.org. 300 Summer St., Boston, MA 02210, fortpointarts.org.
Polkadog Bakery
Dogs and cats were not meant to live on kibble alone, so thank our lucky paws there’s Polkadog. Unlike the endlessly bland aisles you’ll find at big-box pet-food stores, this homegrown success stocks its shelves with unexpected products, from “Clam Chowda” treats to New England-farmed meat jerky, made daily at its South Boston kitchen. And thanks to the locally sourced ingredients, you don’t have to let Fido’s diet go to the dogs. 256 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 02118, polkadog.com.
Modern Relik
After months of sitting on the couch nearly ’round the clock, we’d say you’re entitled to a refresh. At Modern Relik’s South End showroom, you’ll find sophisticated sofas in an array of styles, from a nap-worthy mahogany day bed to a quilted sectional with eye-catching lines. Grab a cup of espresso from the front-of-store café while you debate your options, and feel free to chat up the in-house design team if you’re short on inspiration; overseen by design director Jon Dransfield and owner Meg Kimball, the group happily consults on scale, color, materials, and more. 485 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118, modernrelik.com.
Linens on the Hill
When’s the last time you upgraded your linen closet? If you can’t remember, it might be time to pay a visit to this high-end textile haven. Owner Lynne Wolverton’s stacks of locally made Matouk bedding, elegant Sferra tablecloths, and soft Yves Delorme bath towels (a godsend for rough, over-washed hands) make staying cozy at home as easy as wash, dry, and repeat. 52 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, linensonthehill.com/.
Boston General Store
STAPLER - BOSTON GENERAL STORE SCISSORS AND CLIPS - TOOLS TO LIVEBY WASHI TAPE - MT TAPE Tired of the shabby tape dispenser and legal pad you swiped from the office? Boston General Store (pictured) hawks supplies you’ll want to keep right on your desktop—not bury in a drawer. Traveler’s notebooks will reinvigorate your daily punch lists, while the sharp Italian-made Ellepi Klizia stapler was practically designed for those video-call close-ups. 305 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 02446, bostongeneralstore.com.
Circle Furniture
We know that kitchen chair you’ve been working from since March hasn’t exactly been kind to your back, hips, or knees. Family-owned Circle Furniture offers the seating you desperately need right now, from high-back Stressless models that conform to your body’s movements to sleeker mesh numbers boasting adjustable headrests. Good luck choosing just one. 31 St. James Ave., Boston, MA 02116, circlefurniture.com.
Micro Plant Studio
Invite a little life into your workspace with help from this South Boston shop, which carries and delivers all things leafy and green (bamboo palm, burro’s tail, Venus flytraps), plus fun pots to display them in. Even better: You can brighten two households with Micro’s “buy to give” initiative, which lets you sponsor a succulent to send to a local essential worker. 365 W. Broadway, Boston, MA 02127, microplantstudio.com.
Yale Appliance
Kitchen appliances have a habit of taking their last breath just when we need them most. Thankfully, this family-owned Dorchester institution always comes to the rescue with the most comprehensive selection of replacements around (think: Wolf ranges, Thermador ovens, and LG refrigerators). And from sanitizing products to providing contact-free delivery, installation, and repairs, its ability to address changing customer needs impresses just as much as the stellar inventory. 296 Freeport St., Dorchester, MA 02122, yaleappliance.com.
Lekker Home
Whether you’re a Marie Kondo purist or a Diane von Furstenberg maximalist, the one thing we can all agree on is that for everything to be in its place, it has to have a place. Luckily, this South End standout has plenty of creative solutions for stashing your stuff. Start small with Thayer Design baskets and Muuto coat hooks, or get ambitious with a new Blu Dot bookshelf or roomy credenza—then watch as your ambitious to-do list shrinks a little bit every day. 38 Wareham St., Boston, MA 02118, lekkerhome.com.