SOUTH END
Boston's South End is a chic, trendy neighborhood. With new shops opening frequently, it's easy to make a day of it.
Aunt Sadie's General Store
18 Union Park Street
Gary Briggs and Brian Schnetzer, creators of Aunt Sadie's Candles (beautifully made candles in great packaging), opened their first retail shop in June 2000. This general store for the 21st century not only carries the pair's handsome candles, but new and vintage accessories for the home as well. The shop is charming, and the pair promise to have new items all the time to keep visitors coming back.
MJ Berries
562 Tremont Street
This refined and elegant shop is an eclectic mix of old and new. The proprietors are designers with a keen eye for beautiful objects.
Laboratory Home Experimentation
577 Tremont Street
Recently opened, this tiny shop on Tremont Street is filled with the coolest home accessories from resources like Umbra and Kozol. The window displays are whimsical and change often.
Fresh Eggs
58 Clarendon Street
This clean, fresh, modern store has all you need to furnish a house from top to bottom. Case goods, upholstery, table top and bed and bath have all been carefully chosen and arranged by owners Ned Hand and Julie Sutherland.
NEWBURY STREET
Newbury Street has long been known for its upscale clothing boutiques and art galleries. Sophisticated home stores now pepper the mix. Be sure to catch a glimpse of Frank Gehry's Tower Records building and then continue down Newbury Street to some of Boston's chicest shops. To see what's hot for the under-20 set, pay close attention to the shops in the block between Mass. Ave. and Hereford Street.
Zoe
279 Newbury Street
Whimsical modern furniture and accessories.
Matsu
259 Newbury Street
An artful, thoughtful collection of home accessories, many from Japan, are beautifully arranged here. The owner, Dave Matsumura, has a highly trained eye and a great sense of color. If you have the time, be sure to peruse the women's clothing. It's equally beautiful.
Selleto
244 Newbury Street
John Selletto's store offers visitors a beautiful assortment of garden-inspired home accessories. The store is serene, with quiet music, a lovely aroma, and a very Zen-meets-Southwest sensibility.
London Lace
215 Newbury Street
For a large selection of vintage lace, drapery panels, and found objects, visit this romantic shop.
Simon Pearce
115 Newbury Street
For a wide selection of glass, visit Simon Pearce. Worth noting is their collection of handblown glass lamps.
Waterworks
103 Newbury Street
Starting in October 2000, look for elegant bathroom fittings, fixtures, and accessories in a refined store atmosphere and see why Waterworks has been the darling of the design trade for over a decade.
Portico New York
77 Newbury Street
For lovely bedding and current-looking furniture, stop by this attractive two-story shop.
The Morson Collection
31 St. James Street
A great selection of moderately priced contemporary furnishings from the design leaders of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Mohr and McPherson
81 Arlington Street
Kevin McPherson travels frequently to Asia and the Philippines to source the unusual rugs, furnishings, and accessories that have become the store's signature. You can find pairs of Chinese cabinets, dining tables constructed from beautiful old wood, and elaborately carved beds, as well as a terrific assortment of bed linens and drapery panels in the store's Luxe outpost. If you're in Cambridge, visit their other location at 290 Concord Avenue.
Adesso
200 Boylston Street
For over a decade, Adesso has been the place for modern Italian design. Featuring a wide range of lighting, furniture, and Alessi accessories, this shop offers one-stop shopping for the home.
Repertoire
114 Boylston Street
Owner Rick Garofalo and his partner, designer Celeste Cooper, have created one of the most sophisticated stores in the city. Stop here for up-to-the-minute European designer furniture and accessories. The constantly evolving shop recently added Bulthaup Kitchens to its—yes—repertoire.
BEACON HILL
Stroll up and down Beacon Hill's charming streets to absorb the neighborhood's flavor. Don't miss Louisburg Square, Cedar Lane Way, and Acorn Street. Charles Street, the main shopping street, is chock-a-block full of shops and eateries. Beacon Hill also boasts three charming flower shops, each with its own sensibility: Box (19), Charles Street Flowers (24), and Rouvailles (29).
Charles River Antiques
45 River Street
The best patinaed furniture and accessories around. Garden-inspired, very French, and beautiful.
Koo de Kir
34 Charles Street
This shop, at the corner of Charles and Chestnut Streets in Boston's historic Beacon Hill neighborhood, is full of modern furniture and accessories. If you're planning a special dinner party, Koo de Kir is a good place to find interesting serving pieces, candles, and candlesticks and the perfect party favor.
The Design Shop
51 Charles Street
As the name implies, this shop is the brainchild of three well-established interior designers. Besides offerings that include lamps, pillows, and other accessories, the shop does custom work as well.
Box
53 Charles Street
Fabulous flowers...
Linens on the Hill
52 Charles Street
This small shop is chock-a-block full of fine European bed and table linens. And the recent addition of an expanded baby area makes this shop a great spot for baby gifts.
Cafe Vanille
70 Charles Street
If it's time for a snack, try Cafe Vanille's croissants or miniature cakes. Authentic and delicious.
RoosterFish
73 Charles Street
Don't miss this second-story shop. The owners are very good interior designers, and their good taste and unerring sensibility are evident in every object they sell. The mix of 18th-, 19th-, and 20th-century furnishings and accessories is always interesting.
Black Ink
101 Charles Street
Susan and Tim Corcoran have created a wonderfully interesting and unique shop with products that run the gamut from one-of-a-kind rubber stamps to the best juicer around. Most of the store's items are infused with a 1940s and '50s sensibility yet feel up-to-the-minute. Make time to visit the couple's other store, Black Ink @ Home, for their expanded line of home furnishings.
Charles Street Flowers
15 Charles Street
More fabulous flowers...
Alberts Langdon
126 Charles Street
A superb shop featuring Asian antiques.
Marika's
130 Charles Street
For many years, Marika was the doyenne of the Charles Street antique shops. Now her son has taken the reins, and the shop continues to feature high-quality antique accessories. Especially noteworthy is the vast collection of tableware and jewelry.
Period Furniture Hardware
123 Charles Street
If you're looking for antique, hard-to-find, or reproduction hardware, this is the spot. The sales staff is very knowledgeable.
Judith Dowling
133 Charles Street
Another superb shop featuring Asian antiques.
Rouvailles
40 West Cedar Street, just south of Pinckney Street
And even more wonderful flowers...
DINING IN THE SOUTH END
For a fabulous dinner, head back to the South End and indulge yourself at some of Boston's most delightful and delicious restaurants.
Truc
560 Tremont Street
Aquitaine
569 Tremont Street
Hammersley's Bistro
553 Tremont Street
The following are fun side trips, not shown on the map above.
CAMBRIDGE
The Museum of Useful Things
Broadway
Just opened this month, The Mut is part Museum, part shop—and what a shop it is! Susan and Tim Corcoran, the owners of Black Ink and Black Ink @ Home, have brought their considerable talents to their new venue. Combing the industrial landscape, the pair have found useful, beautiful products for the home and placed them in a wonderful setting.
Oblio
135 Huron Ave
A new addition to the Huron neighborhood, this small shop is off the beaten path but filled with interesting things.
Hi Rise Bakery
208 Concord Avenue
After a long day of shopping, take a rest and indulge in a Hi Rise sweet. The little chocolate sandwich cookies are divine. And remember to take home a loaf of their fresh-baked bread—selections vary daily.
Formaggio
244 Huron Avenue
Wander down the block to Formaggio and feast your eyes on the beautiful array of cheeses that await. The well-informed staff will be glad to help you choose the perfect cheese to accompany that loaf of bread.
Abodeon
1731 Massachusetts Avenue
Hip, funky objects for the home, both new and old, await you at Abodeon.
Nomad
1741 Massachusetts Avenue
As the name implies, Nomad's owner Deb Coburn has always had wanderlust. Visitors to her shop reap the benefits of her travels. Nomad features African stools, Mexican pottery, and Haitian folk art paintings. And that's just the beginning of the treasures you'll find here. Be sure to check out the handpainted furniture downstairs.
BROOKLINE
Pod
6 Davis Avenue
Julie Baines' precious, Zen-inspired shop is a real find. Though the selection is small, each object is a treasure.
A Fork in the Road
313 Washington Street
A two-story building filled with all manner of accessories, antiques, and handpainted furnishings. Plan to spend some time in this shop, looking in every nook and cranny for those special finds.
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