Best of Boston Home 2014
The Spa Bathroom
Photograph by Greg Premru
WHY WE LOVE IT
Amenities abound in this envy-worthy home spa, which boasts a sauna, a steam room, and a generous shower. What sets this design apart, however, is its tremendous warmth and exquisite detailing. Finely crafted vertical bamboo slatted panels serve as a screening device—when closed, they create a sense of privacy without feeling claustrophobic. The sauna enclosure within echoes this aesthetic in a horizontal pattern; to the right, a curbless shower area, enclosed by floor-to-ceiling translucent and transparent glass, is bathed in natural light from a skylight. Continuing the natural wood theme, the workout area boasts coffered ceilings trimmed in bamboo, while a private deck/Zen garden to the left of the space keeps relaxation front and center.
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ARCHITECTS
Office of Mark Armstrong; A+SL Studios
BUILDER
Sea-Dar Construction
CABINETRY
Modern Design + Construction
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FINISH CARPENTRY
Shepardville Construction
FLOORING
JJ Hardwood Floors
GLAZIER
Prestige Custom Mirror & Glass
PLUMBER
CMP Plumbing and Heating
SAUNA
Signature Custom Wine Cellars of New England
TILE
Olympia Marble & Granite
Services
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Seven Pros Who Get It Done for You
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1 | PERSONAL CHEF
South End Chef’s Erynn O’Neil is as happy cooking up a quiet dinner for you and your family as she is catering a soiree for 10. Neophytes will enjoy her popular in-home cooking classes; her “Party Class” cooking lessons (which involve plenty of wine) are guaranteed fun for all.
South End Chef, 617-827-7340, southendchef.com.
2 | MOVER
The Other Guys go above and beyond with packing assistance, piano moving, and a great list of “why didn’t I think of that” tips. They can relocate your things across town or across the country, and also offer climate-controlled storage facilities with door-to-door service.
The Other Guys Moving, 617-318-8553, theotherguysmoving.com.
3 | GARDENER
Wisteria and Rose can help you create your oasis—from urban courtyard to vegetable garden—and will maintain it all using organic lawn-care guidelines. Bonus: Throughout the winter, the company also provides snow-removal services.
Wisteria and Rose, Jamaica Plain, 617-522-3843, wisteriaandrose.com.
4 | CONCIERGE
As your on-call personal assistant, Fini Concierge will make doctor’s appointments, dinner reservations, and hotel bookings. They’ll even wait at your home for the cable guy, do your grocery shopping, and pick up your dry-cleaning so that all you have to do when you get home from work is kick back and relax.
Fini Concierge, 877 Beacon St., Boston, 617-247-0043, finiconcierge.com.
5 | HOUSE CLEANER
Green living and cleaning is Spotless New England’s raison d’etre. The eco-friendly cleaning service leaves your home sparkling without toxic chemicals and offers easy scheduling via text, email, or phone.
Spotless New England, 684 Massachusetts Ave., Ste. 5, Boston, 617-513-4095, spotlessnewengland.com.
6 | PET SITTER
Boston Pet Sitters works 24/7 to provide the daily walks, snuggles, and litter-box cleanings your pets need while you’re away. To alleviate your guilt, they even offer a daily journal chronicling the fun Fido or Kitty had in your absence.
Boston Pet Sitters, 144 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-247-7387, bostonpetsitters.com.
7 | PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER
Organizing Boston’s staff, featured on TLC’s Hoarding: Buried Alive, will help you get rid of the clutter in your life and create a functional, organized home. They’ll also teach you how to figure out what you don’t need, ways to efficiently organize the ever-growing spice collection in your pantry, and how to purge before a big move.
Organizing Boston, 617-744-1429, organizingboston.com.
The Boston Home team has curated a list of the best home design and home remodeling professionals in Boston, including home builders and contractors, interior designers, home accent décor, and more. Get the help you need with FindIt/Boston's guide to home renovation pros.
