Midori Dowdie, MAD Soleful
Dowdie’s credentials are impressive, to say the least: She’s a former bodybuilder and marathon runner who’s certified in personal training. She’s also a certified holistic health coach, meaning she understands that training is about more than just showing up at the gym. Rather than simply focusing on weight loss and toning, Dowdie helps find your “why” and encourages healthy and sustainable habits — which goes way further than any workout ever could. madsoleful.com.
Great Bay
A pure, fine broth; a smoky backbone of bacon; and plump whole mollusks elevate this above the gluey sludge commonly doled out to tourists. No bells and whistles, just the essence of the sea. Hotel Commonwealth, 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA gbayrestaurant.com.
Jarvis Appliance
If options are what you’re after, you’ll certainly find them at Jarvis. Family-owned since its founding in 1957, the Wellesley superstore teems with inventory from big-name brands: sleek gas ranges by Miele and Bosch; heat-sensing wall hoods from Thermador and Viking; and WiFi-connected refrigerators by LG and Monogram. And with a dedicated service team waiting in the wings, you’ll feel good knowing that your new appliances will stay in top form long after you take them home. 958 Worcester St., Wellesley, MA jarvisapplianceinc.com.
Ibram X. Kendi
See the People Who Gave Us Hope for more. ibramxkendi.com.
Liz Caan
The signature bright colors, bold patterns, and mixed textures that Liz Caan brings to her interior design also grace her personally curated Newton Centre shop. Find geometric throw pillows in vibrant hues, brass peace signs (pictured), and a jauntily patterned tabletop collaboration with local ceramicist Jill Rosenwald. Every piece is clever and packed with personality. 1066 Centre St., Newton Centre, MA 02459, lizcaaninteriors.com.
Robert Gleason, Area Home Inspection, Inc.
Helpful, energy-conscious, and fearless when it means crawling into the nooks and crannies of a home you are about to buy. 19 Fairview Rd., Weston, MA .
Camden Passage, Ltd.
A favorite with designers for hand-sewn lampshades and finials of every description, this shop offers a limited but well-chosen potpourri of antiques, furniture, and paintings. 120 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA .
Roots Home & Garden
True, the Cape is an antique-hunting hub, but fun and funky finds abound as well. Provincetown's Roots has a unique, diverse collection of home and garden accessories, from Tibetan rugs and Tiffany-style lamps to bright hand-painted wooden bowls and bubbling slate fountains. If all this shopping leaves you looking to take a seat, choose from among classic wicker, soft leather, and fine wooden chairs. 193 Commercial St., Provincetown, MA shoproots.com.
Koo de Kir
Seems that lately almost every home accessories shop is big on minimalism—in presentation and selection, anyway. (Price is another matter.) Shoppers who are tired of wandering through spartan stores with items and price tags that belong in the Museum of Modern Art can take refuge at Koo de Kir, where the stock is fresh and edgy, yet approachable in both style and cost. Phonetically named for the French phrase coup de coeur, which means "a strike to the heart," Koo endears itself to those searching for such stylish, of-the-moment accents as magnetic spice racks and sheepskin runners. Need help getting your dwelling up to speed? Take advantage of Koo's free design consultations, at the able hands of the store's interior designers. 34 Charles St., Boston, MA koodekir.com.
Coast
Rare is the home accessories store praised by both common consumers and high-end professional designers. Coast appeals to both. The North Shore shop's furnishings, tableware, linens, frames, and wall hangings feel utterly accessible, while its can't-find-them-anywhere-else objects, such as lamps from the store's own Paris Lighting line, pass muster with even the most discriminating clientele. 3 Oak St., Beverly Farms, MA .
The Potted Geranium
Enthusiasts of eclectic home decoration adore the Potted Geranium, a cluttered catch-all craft and home accessories store. Need something to offset your dining room's midcentury modernity? Pick up a locally designed Mariposa aluminum bowl. Or maybe a hand-woven Kennebunk & Churchill throw. The constantly evolving jumble of merchandis—old and new, understated and bold—means you never know what you'll find, or find you suddenly can't live without. 188 Main St. (Rte. 28), West Harwich, MA 2671, pottedgeranium.com.
Coastal Vintage Home & Garden
Most Nantucket home stores—clean, uncluttered spaces, all—are indistinguishable. Only Coastal stands out. The vibe feels somehow contemporary, even though much of its dinnerware, glassware, vases, and candlesticks are unquestionably vintage. The shop also carries more of-the-moment wares such as subtly scented candles, pillows, and gourmet sea salts and ground pepper from famed Nantucket cookbook author Sarah Leah Chase. 12 Oak St., Nantucket, MA 2554, .
Audio Concepts
Put down the Consumer Reports and delete the electronics in your Amazon cart. No one's going to be impressed by the shoddy home-theater system you're trying to jury-rig. Instead, go to the Audio Concepts near BU, a playground for audio- and cinephiles alike. The top-notch systems here are custom-designed to fit each home—and, mercifully, don't resemble the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. 870 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, audioconcepts.com.