Best of Boston Home 2009

The premier designers, contractors, shops, and more, in Boston and beyond.


Furniture


furniture

Ligne Roset’s modern furniture lends homes a spare, unfussy aesthetic. (Photo Provided)

Modern Furniture
LIGNE ROSET

Louis Ghost chair? Been there. George Nelson bubble lamp? Done that. Looking for modern furnishings but can’t stomach another piece that pops up in every “of-the-moment” house? Take refuge from the overdone in Ligne Roset’s Boston store: The plush seating (check out the playful, bright-hued Togo sofa and the versatile Smala sofa/chaise/bed), occasional furniture, and accessories are delightfully current—yet totally distinctive.

200 Boylston St., Boston, 617-451-2212, lignerosetboston.com

Antique Furniture
ANTIQUES PERIOD

At some antiques shops, it’s hard to shake the feeling you’re raiding Grandma’s attic. Walking into this Beacon Hill store is more like entering someone’s home—someone with exquisite taste, that is. If you detect a flicker of sadness when owner François Bardonnet sells you a museum-quality piece like, say, a 19th-century French writing table, it’s because he genuinely adores every carefully researched item he carries. (Unlike Grandma, who’s happy to hand over her broken owl lamp.)

44 River St., Boston, 617-973-6601, antiquesperiodboston.com

Children’s Furniture
MAGIC BEANS

One of two relatively new Magic Beans locations, the Wellesley store boasts a showroom filled with cribs, highchairs, and bouncy seats from status baby-gear brands like Stokke, Svan, and Oeuf NYC, along with all the bedding and décor needed to accessorize them. Lest you suspect that a $900 crib is all hype, the staffers’ encyclopedic knowledge of furniture and safety standards will assuage your fears (and possibly convince you that you need a $350 bassinet as well).

200 Linden St., Wellesley, 781-235-2120, mbeans.com

Traditional Furniture
WILLIAM HENRY

“Traditional,” in the worst sense, means boring, mass-produced, and uninspired. In the best sense, it means timeless style, meticulous craftsmanship, and attention to detail. William Henry’s custom wood furnishings are the latter: beds, tables, desks, bookcases, and chairs in classic shapes, made to get better with age. The Harvard Square showroom is decidedly unstuffy (read: kid- and dog-friendly), and while you can’t rush quality, having its workshop in nearby Winchendon means custom orders usually get to Boston in no time.

152 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 617-497-1507, mywilliamhenry.com

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