We had not previously used an interior decorator and were a little worried up front that our new…read morespace would feel like someone else's vision, not our own. Both Lulu and Caitlin were extraordinary in understanding who we are and what our place should like like for us, and then adding in their special expertise and design sense to improve what we were thinking. They were both generous with their time, fun to plan with, patient with us as we waffled from time to time, and good with keeping economies in check when necessary. They made what would have been a long and difficult process -- furnishing and decorating mostly from scratch -- exciting.

What an amazing company and person! From the first minute they treat you like family, listen and…read morelearn your needs desires and bring them to reality in a way that keeps the process enjoyable. Such an amazing eye for detail in every aspect of design. They can do interior design, small to major renovations and ground up new construction. We've works with then ourselves and had many friends and clients do the same and we've all said the same. Lulu's creativity and vision can take ordinary spaces and make them stunning or create the most gorgeous new homes you can imagine.

Sashya and team are exceptional at what they do and an absolute pleasure to work with. I can't…read morerecommend ID8 enough. I needed a designer to help me bring my vision for my startup, Musicians Playground, to life. Sashya and team started with a meeting to understand my brand at length and the goals I had for the project. They produced a floor plan that would maximize efficiency of our space and meet the requirements of our brand. From flooring, to paint, to electrical - they handled all aspects of the project in great detail and with the utmost organization. The thing I am most appreciative of (besides our absolutely stunning space) - is that Sashya and team supported me in many ways they were not contractually obliged to. For example, pushing for savings in places I wouldn't have tried, managing contractors (one needs a part time job just for that), being resourceful with the money we had, and emotionally supportive of the process we were undergoing --- it all made for a journey I will be forever grateful for! If you are looking for a "small team that does big things" kind of experience - this is your place and these are your people! Thanks so much Sashya and team for everything! We can't wait to open a second location with you!

If you are looking for an Architect to design your new home or help you remodel your existing one,…read moreyou cannot do better than Charles Navratil at Architects 2. For a relatively modest sum of money, Charles helped us with a very challenging remodeling project. He helped us with a very significant gut-and-remodel job, where we had strict setback concerns, neighborhood guidelines, and original challenges. For example, we wanted to build an enclosed porch around a 50+ year old Maple Tree. And, he did it! If I were to sum up Charlie's greatest strength, it would be his vision. He comes up with designs that are inspiring, yet functional. He also helped us through the entire project and made sure that our contractors built the house as designed. Charlie's a quiet guy, and doesn't come off as either the "starched-white-shirt" kind or architect, or the "I'm the greatest" salesman-architect. But, judge him on his work product, and you won't be disappointed. You should probably also know that I have no other affiliation with Architects 2, and in fact, chose them after meeting with a dozen prospective firms. In fact, they don't know that I'm writing this review. So please accept my opinion when I say, Architects 2 is the best!

OK, I see one review for Mandarina Studio here, and it's pretty stellar. Let me second that, and…read moreadd a few more things. I retained their service when my partner and I bought a house in Brookline about a year ago. We decided that we basically get rid of all the stuff we had at that point and do the whole house based on a new concept, which we weren't sure about at that point. Plus, we are super busy people, professionally, so we couldn't spare lots of time on this project and so needed someone who was cool and dependable. And here (after we interviewed a few potential candidates) comes Amanda Reid, the principal of this design firm. She was something! First of all, she has such cool, sophisticated taste on everything we need advice on: furniture, wall color, redoing the whole kitchen and bathroom etc. We were originally into the super modern, kind of cold look, but she persuaded us to introduce some eclectic elements like antique pieces into the whole mix, and the resulting space is just unique, tasteful, and functional. Whenever we throw a home party, people who visit our house for the first time usually gasp entering the door. And we tell them we did everything by ourselves (just joking: we give the studio full credit gracefully and gratefully always). There are so many other things I can say, but this is already getting too long. Just a few more things. Amanda is super organized and a crystal clear communicator. Over the course of three-four months, she probably made hundreds, possibly thousands of decisions, small and big. She always presented in her inimitable perfectly clear way what our options were and executed everything in her effortless manner (her presentation skills are something to behold). At work, I interact with some of the smartest people in the world, but rarely have I witnessed such efficiency and transparency in communication. We wanted no headache, no pain, no drama because we are so busy, and Amanda definitely made our life easy. Anyway, to sum up, if you live in this area and have some big complex project, go with her. You wont' regret.

Principal designer and owner of Mandarina Studio, Amanda Reid has designed my personal residence, a…read morenewly acquired loft in Midtown West area of Manhattan in New York City. She was also responsible for interior renovations of common areas for several of my residential income producing properties in Boston and Manhattan. Through the entire process, Amanda demonstrated ultimate taste and passion for interior design. Her vision transformed outdated properties into contemporary stylish spaces. She was very considerate to my requirements and budget constraints. She didn't replace my vision with hers, like many designers do; instead, she adapted her vision to accommodate my needs as a client, while transforming it into a design masterpiece. Amanda is the best designer I have ever worked with through my career of thirteen years as an architect and real estate developer. I highly recommend her to everyone in my professional network for a variety of projects. Max Drivin

Mark is simple the best! He is warm and friendly and always ready to make a deal. I've been a fan…read morefor over ten years! Me, my sister and my mom have bought so many quality pieces of furniture from him. We are there so often he affectionately nicknamed us "The West Roxbury Girls". I moved to Norwood last year (maybe so I could be closer Lol , and his new location in Main Street is awesome! Well organized and lots of great stuff. He is just getting rolling after the move (where he sold off a bunch of stuff) so I'm sure there will be amazing auctions and basement sales in the future. Easy parking on the street or a huge lot in the back. Try him out!

Great place to look for inexpensive furnishings that are in good condition and decent quality (made…read moreof real solid wood and not just MDF), ideal for kitting out your new college grad who's starting out on their first apartment and job. The owner and sales folks are always willing to consider and make a deal, offer discounts, etc., especially if you're buying several items. The staff is friendly and helpful, and will assist you in taking apart items and putting it into your vehicle. And it's fun to browse their two packed floors!

I have been a household employee for over 20 years. Over the years I have used 3 prominent Boston…read moreagencies that specialize in placing employees in private settings. Less than 2 weeks ago I contacted Cass and Company, an agency I had never used in the past, and inquired about positions I'd seen online. I was immediately called, not emailed, and spoke to a lovely woman named Megan S. I was comfortable and found her very easy to talk to about my last experience and what I was looking for in my next placement, she obviously listened to me because she didn't once try and "sell" me a position that wasn't what I had specifically listed in my profile. The agency has a very long, detailed application as well as security forms that needed to be filled out and submitted prior to my file being sent to prospective employers, as soon as my paperwork was in, they began my search. I was in daily contact with Megan via email, any questions we had for each other were answered quickly as to not slow down the process. I was lucky enough to have a second interview with a family late on a Friday afternoon, I didn't expect to hear anything from Cass & Co until Monday but at 7:30pm I received an email from another employee of the agency, Sara C., asking questions about the position and gauging my interest. The next contact came on Saturday afternoon from Sara which was a phone call which I'd missed and then a text asking me to call her personal cell phone to discuss the offer. I can honestly say that I have never felt as though people were working so hard for me than I have this past 2 weeks. Megan and Sara made me feel as though I was their one and only client even though I know that to be untrue. I cannot recommend Cass & Co enough, the aspects of the negotiation process were completely handled through them, that can sometimes be a sticky situation for people and I was impressed and thrilled to hear that they take care of that. I am excited to start this next chapter and credit that excitement to Megan and Sara and the rest of the staff at Cass & Co. Thank you so much, Kate C.

Since 2008, I have been working for a family I was connected with through Cass and Company…read more Throughout my experience, Sarah and her team went above and beyond to be attentive to not only my needs but the families I work for as well. They are exceptionally professional, thorough, and considerate. Today, I work as a family assistant for two families all through Cass and Company. My experience has come full-circle, as I now use Cass and Company for hiring my own employees. When working with them, I know I am getting the best of the best that I can trust fully not only for me, but for the families I work for too.

My husband and I made the decision to hire architects because we'd seen so many unsightly split…read morelevel additions. Between the four of us, we came up with a plan that was not only aesthetically pleasing, but met all our specific, unique and sometimes challenging needs. Bill & Ksana were great to work with. They're experienced, detail oriented, friendly and professional. It's also nice that they're a family business who care about the environment and sustainability (but are not pushy about it). I highly recommend them.

Alexandra and Kontseptual Inc. were a pleasure to work with throughout our basement renovation…read moreproject. Alexandra was available every step of the way, from creating the initial design for a new family room, bathroom and mudroom through selecting finish details, fixtures and even paint colors. Alexandra is professional, responsive and has a great eye for design - she made all of our decision making easy. Would definitely recommend her to anyone looking to do a home renovation.

Needed an architect fast after escrow finally closed on a loft in the south end. Had located Colin…read moreSmith through Service Magic, a professional contractor resource for build projects, to design a 2 bdrm + master bath addition. I needed a 1 week turnaround to get permits before the contractor went on a short vacation and to submit plans for HOA approval. Colin Smith and his colleague, Ian Hurlburt delivered big time. Sure it helped that I had a draft plan ready & selected a contractor with a detailed estimate. But that doesn't take from the fact that these guys did a brilliant job. This entire project - from realtor, mortgage broker, lawyers & bank - was plagued by unbelievable incompetence. Colin Smith saved the day for my first Boston real estate experience. They were professional and the results were creative.

Colin and his team are excellent architects. They did a…read more2,500 sq/ft addition for me and couldn't have been happier with how it turned out. The space, layout and flow was excellent. They maximized the small space I had available to use. Their office is right next to the building department and he is well known in town. He knew the building department, zoning bylaws and how to navigate the process. He helped shepherd the project through the Historic District hearing and Zoning Board hearing. Unlike the other reviewer, who clearly was a mad neighbor and did not use his service, the house she referred to was 15,000sq/ft, not 9,000. It seems she is the one who does not have a good sense of size! This is Lexington, expect over sized houses!