Local designers reveal how vibrant paint, tile, fabrics and wallcoverings can add personality and an uplifting atmosphere to your home. by Maria Allen We’re all spending a lot more time at home these days. If you’re tired of staring at white walls and looking for ways to beautify your surroundings, you might want to consider … Read more
Quarantine offers a fresh start for a Kingston entrepreneur. By Jennifer H. McInerney — Photography by Jack Foley During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, many South Shore businesses discovered that “business as usual” was no longer an option. This led to a dramatic reimagining of existing business models, with some entrepreneurs “pivoting” in … Read more
Quincy artist Holly Nichols reveals the magic behind her fabulous fashion illustrations. By Maria Allen – Photography by Derrick Zellmann A rainbow of Copic Sketch markers fans out atop a desk in Holly Nichols’ home office. An artist who specializes in fashion illustration, she gently shifts the angle of her wrist and tightness of her … Read more
10 expert tips for creating a sensational spring flower arrangement. By Maria Allen – Photography by Kate Rogan After a long, cold winter, one of the best ways to celebrate the arrival of spring is by filling your home with the color and sweet fragrance of fresh flowers. Depending on the blooms that you choose, … Read more
By Maria Allen, Photo by Jack Foley Longtime friends Janelle Brooks of Weymouth and Lynne Gray of Hanson are the founders of a boutique baking business known as The Doughnut Bar. The two friends, who have worked as bartenders for years (Brooks at Bay Pointe Waterfront Restaurant in Quincy and Gray at Stockholders Steakhouse in … Read more
A Scituate entrepreneur’s stylish lifestyle brand is an ode to New England. Story and Photography by Kate Rogan Scituate resident Robbin Mangano is a natural storyteller. Whether bringing a client’s story to life via her public relations and social media marketing company, Wave Collective, or documenting her life on the South Shore to her more … Read more
10 Tips for hosting a memorable Galentine’s Day brunch By Maria Allen Each year, after spending countless hours designing picturesque New England weddings and other personalized social events for her clients, Kate Murtaugh, owner of Kate Murtaugh Events & Design, likes to take a day to raise a glass to her closest friends and colleagues … Read more
Raised on the South Shore and trained in Italy, Mya Royal returns to her roots to launch a bespoke apparel business on the Plymouth waterfront. By Kelly Chase Photography by Julia Cumes and Ella Farrell Photography A salty sea breeze blows off the harbor as fashion designer Mya Royal opens the doors to her second-floor atelier … Read more
Ben Eggers was sitting in a graphic design lecture at college and feeling a little bored and homesick when he started working on a design that reminded him of the South Shore. He began with an image of the Powder Point Bridge in his hometown of Duxbury. Eggers has since created an entire series of … Read more
A local pen craftsman’s story By Matt Tormey Photography By Jack Foley Weymouth’s Al LaFrance is undeniably a skilled craftsman and artist. In 1998, with years of craftsmanship under his (tool)belt, LaFrance came across a catalog for wood pen crafting kits and quickly became enamored. These kits were based on woodturning, a distinct set of … Read more
By Maria Allen Photography by Kjeld Mahoney Staging by Laura Graziano Staging and Interiors ASP®, IAHSP® There are many perks to working from home (no dress code, shorter commute, ability to monitor your child’s remote learning), but the “new normal” also presents challenges. With increasing numbers of professionals and students working from home, there is … Read more
Inspired by a mutual passion for health and wellness, the founders of The Hale Life and The Hope Experience come together to host restorative retreats on the South Shore and beyond. By Dave Kindy Photography by Julia Cumes It was a trying time for Melissa Smith. Her mother had passed away from lung cancer in … Read more