Bohemian-cool meets French countryside chic in the girlie-girl paradise of Anthropologie. From floral dresses and exquisite jewelry to cheery housewares and vintage-style furniture, every item here is timeless and unique—a perfect place for gift-hunting. Intricate embroidery and bold prints add to the appeal. But quality comes at an (often steep) price (t-shirts $40+, toiletries $10-20, skirts $70-180, jewelry $38-180). Sales racks on the third floor offer more affordable items without sacrificing the Amelie-esque cuteness. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

A locally owned and operated furniture store, Basics Carpet and Furniture has been serving Boston and the Metro Area since 1966. They feature a large inventory of beds, mattresses, bed frames, futons, area rugs, desks, chairs, office furniture, bookcases, coffee tables and more! Whether shopping for your home or college dorm, come to Basics Carpet and Furniture and find all your furniture needs at discount prices. Their expert staff will help you design your dream living room, bed room or any other area of your house. They are conveniently located at 151 Harvard Avenue in Allston MA and on the web at www.basiccarpetandfurniture.com . Make sure to take advantage of the free shipping offer for all online orders.

Tucked into Shawmut Ave. right next to the South End Buttery lies Hudson, an interior designer's dream. You will find no boring and stuffy patterns or furniture here. Only eclectic pieces that call to mind an elegant, comfortable, and relaxed feel. The young, fun, and friendly employees are eager to help you find your way through the shop's fragrant candles, fluffy pillow, and funky furniture pieces to find exactly what you are looking for.

In case you didn't know: kitsch is cool again. Just ask anyone at Koo De Kir. This fun and funky Beacon Hill boutique brings to Charles Street imaginative home furnishings with a relish. No Pottery Barn prints in here please! Everything this store has to offer is imaginative and distinct, all the while conventional and perfect for either the soaring brownstone of the 5 story walk up studio. Step inside this gem situated right behind the J. McLaughlin on Charles Street and find the trinket that is right for you.

High-end antiques offerings by the owner, Marc Glasberg. The shop has been opened for more than 30 years, and is a staple on Newbury Street. His clients include the rich and the famous (Meryl Streep, Donna Summers) The store hours are 10-6 Monday through Saturday. All major credit cards are accepted.

D SCALE was awarded 2008 Best of the New by the Boston Globe. Inspired by the Moderne Movement D SCALE is a Boston contemporary furniture store specializing in custom capable modern furniture. It offers the D SCALE Collection which is designed by award winning interior designer Dennis Duffy who was recently named a Player in Stuff@Night's Player issue. Be sure to look at their web site www.dscalemodern.com for the Geena Chair, the Bette Sofa, and the Vimla Chaise - this is modern at its best. It also features vintage furnishings and accessories such as a Jean-Michel Frank Parchment Desk and numerous other vintage pieces such as a chrome tubular arm chair in black leather. When visiting, it's best to ask lots of questions because the options are numerous. It is open to retail and the trade. Room planning services are also available. Prices are a little lower than several of the top tier luxury furnishings stores. Visit D SCALE's blog for furniture sales and news items of interest. In the September 2008 issue of Architectural Digest the vintage Poltrona chairs were featured, available only at D SCALE. Jeff Stein, Head, School of Architecture, and Dean of the Boston Architectural College and Architectural Critic for Banker & Tradesman recently visited D SCALE. "Nowadays, we may think a sofa is only a sofa. But in the hands of the right designer, a sofa can become an object that speaks of wholeness, of the feminine, of infinity - and it can be made-to measure. This is the work of Dennis Duffy at his showroom south of Boston's Washington Street, DSCALE. ... His work incorporates what might be called the "softer side" of Modernism." D SCALE was a featured exhibitor in the AD 20/21 Show, Art & Design of 20th and 21st Centuries, held in Boston.

UPDATE: The Tannery, a high-end clothing shop, is slotted to open at 711 Boylston sometime in 2009. Restoration Hardware unfortunately closed its doors in the Back Bay on May 17, 2008. However, the Restoration Hardware location in the Atrium Mall remains open.

Boomerangs is the re-sale store run by the AIDS Action Committee. You can find clothing, furniture, home goods, CDS, movies, and lots of other stuff all gently used and available "new to you." The stock changes all the time, so you need to stop in often. The store windows on Centre Street change often too - and are really public art pieces more than retail tools. They cleverly feature items on sale but in unusual tableaus. Proceeds from the store support the work of the AIDS Action Committee. You can make donations of goods around at the back of the store - but please only during the set hours (otherwise you are subject to a fine for illegal dumping). Donations are also taken at the Boomerangs Donation Center at the Brewery Complex. And they will come and pick-up furniture -- call to discuss details.

TIPS FOR THE BOOMERANGS NOVICE:

• To find the truly fabulous deals, you need to scour the racks on a regular basis (at least once a week).
• Boomerangs staffers showcase seasonal goods--ranging from Halloween trinkets to Christmas snow globes--located at a table in the front of the store.
• The die-hard Boomerangs junkie knows that the shop also has brand-new clothing from top-tier shops like Brooks Brothers and Filene's Basement. The only catch? Staffers mark the collar with a black marker to prevent returns to the original location.
• Common brands found at Boomerangs include Banana Republic, Kenneth Cole and even Armani.
• Boomerangs has a strict "no returns" policy. So, don't even try.
• The store offers daily specials on clothing marked with a color-coded tag. So, if a specific shirt you like has a red tag, wait until it's "red tag day" to get additional savings.
• The staff is generally very knowledgeable so if you're looking for a hidden gem buried within the racks of clothing, they're always willing to help out.
• Centre Street regulars have come to expect funny, usually elaborate, window displays (their recent "Circus Freaks" sideshow-themed window, for example, is stunning) that creatively uses goods found within the store.
• Interested in purchasing items showcased in their elaborate window displays? Boomerangs now auctions of the goods in a raffle at the front desk.
• The staff's taste in music is impeccable--with indie-rock gems like Guided By Voice's "Bee Thousand" and Matador lo-fi classics like Yo La Tengo--seranading customers as they browse the racks.

The Faneuil Hall store features quality kitchen ware, decorations/accents and furniture. They often carry designer cook's baking mixes (think Paula Dean or Barefoot Contessa's Ina Garten). When you're not browsing for yourself, this makes a great gift for just about anyone (grandparents, parents, weddings, house-warming gifts). Check the sales sections for some really fabulous deals on glasses and other items. Armed with classic styles and designs, Crate & Barrel is a dream for those looking to modernize their home or add a little something special to spice up their kitchen and dining area. Great spot to pick up seasonal party goods and serving accents that will add the "wow" factor to any event.

A wonderful shopping experience combining the old with the new from furniture to one of a kind items such as jewerly and artwork from the Charlestown community. Adorable antique shop with clothing, knick knacks, and a variety of objects to strike your imagination about an era past. A person could spend all day gazing at everything from oak bookcases to wicker furniture to handmade jewelry to delicious soy candles. The building was built circa 1800, and is listed with the Charlestown Preservation Society.