Trained as a civil engineer, Rob Cerra grew up in Newton and graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology before starting his own business, Rob Cerra Landscape Construction. While he offers a full range of landscaping services—from design, to hardscaping, landscaping, and maintenance—where Rob and his team really stand head and shoulders above the rest is in creating outdoor oases for relaxing and entertaining as well as welcoming entrances with maximum curb appeal. Even for those with smaller yards in some of Newton’s more tightly-knit neighborhoods, Rob has successfully designed and installed outdoor living spaces that offer privacy and enhance a home’s value. And if you already have the yard of your dreams, Rob’s crew provides regular maintenance, keeping lawns and plantings healthy year round.

Is there a room or rooms in your home that need to be reimagined? Whether it’s a kitchen that isn’t working for your family, a bathroom that you wish were a bit more spa-like, a basement that can be converted into a living space, or an entire house, Interior Designer Sabrina Stewart, of Laval Interiors, can help. Sabrina has what most of us lack—a keen eye for design and the uncanny ability to translate homeowners’ desires and needs into comfortable, functional living spaces that spark joy day after day; year after year. (Take a peek by scrolling through just a few of Sabrina’s swoon-worthy rooms.) Hyper-focused on delivering the highest level of customer service while employing quality and sustainable products, Laval Interiors’ clients rave about their finished home projects as well as the experience of working with Sabrina. Contact Sabrina to schedule a complimentary discovery call to discuss your home design needs!

Carol Pina of Carol Pina Real Estate has her finger on the pulse of the city’s real estate market and a background which sets her apart from other agents. Not only has she spent the past 11 years representing home buyers and sellers, before that, Carol worked for a real estate attorney for 12 years, learning the ins and outs of facilitating and expediting transactions. She also worked for the city of Newton’s Assessor’s office for a few years. Carol grew up in Newton, has lived in three of its villages (Auburndale, Newtonville, & Nonantum), raised her family here, and is intimately familiar with the Newton Public School system, from which her children graduated. 
Working with Carol is seamless—her insider knowledge of the city, its neighborhoods, and how to get things done provides her clients with the highest level of service imaginable. And her ability to thoughtfully guide her clients through every step of buying or selling a home, makes Carol one of Newton’s most sought after realtors.

For those looking for just-the-right vintage piece to feather their nests, Nina Rachele Decor, in Newton Upper Falls, is a treasure trove of home furnishings and accents. Nina’s love of interior design, architecture, furniture, antiques and objets d’art, makes for a thoughtfully curated shop, with items spanning different decades and sometimes centuries. Specializing in Vintage, Mid-Century and Antique furniture, accessories, lighting, and art, Nina Rachele Decor is stocked with items of varied styles and price points. In addition to furniture and decor, Nina offers vintage barware and serving pieces for entertaining, and fun kitschy items, like toys, and other collectibles. Nina brings in new items pretty much every week, so there’s always something new to discover. It's a must-visit destination for vintage home furnishings, decor and gifts with timeless appeal. For spring, Nina also has an assortment of vintage pots and planters to add color and interest to a backyard patio or interior plant scape.

Did you know that there’s a local business specializing in creating, designing, and installing edible gardens—all at reasonable prices? Yep, no project is too small or big for edible garden expert and longtime organic farmer Amy Sullivan—“Sully” of Edible Gardens by Sully. Whether you’d like a container garden for the patio, window boxes, or something bigger, like raised garden beds, Sully can create an edible garden for your family that yields produce all season long. And for those whose existing gardens just aren’t producing like they used to, she'll evaluate the soil, and get your garden cranking out healthy produce once again. Best to get on her schedule ASAP--edible gardens are 🔥right now and soil testing of existing beds needs to be completed soon!

Have you ever felt you need to take some time to organize rooms in your house to make it easier to find things? And have you been telling yourself you really need to do this year after year? Maybe it’s a cluttered closet, disorganized kitchen, messy mudroom, inefficient office, or all of the above. Well, there’s a Newton-based company, Dots & Stripes Organizing, that specializes in organizing and decluttering, creating systems that make homes run like clockwork. Founder and owner Emily St. Martin is a professional organizer who takes time to understand her clients’ needs and sticking points, and works with them to simplify and streamline their living spaces. Oh, and she also happens to be 100% nonjudgmental. To Emily, no space is too small or complex to whip into shape. She works with many clients who are at transition points in their lives—welcoming a new baby, sending a child off to college, or preparing for an upcoming move. Others just want to finally achieve the clutter-free and organized home of their dreams and Emily helps them do just that!

Newton Centre’s Derby Farm Flowers is unlike any other retail shop in the city. In addition to its gorgeous bespoke floral arrangements for any occasion, Derby Farm is a home and garden decor shop, filled with merchandise inspired by nature. From patio furnishings like the exquisite French Fermob collection, to tableware, kitchen items, planters, outdoor lights, and home accents, it’s the perfect shopping destination for brightening up your home for spring. For the garden, Derby Farm has a large selection of flower and vegetable seeds, pots, planting gear and tools. And if you’re looking for a gift for someone who loves the outdoors, Derby Farm Flowers should be your first stop.

Do you want to rejuvenate your diamond-in-the-rough garden? Or add container gardens for a stunning first impression to your home or business with color, texture, and bounty? Laurie Carter of Moon Garden Designs can help—and her work is, well, pretty magical. Laurie’s a MA-Certified Horticulturist with a professional background in designing and organically caring for landscapes, and growing and arranging cut flowers. She combines her deep knowledge of horticulture with a keen eye for beauty and design, creating dreamy gardens and container plantings for local clients. Moon Garden Designs’ hands-on, organic practices support the specific and timely needs of every plant in the garden, ensuring each one grows vigorously and remains healthy. The result? Robust, blooming and beautiful gardens all season long, year after year. Contact Laurie to get your gardens growing again and to create artful container gardens for every season of the year!

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in Newton, Nancy McAuliffe and Claudia Doherty are a dynamic realtor team. They do it all—from meticulously staging homes to negotiating the best deals for clients. Nancy, a Newton native, lives in Auburndale where she raised her family. With 30+ years of experience as a realtor and an extensive network of contacts throughout the city, Nancy knows Newton inside and out. With a deep understanding of the local real estate market, the ability to effectively position homes to maximize value, and a history of providing stellar service, it’s no wonder Nancy has an impressive sales closing record.
Claudia brings a diverse background to real estate. She spent a decade in the financial services industry and is also a fine artist. Claudia has bought and sold several properties, completing large scale renovations, including planning and design. Her keen eye for detail helps her envision possibilities which others overlook, while her negotiation skills make her an asset to both buyers and sellers. Claudia is also from Newton, and lives in Newton Corner with her husband and three children.

As a Best of Boston Winner for Best Entertaining Essentials, Newton’s Greentail Table is a must-visit destination for contemporary home decor, tableware, gifts, and just the right accents to spruce up your patio for al fresco dining season. Much of the store’s merchandise changes with the season, keeping pace with shifting entertaining needs. Currently, the shop is packed with spring decor, with each item thoughtfully curated, based on form, function, and timelessness.
Even better? Linda de Valpine, the owner of this welcoming shop, recognizes that everyone has a different budget for housewares, and makes sure Greentail Table always has products at a range of price points.