The Shade Store

This is the best place to find products to organize your home and office. They have a free custom design center and will design as many spaces and closets as you need. The elfa closet system is SO easy to install, I've done all of my closets in my house, my basement, garage and back porch too. And better yet, no one is on commission, so there's no pressure to buy. They have a big sale the whole month of January on all the elfa closets, I think last year it was 30% off. So it probably will be the same in January 2007. Go check it out! They carry an amazing line of kitchen, bath and laundry gadgets that make life so much easier too. The sales people are wonderful, helpful and know their products. There are two locations; Next to the Natick Mall in Natick and in Chestnut Hill. And I've saved the best for last; their return policy: You can return any item, at any time, if you are not satisfied. I love this store!!!!! more

I definitely cannot afford these prices, but it's awfully fun to look. I agree with another reviewer that they have lots of gift wrap and other non-containers, which is a little annoying. The store is pretty huge, and they have a lot of things to look at. I do think the stuff is really overpriced, and their sales are not at all good (they have some clearance items, but they're usually very damaged). I'm not too crazy about all the plastic stuff (you can get it cheaper at Target and the like), but I like their huge selection of sizes and colors. I prefer the (equally expensive) Hold Everything selection, but this is still a good place to try if your really need a storage solution. Ample parking, though you may have to walk a bit. more

Did you watch Will & Grace the other night? It was a re-run so you may recall. At Karen's wacky birthday party, Will fussed over how much he loves to pickle food yet no one appreciates all the work he suffers to do it (a guest spit his pickled shrimp out behind the fireplace screen, ut oh). He mentioned having to locate a barrel for the pickling process, and how amazingly hard it is to buy a barrel these days. Along these lines, he then added, "I'd go to Crate & Barrel to buy a barrel, but of course, they don't carry those, and they certainly don't carry crates either. Remind me to tell them the next time they decide to open a store, they should just name it ottomans + wicker crap!". It was quite funny, especially since he is such a drama queen. But, the whole thing got me thinking, why would you name a store after items you don't even sell? Maybe because everything comes from China in either a crate or a barrel, perhaps? Then, enter The Container Store. They actually sell containers (who'd have thunk it?) of all shapes and sizes, colors and errr....languages! Check out a fresh buy that I spotted in the store called, "Translations" , a bright wastebasket covered with genuine Japanese newspapers - each one is truly one-of-a-kind. How's that for eco-conscious shopping. For $24.99, can you pass it by? There's also a magnet board, to boot. Wait, do you hear that? A song coming on... "I think I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so!" The Container Store seems to stock every possible container that you'll ever need in life, outside of a casket. The store is amazingly well laid out and just fun on a bun! Heck, I bet they even have crates and barrels for our poor friend, Will. Gosh, he was in such a pickle. more