Sara Dalicandro

5 Unique places to fall in love with fall in Massachusetts

by Sara Dalicandro

Part of living in New England is the benefit of having real seasons with weather and landscape change. The fall is probably New England’s most beautiful time of year with deep, rich colors that pop-up seemingly overnight and cool, crisp weather that makes you excited to wear that comfy sweater you got on sale last year. What better way to enjoy this time of year than to get in the car and check out all the beautiful sights, sounds, and smells of classic New England.

Below is a list of five unique places to visit during the Fall right here in Massachusetts.

Honey Pot Hill Orchards Stow, MA – Pick apples, take a hayride, get lost in the corn maze, grab a few pumpkins, and enjoy some hard cider. There is all of that to do in the orchard while enjoying the beautiful views of nature.
Mohawk Trail – a 63 mile long road in northwest Massachusetts. It runs along the Berkshire Mountains (so be sure to stop and enjoy the views) and offers serene streams, the famous Hairpin Turn and even a museum at the end.
Summit of Mt. Greylock Adams, MA – With over 12,000 acres of forest, there are plenty of places to stop and enjoy the marvelous Fall colorsof this pristine mountain. At the summit, you can climb the 92 foot Veterans War Memorial Tower, have dinner and spend the night at Boscom Lodge.
Forest HIlls Cemetery Boston, MA – Cemeteries and Fall go hand-in-hand for obvious reasons, but the reason to visit this cemetery is not for the scare factor. Enter through the giant castle-like gate and check out the headstones that are more like sculptures, cement mini houses, ponds, and fountains. All of these sights are surrounded by breathtaking foliage and green space.
Bash Bish Falls State Park Mt. Washington, MA – Enjoy a serene, family and dog friendly hike right on the border of New York in Mt. Washington. An easy 2 mile hike in and out will lead you to a jaw dropping sight – a waterfall! Hike through trails that bring you by colorful trees, over large boulders, and down natural stone steps.

Whether you plan a specific trip to view the foliage or just decide to look at your backyard, be sure take a moment to enjoy the beauty of this season and be glad you live in New England.

Cool Kitchen Island Ideas

by Sara Dalicandro

Unique Kitchen Island Configurations

Whether you’re hosting family and friends, or it’s just your immediate family, the kitchen island is inevitably the place where people end up gathering. A kitchen island ends up being a communal spot to enjoy coffee, hors d’oeuvres, a glass of wine and tell stories. A traditional kitchen island layout will work in nearly any kitchen design. Expanding an island to offer more space for sitting, lounging and prepping food will bring additional comfort to your leisurely mornings or long nights gathered around the kitchen island. Here are some unique kitchen island configurations to choose from.

Built-In Table at the End of the Island
If you find your family spending many meals at the kitchen island instead of the dining table, consider building a kitchen table directly into the end of the island. Whether you build a round dining table at the end of the island or a square dining table, remember to account for ample seating. Don’t shy away from going oversized to accommodate everyone comfortably and to make a design statement.

Double Island
A double island can be invaluable if you frequently host gatherings. One island can be for cooking and prep work, and the other can remain the hub for gathering around. Depending on your kitchen’s layout and space, the two islands can be next to each other or back to back.

U-Shaped Island
A truly custom look, this layout is meant for kitchens with ample space. An oversized u-shaped kitchen island offers enough room in the middle for a built-in banquette and dining table. This layout can take the place of a breakfast nook. A u-shaped island invites friends and family to meet around the table for meals, snacks, cocktail hour and game nights while still being in the middle of the kitchen island action.

Built-In Banquette
Building a banquette directly into the island is both a functional game-changer and a conversation starter. For example, adding a long banquette to the length of the island can be paired with a dining table as a place to gather around for meals. Or, a shorter banquette added to the end of the island can be paired with a smaller table, such as a tulip or pedestal table, for a more intimate space to enjoy your morning coffee.

Two-Tiered Island
If you don’t have the space for two kitchen islands, but you want to have a separate food prep area and food serving area, a two-tiered island will let you use the top tier for preparing food and the bottom level to set out hors-d’oeuvres and for guests to set down their drinks and plates. In addition, using different counter materials, such as marble on the top and wood on the bottom, will add visual interest.