Juliet Hope Wayne
You wouldn't know it to look at her petite frame and cute smile, but this neurotic 35-year-old Havertown native is funny as hell-and also a masterful storyteller, which gives her the edge over her (mostly male) competition. Catch her at various stand-up spots around town or as a frequent guest storyteller at the First Person Arts StorySlams at World Cafe Live and L'Etage. 00000, twitter.com/juliethopewayne.
Come Alive 215
Many Philly fitness classes pivoted during the pandemic; Come Alive 215 thrived. Complete with shadow-boxing and full-body training, this livestream workout series from Rumble trainers Kim Harari and Shannon Brennan is high-impact and fun as hell. They’ve partnered with the likes of Michael Solomonov for a boot-camp-and-brunch Saturday and drag performer VinChelle for rainbow-filled performances to accompany your reps. comealive215.com.
Jace Florescio
The stay-at-home order issued in March was a shock to the system for many Philadelphians, and children responded through art, posting homemade rainbows in their front windows. Inspired by this show of solidarity and expression of optimism, Florescio — whose couture balloon installations deliver excitement and wonder to intimate gatherings and corporate fetes alike — used her talents to craft a rainbow garland on her home’s front stoop and those of others in her Fairmount neighborhood. For everyone feeling unsteady or alone, Florescio’s doing her part to make sure hopefulness stays afloat. thatballoongirl.com.
O’Neill Masonry
Specialist Jimmy O’Neill knows that masonry is both an art and a science. He’ll cure what ails your crumbling mortar and can handle brick, stucco and concrete, too. Services Philadelphia and its Pennsylvania suburbs. oneillmasons.com.
The Closet Works Inc.
Lazy Susans, corner pie shelves, slide-out linen drawers … the pros at this Montgomeryville outfit use every trick in the book to get you the most space for your sundries, and they’ll top ’em off with whimsical door and drawer hardware. Services Greater Philadelphia. Closetworksinc.com/pantry-design.
The Organizing Professionals
Janet Bernstein and her team will remove the clutter from your closets and cupboards—and let you fool the world into thinking you are, in fact, a Type A person. Keep reading here. theorganizingprofessionals.com.
Tailored Transitions
Owner Starr Osborne wrote the book on staging. Literally it's called Home Staging That Works: Sell Your Home in Less Time for More Money. And she will. 1100 East Mermaid Lane, Unit 101, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, tailoredtransitions.com.
Preservation Fine Goods
We’ll admit: Not everything in this sparsely furnished shop is the most practical. (Really, who needs an artisanal dinner bell?) But its tabletop goods are so refined, so unassumingly cool, we can’t leave without an heirloom-quality cheeseboard or a gilded candlestick. 9 Church Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530, preservationfinegoods.com.
Parisa Rugs and Décor
While Parisa Abdollahi's Old City showroom is an absolute treat, filled with new and antique rugs and quirky trinkets for the home, the real treasure is her Manayunk warehouse, which houses roughly 3,000 rare Persian rugs — a museum-quality collection, started by her father 34 years ago, that clients can shop by appointment. 33 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, parisarugs.com.
Shoppe Marché
Deanna Johnson threw out the rule book when she opened her Kennett Square spot. She filled the place with a bunch of random things she likes — original oil paintings, linen tunics, handcrafted cocktail bitters, leather throw pillows … and that’s really just the beginning. It’s all slightly French, slightly bohemian, slightly eccentric and slightly familiar. 123 East State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348, shoppemarche.com.
Peco Energy
Yes, you read that right. For a modest fee, their experts will examine your at-home energy use, recommend ways you can reduce it, and even toss in free LED lights. If your income falls below their thresholds, you can get your checkup for free. peco.com/WaysToSave/ForYourHome/Pages/Assessment.aspx.
Casa del Gatto Door Knockers
Nothing says “Welcome to my idiosyncratic house of delights” like a bronze door knocker shaped like a cat or mouse. Casa del Gatto’s additions to the genre of quirky door decor will lend your entryway the personality you didn’t know it was missing. etsy.com/shop/casadelgatto.
Sort It Out Philly
Debra Serota specializes in taking cramped rowhomes piled high with garbage (sometimes actual garbage; her IG isn’t for the squeamish) and transforming them into tidy, well-organized spaces. Then, when you inevitably fill your place up with more junk, she can come right over and start again. sortitoutphilly.com.
Call2Organize
Didn't exactly get around to spring cleaning? Or summer cleaning, for that matter? Sorting through mountains of memorabilia can be daunting (okay, frightening), which is why Ccile Steinriede and Sofia Stalberg of Bala Cynwyd-based Call2Organize will not only declutter and reorganize your living space, leaving it spotless while setting aside items for sale or tax deduction; they'll also teach you how to keep it spartan, so you won't need to call them again. Contact: Ccile Steinriede, 00000, call2organize.com.
Greenable
Now in bigger digs in NoLibs, this eco-friendly version of Home Depot will responsibly redo your kitchen, bath, floors and more or just sell you a gallon of VOC-free one-coat paint. Call or see website for consultation, 00000, greenable.net.