Motley Home - CLOSED
Category: Home Decor [Edit]
Neighborhood: South End652 Tremont St
(between Aquadilla St & Brookline St)
Boston, MA 02118 (617) 266-5566
- Nearest Transit:
Newton St (Silver)
Back Bay (Orange)
Prudential (Green)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Sun 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
20 Reviews for Motley Home
Waaahhh! Please come back, please...pretty please??? I miss all the one of a kind stuff to buy. I must admit my heart sank as did my overall mood when I went to make my ocassional jaunt to Starbuck's for a latte' and stroll through Motely Home. (A monthly ritual I have and I miss it damnit!) I've been waiting to see if it would spring back up in the same spot but alas something else is there now. *sigh* I'm totally bummed now...where else am I going to buy that one of a kind stuff that makes my parties more interesting?? If anyone says Posh or any other store in the SE for that matter I'll just slap 'em. This place really did have one of a kind stuff.
Hmmm.... How DOES this store stay in business? And what exactly is its meaning of life and purpose of being?
I mean, it looks like a cute little home decor boutique, and the first impression is confirmed with some classy $75 vases and silverware sets... But then: schpladow, you suddenly got some dirty dice next to a fucking-piglets salt and pepper shaker set... Then you have some saint christmas ornaments right next to that, and then some I'm WIKKED DRUNK coasters ...
Now that I know what "Motley" means,per Tarah H's review, it makes more sense. And I DID have a little fun in there. Would I ever go as far as to purchase anything? I doubt it.
Good luck, though, fellas, with the binness! I liked you!
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (3)
Cool (2)
I got super buzzed one night here while they were hosting their drink and buy sales. I was walking around and made some stupid Motley Crue comments....
I bought an Apron. A coffee table book. and a cool wine cork that was a star fish.
I barely cook or bake and don't even have a coffee table. I do drink.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
A motley was the traditional costume worn by a jester. It's also considered to have a similar origin to the word medley.
So why name a store this? Well, if your store is full of eclectic, useful, fun, slightly off beat and colorful (in a plethora of applications) stuff, the name would certainly fit. Such is the case with this store.
Motley has a million things that you need in your life that you probably don't actually need in your life. I could get lost in here for hours. Helping in the desire to stay is the super friendly and outgoing, but not overbearing staff. Also, the prices are surprisingly reasonable.
How else do you add to the fabulousness? How about a super fun Pride Parade Party?? They opened at 10am. Offered free Pride Punch (served on a table with refills to be had from a fountain!) and some other drinks. They enticed people in with a super fun door girl and two almost naked go-go boys. Thanks Motley for starting off my Pride Parade Day right!
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (4)
Cool (5)
I absolutely LOVE this store. Hands down my favorite place to shop for gifts for people who I'm not sure exactly what to get. They have fun coasters, pretty vases, funky kitchen appliances, Christmas ornaments, you name it. You could get something fun for as little as $10, or spend a lot more on something really unique and artsy.
I must admit that I'm not a huge fan of shopping or browsing with no intent to buy, but I definitely enjoy an occasional spin around Motley Home's curiously filled shelves. The owners are so friendly, and creative... they get major props for putting a bed right in the middle of their store. Their inventory is always changing, so there's always something new to see and/or to buy.
I'm sure it helps that this place is about 20 seconds from my apartment, but I love this place. Everything I've bought from this store becomes a conversation piece when I have people over. Plus, the staff is awesome. They're uber-friendly and helpful, and occasionally the Motley stores have "parties" where they serve cocktails and everything is 25% off. Liquor + discounts = me buying unnecessary things like shot glass ice molds for vodka and coasters made of rocks. Or, so I would imagine.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Great store with friendly, extremely helpful owners and cool housewares. We came here to look at Dwell bedding and were confused over which fabric would match the chairs we had ordered for the bedroom. Neither Motley Home nor Crate and Barrel had giveaway swatches of the bedding or chairs, but the Motley owners let us take their lone Dwell store sampler to Crate and Barrel so that we could hold it up to the chair fabric. We appreciated that and will likely go back for more cool stuff!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
I came by one sunny afternoon when they happened to be having a major sidewalk sale. Lots of Christmas items for uber cheap (well duh, it's June) but also plenty of other things including cute tea-for-one sets, magnets, pillows, and other little gifts. Plus tons of awesome books on art and design, and... Dan Savage? I grabbed this book from the $1 table and some other little sale items, then strolled inside to pay. My cashier informed me that the employees were encouraged to bring in their stuff from home for the sidewalk sale, too, so I was actually buying his used book. He flipped through it to make sure nothing incriminiating was left between the pages. Hee.
The inside of the store (i.e., not the sale) was full of many object lust worthy items. Modern and fun, they had numerous sets of cute salt and pepper shakers, vases, candleholders, and so on. Great if you want to find someone a fun and stylish housewarming gift, but while I thought most of the stuff was cool, it wasn't anything anyone really NEEDS so I couldn't quite justify buying something not on sale for myself.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
Cool as hell staff and intriguing products. It's one of those stores that makes you want to buy everything and you'll make up excuses in your head to buy it. But then you realize that you are caught up in the moment and that most of the stuff will lose it's charm within the next 6 -8 weeks.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Ooooh, can it be? Yet another South End boutique? That's impossible!
If Urban outfitters is the dorm room and 20 something home accessory superstore, then Motley Home is like the 35+ version of that. This store is full of that sort of useful, sort of decorative, and variable priced items.
It's not quite as outright single female as say Anthropologie (or so I'm assuming), but it definitely has that feeling of not so manly, except for a few products like the wall arrows, which I will admit, were really pretty cool.
You can get jumbo oversized martini glasses, oversized wineglasses, not really tacky styled, but just big, various ice cube trays, hand painted plates, little glass globes, cheese cutting sets, portable chopsticks just for a product variety example.
Helpful and cool staff, but I think it'd be expected for a place of this caliber.
I might come back, but I don't know exactly what for. We'll have to play wait and see.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Love this fresh little place. A friend brought me here on a Thursday night when they were hosting their 20% off everything in the store party! To top off the 20% off they serve beer and wine aplenty! I got my buzz on and then shopped away! They set up a bar and play music and treat you like a friend! I hugged It was so much fun! Oh yeah, and I love the bowl that I picked up there, was looking for one everywhere!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Need a wooden deer head? One of a kind alien-looking stuffed animals made of leather for your couch? Motley Home is your place.
From kitschy to downright cool, Motley has an ever-changing assortment of things-you-don't-really-need-but-must-have for your home. And the great part is, most of it is justifiable because of the low(er) prices.
Come here for delicious candles, $14 vases, designer creations, beautiful bowls, or furniture. The staff is friendly, not pushy in the least, and treats you like they've known you forever if you strike up a conversation with them.
Also sign up for their email list to get invited to wine-and-shopping nights in the store!
Sauntering in, I expected Motley Home to be a lot more expensive than it actually is. How is it that so many small boutique shops for the home manage to persuade you that it's perfectly normal to pay $20 for a coaster? Maybe it's something they pump into the air. Or it's pricing psychology --- lull you into a sense of wonder with bigger items you really want but can't afford, and then whip out the little stupid thing that you can spring for with a crisp Hamilton or two --- a transaction made all the more enticing because it comes with a membership to the cool-kids club. Except... it's still just a coaster.
But Motley is different --- they have an interesting and rapidly rotating inventory of unique items for the home across a broad spectrum of prices, and with a friendly staff to tell you all about it. It's not ikea-cheap by any stretch (especially not the Jonathan Adler stuff), but Motley hits a solid middle ground that delivers distinctive design at reasonable prices. And yes, they sell coasters.
People thought this was:
Useful (6)
Funny (2)
Cool (3)
is this a Jonathan Adler store or is it Motley? I swear at least 1/2 the store is Jonanthan Adler. Don't get me wrong, I love his stuff, I love most of everything that's in this store as well, and the staff is always nice. Maybe I should give this another star... or at least it should be 3.5 stars.
My issue is the major price hike on everything. I understand it;s the south end, and it's good to support small businesses, but the prices are really high here. I think they should combine Motley (across the street and down a block)and Motley Home so they'd have less overhead and keep the prices more reasonable.
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
this place is uber cool. in fact, too cool for me . but I love it anyway. I was able to buy party pumps here! party pumps hold 9 liters of liquor! who could ask for more? And I just walked past the store after hours- and they have an eiffel tower shower curtain in the window! Yeah!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (2)
I lovelovelove this store. GREAT prices and just really cute and different home items. We bought these really awesome skull bowls and teapot, so cute. And the woman that works there is so sweet! I'll definitely be coming here to pick up random household items. And the book selection is pretty good, as well.
Tons of fun home items! Not the most practical things but that is what makes this shop so much fun!
I loved all of the Jonathan Adler and Fred decor, and coffee table books are not to be missed!
I popped in coming from the gym so I was wallet-less but I did leave with a fun flower wine-cork, and I can't wait to go back!
Motley is my new go to for gifts for anyone-it's everything you totally want but may feel guilty buying for yourself!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Just opened in late May 2006, nice selection of stylish, fun, and functional home decor from Umbra, Jonathan Adler, and Fred.
Fun items to make cool looking ice cubes - jewel shaped, ice swizzle sticks, and ice shot glasses.
Beautiful space and friendly staff.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
beautiful store; fantastic, ever-changing selection of fun and interesting home accessories. jimmy has fantastic taste and manages to pick things that are not only beautiful, but reasonably prices as well. a great place to pick up a gift or a little something to jazz up your own space.
i think it's cool that anyone can manage to have a small business like this and actually stay afloat. it's amazing to me. motley home is chock full of highly priced home items, but it's all awfully pleasing to the eye.
it's a great space for a store, across the street from the OTHER motley location with a bright, inviting window showcasing all of their pretty, expensive things.
again, it's a great space, pleasant shopping experience, i could spend a good 20 minutes in here anyway after getting my haircut next door, just poking around, but i never find anything i actually could use. i still like it here though!
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...
Related Lists
-
Your Unofficial Guide to…
The constantly added to list as I continue my goal…
Hot and New
- Shabu-Zen
132 reviews
Neighborhood: Chinatown
- James's Gate
77 reviews
Neighborhood: Jamaica Plain
- Petsi Pies
51 reviews
Somerville, MA
- Bleacher Bar
22 reviews
Neighborhood: Fenway
- The Beehive
188 reviews
Neighborhood: South End
