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Joanne Esposito and Lizzie Hand opened their Brooklyn Heights home-accessories shop during a debilitating heat wave in August 2006. “We thought no one would come,” Esposito said. But the neighbors ventured out of their air-conditioned brownstones to browse the fresh selection of Hable Construction pillows, Italian linens, and Madeline Weinrib area rugs. Ever since, Abitare—meaning “to inhabit” in Italian— has enjoyed a loyal following of neighborhood residents while luring Manhattanites over the bridge with their decorators in tow. An eclectic range of tiny embellishments—John Derian paperweights, Mud porcelain from Australia, and a stunning selection of baby alpaca blankets in a rainbow of shades—provide pops of color in the otherwise all-white space. Table linens can be ordered to fit the shape and length of your table and are handmade by a family of artisans in Italy. It’s this delicate hand and refined sense of style that make Abitare an inimitable treasure trove for unique wedding and housewarming gifts. — Christine Lagorio