Meet HAT’s 2025 Retail Stars who are from the South

Many Home Accents Today‘s Retail Stars hail from below the Mason-Dixon line. Here’s what makes each one of them special:

Alcott and Bentley, Louisville, Ky.

An institution in Louisville, Ky. since 1979, Alcott & Bentley, owned by John and Allyson Mokhtarei, took the opportunity to rebuild a memorable showroom complete with lighting, home accents and décor after the original store burned to the ground in 2006. Located in Louisville’s historic Highlands shopping district, the Mokhtareis said they do business “the old-fashioned way” by earning the trust and respect of their customers and cultivating relationships that last a lifetime. Although Louisville’s customer base leans toward a traditional design aesthetic, designers here say they know how to push the envelope by regularly changing out displays and selecting artwork, accessories and accent furniture to complement the latest lighting trends. The company’s designers also appeal to current and would-be customers through the showroom blog, a collection of deep dives into recent projects and educational articles that showcase the staff’s skill and breadth of industry knowledge. —Anne Flynn Wear

Ivy Cottage, Morrisville, N.C.

Since 1995, Ivy Cottage has been a part of the Cary/Morrisville, N.C., community. The retailer is a small independent business that is committed to offering its devoted customers quality home furnishings, curated gifts and trendy women’s fashion accessories. Ivy Cottage started as a small family-led gift shop and has grown and expanded to a major gift and home furnishings resource in the Triangle area. Along with its product assortment, Ivy Cottage offers professional and unique design and décor services. There is no hourly charge for these services at Ivy Cottage, and it takes on clients with realistic budgets and time frames with a willingness to be creative. Ivy Cottage has won many awards, such as Cary Magazine‘s best interior design company, Cary Magazine‘s Best home décor and furnishings and Cary Magazine‘s Best place to find a gift. —Lauren Roses

Jes & Gray Living, Alexander City and Spanish Fort, Alabama and Miramar Beach, Fl

Alabama-based Jes & Gray Living is a joint endeavor between Rockford Wholesale (now known as RW Collective) and Stock & Trade, a five-store home furnishings chain in the Southeast. Jes & Gray describes itself on its website as “lifestyle design, waterscape inspired … with a fresh and salty point of view.” It offers a full assortment of home décor ranging from mirrors, wall art and decorative accessories to candles, baskets, tabletop and kitchen items. Among its brands are American Leather, Atelier Home, Beyond Borders, Pom Pom at Home, Threads Republic and its own brand, Jes & Gray. The retailer also offers interior design services and a to-the-trade business. It operates three stores, in Miramar Beach, Fla., Alexander City, Ala., and Spanish Fort, Ala. – Allison Zisko

Minkology, Asheboro, N.C.

Minkology came to life in January of 2021 in the heart of downtown Asheboro, N.C., in the historic Cox Lewis building. It was acquired by Wendi and her husband Ross Mink, who loved shopping at the store before they took a chance on it in 2021. They rebranded the store shortly after acquiring it, and Minkology came to life. The Minks wanted to present themselves as suppliers of anything their customers might be looking for, from furniture to clothing to home goods. To date, Minkology has continued to expand its brands from Annie Sloan Chalk Paint to Barefoot Dreams. The inventory is varied and includes furniture, women’s items, clothing and accessories, bath and body items and home goods. The store draws in visitors from all over North Carolina and cherishes including local vendors. —LR

Coco & Dash, Dallas

Coco & Dash, the Dallas-based retailer run by the delightfully irrepressible mother-daughter design team of Teddie Garrigan and Courtney Garrigan, added to its long list of accomplishments the opening of a wholesale business in January. Its 4,000 square-foot showroom at the Dallas Market Center is an open daily destination for designers and other industry professionals who want to tap into Coco & Dash’s timeless design style mixed with panache. Its product lineup includes its own pillows as well as goods from partners such as Thibault, Schumacher and Pooky Lighting, with more partnerships planned for this summer. The colorful new space includes an eye-catching and crowd-drawing tented area in the middle for events like trunk shows and book signings. Not known for resting, the Garrigans also host retail panel discussions with and for industry peers during the semi-annual Total Home & Gift Show in Dallas. Coco & Dash is a multiple retail ARTS Award winner.  – AZ

Embellish Home, Bowling Green, Ky.

Interior designer Lisa Marshall, along with Natalie Hughes, who had many years of experience as a retail store manager and yearned to open a store of her own, established Embellish Home in 2016. It is an interior design studio and home décor boutique whose assortment includes unique furniture, rugs, luxury bedding, art and decorative accessories – something for every room of the house. The store offers in-stock and custom options for all its merchandise. “Not only do we provide unique items, but also a unique personal experience where customers feel right at home in our showroom … they can look, get ideas, shop and talk with us about the complexities of making a house the home of their dreams,” Hughes told Bowling Green VIP magazine last year. – AZ

Home.ol.o.gy, McKinney, Texas

What do customers have to say about Home.o.lo.gy in McKinney, Texas? “Hands down the best furniture store and design in North Texas… no need to go anywhere else.” Founded in 2015 by Ricky Phillips, home.ol.o.gy offers high-end furniture, custom upholstery, home accessories, lighting, custom draperies, linens and more. The home design showroom also offers full-service interior design with award-winning professionals and prides itself on delivering a “creative journey experience like no other.” Home.ol.o.gy curates its space with the highest-quality home furnishings, personally handpicking all items in the store to provide a wide array of styles designed to meet discerning customer needs. That attention to detail has been met with approval from customers (see above) as well as accolades from the industry, having garnered design awards and nominations at such events as the ARTS Awards in Dallas. —Diane Falvey

Kathy Adams, Dallas

The 23,000-square-foot home furnishings showroom this retailer occupies in north Dallas serves Kathy Adams and her clientele well. Offering a full assortment of home furnishings as well as interior design services, Adams’ customers know where to go for stylish, timeless furnishings and cultivated interiors that reflect their aesthetic. Kathy Adams showcases some of the most respected furniture and home décor brands in the industry, designed to provide custom options for her interior design and retail clients. Merchandising that showcases room settings down to the last detail and a robust social media presence keep Kathy Adams customers in the loop. With more than 30 years in business, the industry has rewarded Kathy Adams with an ARTS Award in 2024 and several nominations, proving this interior designer/retailer has gotten the formula correct for delighting her customer base. —DF

Southernite Interiors, Canton, Ga

Nestled in historic Canton, Ga., Southernite Interiors offers a refined shopping experience. The retailer offers custom-designed furniture as well as home accents. Each furnishing and décor item is personally selected and vetted by its professional design team. Southernite Interiors strives to create a shopping experience that captures the Southern charm and hospitality of Canton’s historic downtown. Its showroom is curated with hand-selected, custom pieces and meaningful décor. The retailer also offers endless customization options for tailored sofas and chairs in addition to rugs, art, bedding, draperies and tables. The Southernite team says it stands by the important lessons that its Southern mothers taught: integrity, honesty, hard work, and doing it right the first time. Southernite is working on its online shop, which will open soon. —LR

Texture Home Interiors, Johnson City, Tenn.

Nicole Teal, owner of Texture Home Interiors in Johnson City, Tenn., founded the company in 2019 as a home staging company. The location has now grown into a showroom full of accessories, décor and furniture that reflect a love for natural materials, neutral palettes, and vibrant accents to help clients customize their homes and reflect their unique personalities. Teal is a mom of six and said she has witnessed many of the facets of home life, from chaos to tranquility, so she appreciates the impact of well-designed environments. Teal said the mission at Texture Home is to bring homes to life by layering them with personality, so they are client-focused, design-inspired and quality-driven. The store became a member of the Rowe Furniture family in 2023. The retailer engages with the community by hosting workshops, classes and fundraisers. —AFW

The Arrangement, Dallas and Houston, Texas

For almost three decades, The Arrangement, founded by Katherine Snedeker, has focused on handcrafted furniture that is custom-designed or gathered from the far corners of the world. The company has two award-winning showrooms — Dallas and Houston — that Snedeker says are “nothing short of memorable or magical.” For customers looking for one-of-a-kind pieces, Snedeker adds that The Arrangement is the place to go. Beyond its eclectic mix of products, The Arrangement puts a strong focus on sustainability, with responsible wood sourcing for product development and manufacture, and curatorial purchasing. The Texas retailer has been a proud member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council since 2008, setting a positive example for its peers and doing its part to protect the world’s forests. For its efforts, The Arrangement has received multiple awards, including being recognized with a High Score two years in a row on the SFC’s Wood Furniture Scorecard. —DF

Whites Mercantile, Nashville, Tenn.

Whites Mercantile is known as a general store for the modern tastemaker. In 2013, the retailer opened as an attempt to fill a shopping void in Nashville, Tenn., save an iconic old gas station and revitalize the concept of a general store, and how has turned into a retail phenomenon that boasts five locations across the southeast and more on the horizon. The retailer promises an unforgettable shopping experience that covers all the bases – from Bloody Mary mixes to dog treats, handcrafted leather bags to classic soap bars, to the extensive apothecary and home décor.  All locations now include artwork by Chris Coleman and original antiques. Essentials for every family member can be found at Whites Mercantile. —LR

See the complete list of 2025 Retail Stars here.