Carpenter Opens Luxury Designer Boutique, Hunt
Fans of designer home décor, you have a new mission: to seek out your next one-of-a-kind piece.
Hunt, a luxury consignment boutique at Fondren Corner, aims to make your search easier.
Atlantan David Carpenter has realized a dream nearly a decade in the making, dealing in unique merchandise usually sold exclusively to interior designers.
With a background in the floral and design industry himself, Carpenter said he will stock Hunt with tables, chairs, rugs, lamps and original artwork with a price-conscious customer in mind.
“Sometimes you have a budget you have to work with,” he said. “There are chairs or a rug or sofa — easily affordable to still get that ‘look’ that you want.”
Carpenter worked with ADAC, a design destination center in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood. The showroom’s first-ever vendor and Carpenter’s friend, Jerry Pair, encouraged the idea of a store.
“My dream was always to open a consignment store, Carpenter, a frequent Jackson visitor for the last 15 years, said. “I wanted to go to a small town and (Fondren) was the area I was drawn to. I thought, with the sense of community here that it would be tremendous. I feel this area is starting to take off.”
Currently, in the showroom, Carpenter points out a three-leaf dining table and chairs from Hickory Chair, an Oly light fixture and coffee table, a Restoration Hardware mirror, original art from Austin Allen James, furniture from Lee and items from Los Angeles designer, Michael Berman.
“We had some Wolfe Birds,” Carpenter remarked. “Not being from here, I didn’t know the story behind them until my co-worker told me. Ironically enough, they all flew out! There’s only one left.”
Carpenter has moved to Jackson full time. “Everyone has been very friendly,” he noted. “My friends from Atlanta ask, ‘What’s it like being back in a small town?’ I love the fact that’s it like Cheers — where everybody knows your name. There’s something to be said for that.”
It is also the same mentality that will drive the operation of Hunt.
“The number one thing people go to is customer service,” he said. “I still truly believe that’s a number one issue. With myself and (associate) Elizabeth (McCullough), we strive to maintain that. It’s all about building a relationship.”
And that goes toward his fellow shop owners in Fondren, too.
“We’d like to think we are helping each other. That’s what we’re all here for is to better each other.”
Hunt will host a grand opening May 2 during Fondren After 5. Wine, Champagne and hors d’oeuvres will be served.