When you step into Margi’s Furniture & Design (once known as Margi’s Chair & Chair Alike), tucked away in the heart of Green Hills, you’re not just walking into a store — you’re stepping into Margi Hargrove’s story. It’s a story of entrepreneurial grit, old-school customer care, and an unmatched eye for timeless, livable design. In a city that has watched local favorites come and go, Margi has stayed the course, adapting and thriving with the kind of perseverance that only comes from doing what you truly love.

A woman sits on a gray sofa with multiple pillows in a modern living room showroom at Margi’s Furniture, featuring stylish wood furniture and decorative accents inspired by contemporary Furniture Design.
Margi is sitting on a beautiful sofa with pillows that is heading out to a client’s house ASAP! Image: Liza Graves
Two yellow tufted armchairs from Margi’s Furniture sit side by side with a floral pillow on one, a round coffee table with magazines in front, and a tripod floor lamp behind them in the Green Hills showroom.
A bright, chartreuse pair of leather chairs awaits the perfect home. Image: Liza Graves

A Space That Tells a Story

Margi’s current showroom is her third (and hopefully, final) location in Green Hills. It’s in the old Porter Paints space, between The Bluebird and McDonald’s on Hillsboro. It’s definitely one of Nashville’s best home decor and furniture stores.

And what an experience it is! Margi sells off the floor, which means her showroom is full — packed, even — with vignettes ready to be brought home. This isn’t a gallery of furniture on display; it’s a carefully curated space where comfort and style coexist and clients can walk in, fall in love with a piece, and take it home immediately.

That’s right. Need a sofa for the big game this weekend? No problem. Need an extra chair for the guest room? You got it. Just moved and need a hallway table yesterday? Measure your hallway, bring in the dimensions, and Margi will help you pick out the perfect piece.

And if you see something you like but need a different size or fabric, Margi can special order almost anything for you.

Green Hills green leather sofa with patterned green and white cushions, placed in a living room setting with neutral decor and wooden accents, showcasing Margi’s Furniture design expertise.
This green leather sofa is a favorite. Margi can special order various sizes and fabrics, or you can take this very one home! Image: Liza Graves
Assorted fabric swatches, rugs, and design samples are laid out on a patterned carpet, alongside printed images of a bedroom and a table lamp—ideal inspiration for interior design projects from Margi’s Furniture.
Margi works with clients’ overall interior design needs; however, she knows how to step back and let her interior design customers work with their clients as well. Image: Liza Graves
Several racks display numerous fabric samples hanging on hooks, arranged by color and type in Margi’s Furniture showroom, a hub of furniture design inspiration in Green Hills.
There are so many fabrics and rug samples to work with at Margi’s Furniture & Design. Image: Liza Graves

From Ethan Allen to Entrepreneur

Margi’s journey began in graphic design, but her career took a turn when she joined Ethan Allen years ago. It’s also where she met Will Joyce, a fellow design enthusiast and owner of Daphne Interiors in the L&L Marketplace. Their friendship blossomed amid showroom floor antics, including hilariously dodging a last-minute shopper on Christmas Eve by literally crawling out of view.

“We had so much fun,” she laughs. “They made us work Christmas Eve, but if no one came in by 2 p.m., we could leave. At 1:50 p.m., someone came to the door, and we hit the floor to avoid being seen.”

After stints at other furniture companies, including managing and buying for Carissa’s Antiques & Armoires in Hillsboro Village, Margi decided it was time to bet on herself. In 2009, she opened her first solo showroom, just months after Carissa’s closed. “I loved that I could stay late, take care of clients, and make decisions. It was all mine. I don’t have any employees … it’s just me. But this way, I can give back 100% to the store and my customers.”

Margi is a firm believer in community and supporting other small businesses. She fondly remembers when Bandywood was full of women-owned shops, and while times have changed, she hasn’t. She shows up for clients. She makes wrongs right. And she’s someone you want in your corner, whether you’re furnishing a whole home or looking for that just-right accent chair.

True to her word, if she doesn’t have what you are looking for, she usually has a suggestion on where to go and may even make that call for you.

And, she highly suggests eating at Green Hills Grille. (I had to mention that somewhere in here!)

A living room showroom at Margi’s Furniture in Green Hills displays a white patterned sofa, glass-top coffee table with candles, a desk, framed photos, and assorted decor that highlight elegant furniture design.
This white sofa is one of Margi’s favorites as it fits perfectly at the end of a king-sized bed. And the grasscloth coffee table? Yeah, we want it, too. Image: Liza Graves
Shelves filled with assorted decorative pillows in various colors, patterns, and textures, displayed against a white wall at Margi’s Furniture—where exceptional furniture design meets style in Green Hills.
There are pillows throughout the store, but a wall of pillows awaits your seasonal needs. Image: Liza Graves

Three Moves and a Miracle

Operating a furniture store is no small feat. You need square footage, high ceilings, wide double doors for deliveries, and a steady stream of design-minded clientele. Margi’s first two locations served her well, but a surprise sale of her second building in 2023 forced her hand.

“I kept calling my landlords to renew my lease, and no one called me back. Then two men walked in and said they’d bought the building. If I wanted to stay, it’d be $30,000 a month. There was no way I could ever afford that.”

Luckily, Margi had a backup plan. She had quietly scoped out the old Porter Paint space nearby. It was spacious, had high ceilings, and as a huge bonus, it had a loading dock. After a twist of fate (and a well-timed connection with the building’s owner, an old friend from church), she landed it. “It was a God thing,” she says without hesitation.

Today, the showroom sparkles with layered textures, rich upholstery, and Margi’s expert merchandising. Among the lines she carries, I was thrilled to see the newly revived Mitchell Gold line, a name well-known in the design world for comfortable, high-end, American-made furniture.

After its previous run under a private equity firm left it floundering, the brand has returned to its roots, and Margi is proud to be one of the select showrooms offering it. “People walk in and say, ‘Didn’t they close?’” she says. “But this is the real Mitchell Gold again. And I love that my customers can sit in it and feel it — not just order online and hope for the best.”

A patterned black and white swivel chair from Margi’s Furniture, accented with a textured rust-colored pillow, sits on an ornate rug in front of a dark cabinet—showcasing exceptional furniture design.
If you’ve been missing Mitchell Gold, it’s back! Check out a couple of chairs at Margi’s, or she can order you other pieces. This chair swivels and is soooo comfy. Image: Liza Graves
A woman in a blue patterned dress stands smiling in the entrance of Margi’s Furniture, a furniture and design store with glass doors in Green Hills.
Margi sparkles with her passion for all things home. Image: Liza Graves
A rattan armchair with a cushion sits by a large window at Margi’s Furniture, surrounded by other upholstered chairs and decorative items, showcasing elegant furniture design in Green Hills.
I had to sneak this photo in. As you can tell from the packing paper still on the legs, this chair just arrived. And, isn’t she a beauty?! There are currently two at the store. Image: Liza Graves

At 62, Margi has no plans to slow down. “I don’t have kids. My husband is about to retire. This is my life, and I love it,” she says. “Your home should be your safe space. And I want to help people create that.”

The Heart of Local

Her story is a reminder that small businesses don’t just sell products. They offer relationships, memories, and — in Margi’s case — beautiful pieces that make a house feel like home.

So, if you haven’t visited her new showroom yet, consider this your nudge. Loop through, sit for a moment, and take in a space built with heart.

See more about Margi’s here: margischair.com

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Want to find more great home decor stores in Nashville? Check out our guide here!

Liza Graves
About the Author
Liza Graves

As CEO of StyleBlueprint, Liza also regularly writes for SB. Most of her writing is now found in the recipe archives as cooking is her stress relief!