KUDZU IS A PLANT THAT HAS EARNED A PARTICULAR kind of infamy in the South—particularly in North Georgia, where the tenacious weed is known as “the vine that ate the South.”
An invasive plant species known for its ability to relentlessly overwhelm its surroundings, kudzu has also become symbolic, representing the characteristics of uncompromising persistence, unstoppable growth and survival against the odds. “The vine that ate the South” has developed a cultural significance beyond its ecological impact, embodying the opposing beauty of sheer determination and the oppressive weight of an overwhelming, hostile force.
It is that spirit of persistence that is reflected in the story of Kudzu and Company. While the store itself would come later, its roots trace back to a family-owned antiques shop that opened in Decatur in 1979. After graduating from college, the owner’s daughter, Kate Lawes, hoped to join the family business, but her requests were repeatedly turned down. She went on to pursue a marketing career until her mother’s death in 2001, when she and her husband, George, purchased the store from her family.
Driven to succeed, the couple transformed Kudzu Antiques, introducing a more modern appeal by blending both old and new and offering a wide selection of everything from furniture to gifts. Rebranded as Kudzu Antiques + Modern, the shop’s customer base broadened, attracting a wider demographic and becoming a customer favorite.
Years later, persistence would again shape the company’s future—though, this time, it came from a longtime employee who repeatedly encouraged the Laweses to expand beyond Decatur. “I worked in the store for a few years, helping to build the Kudzu merchandise as we started offering custom upholstery, decorative accessories and gifts, but I live in the Sandy Springs area and noticed that there was nothing similar on that side of town,” says Kudzu’s manager, Peggy Horne.
Taking Horne’s suggestion to explore opening in Sandy Springs, the Laweses bought and renovated a building to open Kudzu and Company in 2012, employing a similar model of incorporating antiques dealers with Kudzu merchandise. “It quickly became apparent that the demographics of the area were totally different, and the product mix and emphasis needed to adapt,” says Horne. “I was fortunate that Kate and George allowed me to take the reins and change the basic business model. With the exception of a few local artists and jewelry dealers, the entire footprint became devoted to Kudzu-sourced merchandise. Our focus became more design-focused, and we expanded our selection to include multiple lines of custom upholstery, decorative accessories, lighting and gifts. In addition, we continue to bring in antiques from all over Europe. Because of the wide variety of our merchandise, Kudzu and Company is basically a one-stop shop.”
For Kudzu and Company, being a one-stop shop is less about quantity than curation. Every category of merchandise is selected with the goal of helping customers furnish an entire home with pieces that feel collected rather than simply purchased. “Kudzu and Company’s design philosophy is to build on what you love,” says Horne. “Start with a few pieces you love and build around these. The store is laid out in vignettes, each having their own personality and story, which allows customers to visualize how incorporating both new and old pieces can create an appealing and functional design for today’s living.”
Years of sourcing antiques and furnishings from around the world have given Horne a unique perspective on the cyclical nature of design. While trends inevitably return, today’s homeowners are embracing a more traditional look and feel in their décor. According to Horne, “brown furniture”—old or vintage items made from dark woods like mahogany, walnut, cherry and oak—is reemerging, along with other traditional trends such as wallpaper, fabric trims and fringe, florals, and green and blue colorways. “What goes around comes around—with a new twist!” she observes. “Even the younger customers are opting for more warmth in their décor, so they love our antique selection and the ways that our custom upholstery gives them some freedom to explore different fabrics and patterns with a more traditional or vintage feeling. And it doesn’t have to be a full-room transformation—sometimes just a single change can change the whole atmosphere of a space.”
Kudzu’s partnerships with Lee, CR Laine, Rowe, Robin Bruce and Norwalk have made the store one of the area’s premier destinations for custom upholstered furniture. Complementing those offerings is an extensive selection of specialty lighting, from sconces and table lamps to statement chandeliers, as well as a wide variety of art, décor accessories and vintage rugs—a collection that has made Kudzu and Company a go-to resource for the local design community and homeowners.
“Accessibility is important to us,” Horne says. “In addition to our work with designers, we want to appeal to the everyday customer who wants to refresh a single room or even fully update their home and give them the confidence to explore their style. Our goal is to connect each customer with the items that best fit their needs and vision. Will the pieces work for a young family with children, or will they help the empty nester streamline their environment? Will they complement an existing style or compete with it? These are all questions we consider when helping clients with their projects.”
Regardless of whether a client might need guidance or knows exactly what they want, Kudzu’s goal is always that newcomers experience the wow factor. “We love to hear people talk about how amazed they are with the vast product mix—and we always remind them to walk one direction and then reverse it, because they’re sure to have missed things on the first lap! One of our biggest compliments came from a gentleman who’d visited the store for the first time. He had been in the furniture industry for over four decades and said he had to tell us that he had never seen such a beautiful assortment of furniture and home décor in one environment. He was amazed at the wide selection of product, price points and the intermixing of the old with the new and said he could wander for hours and continually see something that he hadn’t seen on first glance,” Horne says. “We want to be a customer’s ‘happy place.’ This tells us we have a good mix of product, people and the friendly environment that encourages people to come back! We are constantly sourcing new products and growing the environment—in fact, we now have new local art featured, a newly added collection of one-of-a-kind and antique area rugs and runners, and an expanded boutique featuring unique ladies’ clothing and accessories. Also, our selection of European antiques continues to grow as our seasoned owners continue to find new markets in England, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.”
More than four decades after the original Decatur store opened its doors, the same spirit of persistence that inspired its name has shaped Kudzu and Company. With an ever-evolving collection of antiques, custom furnishings and thoughtfully curated accessories, the store has become more than a destination for home décor—it has become a place where homeowners and designers alike discover pieces that tell a story. Much like the resilient vine that served as its namesake, Kudzu and Company continues to grow, adapt and flourish, proving that intentional design—and a little tenacity—never goes out of style. *
Liesel Schmidt is a freelance writer and book editor based in Navarre, Florida. She is the author of three novels.
