When Sweetbay Home & Gift owner Courtney Brownewell stayed home to raise her boys, she freelanced as a graphic designer and stretched her design skills with the opportunity to have a booth rental at Lake Norman Antique Mall and Rumor Mill Market. That allowed her to nurture a passion for both design and one-of-a-kind style.
Today, Courtney is known to scout estate sales and second-hand shops to discover charming pieces you won’t find just anywhere, and her new business venture, Sweetbay Home & Gift, is a fun, eclectic mix of old and new décor. “I truly believe you don’t have to have a huge budget to have a house you love!” she shares, excited to bring items she loves to new customers, and celebrating the life-long dream of opening her own boutique.
“I have a little old and a little new here at Sweetbay,” she shares. “I refinish furniture to bring new life to pieces that have great bones but are a little sad. I also have some consignment vendors who help me with the sourcing and refinishing.”
This past April, right on time for LKN Magazine’s Boutique Crawl, Courtney proudly opened Sweetbay Home & Gift in the popular Merino Mill center located in downtown Mooresville. The store’s name couldn’t be more fitting, as it personifies “embracing the southern charm of the Sweetbay Magnolia, a symbol of beauty, stability, and perseverance.”
A bit more on the definition reveals that like the magnolia’s blossoms, we must navigate life’s challenges with fortitude. Much like the trees themselves, our relationships and endeavors can stand strong through all seasons!
“The silver lining in the Sweetbay magnolia refers to the silvery underside of their leaves, and this unique characteristic adds an extra dimension of beauty to the tree,” Courtney explains. “You’ve heard the phrase ‘finding a silver lining’ in a difficult situation, and the silver lining in magnolias not only adds visual interest but can also symbolize finding beauty amid challenges.”
You’ll definitely feel that peaceful presence at Sweetbay, where their mid-summer mood finds the team lovingly introducing customers to their new, handcrafted windchimes made of sand-blasted glass and driftwood, and their garden solar lights that are perfect for home entertaining and relaxing with family at the end of the day.
Along with unique furniture pieces and engaging home décor, Sweetbay offers faux flowers and plants to bring a bit of the outdoors inside. You’ll find a collection of summer vases from stoneware to wicker, and throughout every season, containers in a variety of textures and styles. They are also proud to carry fine luxury candles from LKN Candle Company — each naturally inspired by the beauty of Lake Norman.
A visit to Sweetbay will inspire your own home refresh, and nudge you to pick up a perfect gift to surprise someone special. No matter what the occasion, the personable team of Michele, Marta, and Lora join Courtney in helping customers assemble a charming gift basket — maybe for a new mom — or one filled with the cutest pet accessories. They can guide you in selecting a unique housewarming gift for a best friend or a new neighbor, and for your own home — and personal retreat — the creative staff will help you pull together a table setting that perfectly matches your style.
“It makes us happy to see our customers leave excited with what they have gotten for their loved ones — and, of course, what they’ve discovered for themselves!” says Courtney.
The new Sweetbay Home & Gift is a relaxing shopping destination filled with its own distinctive beauty — just waiting to be shared! Visit Sweetbay Home & Gift at 500 S. Main Street, Suite 111, in Mooresville, NC, 704-658-9792. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram @sweetbayhomeandgift for the latest in fun gift ideas and summer décor inspiration!
