In 2007 the store on the hill overlooking Highway 23 caught on fire, resulting in near total loss. But as she stood in front of the devastation, Sarah told her grief-stricken employees, “We all need to go home and get a good night’s sleep. We’ll meet tomorrow for breakfast and make plans for our future.” The business was reborn, and if you know Sarah, you understand why. An old, discarded piece of furniture ignited the love affair this former banker had with wood, when she was just a teenager. As she stripped the peeling paint, and sanded to reveal the rich oak that lay below, something settled in her soul. “I will design and build furniture until I can’t build anymore,” she has vowed. And those words demonstrate both a dedication and work ethic learned from her pharmacist parents, working with them in the family-owned pharmacy in Jefferson, Georgia. They taught her how to engage, build relationships, and to make “it” happen, by being genuine, honest, and determined. It’s easy to understand why custom work is her forte. But before there was Hartford House, Sarah studied philosophy of religion, literature and business. Subsequent work in banking allowed her to trade her MBA for an MRS degree, when she married Allen Smith. And when her three children arrived, she gave motherhood the same degree of dedication she’d given to college and banking. “As soon as my first child was born, I knew I wanted to stay home and raise my children” She invested in her children, teaching them as much as her parents had taught her. Sarah’s long-held dream had been to build and design custom furnishings as an entrepreneur, working for herself. When the family moved to Habersham in 1979, she was very involved raising the children but by 1988 she and they were ready to pursue her dream. Local flooring retailer Melvin Anderson had an empty building and offered it to Sarah. The Smith family took
a leap of faith. The children 10, 12 and 14 were the perfect ages to work in the store. Hartford House was born. What had been only a dream rapidly became reality, but it was anything but simple. Establishing a business is hard work, but Sarah was wellversed in transferring vision into action. Then in 1991, Randy, her longest tenured employee, walked through her door. With their combined talents, business took off. The idea that customers could provide a sketch, a picture of their idea and see it completed only weeks later, in their choice of wood and finish, was a big hit. Word spread. Sarah’s heirloom furniture harkens back to the piece that started this love affair. But no matter the style, quality is never compromised, promises are kept and expectations realized. Sarah searched for and engaged two manufacturers of custom upholstered furnishings to give her customers more flexibility and selection. With Sarah’s expert assistance, Hartford House customers can literally custom furnish an entire home from Hartford House, including fabrics, details and finishes. Sarah will also assist in designing complete rooms, and Hartford House art and accessories are unique and extensive. Whether classic is your style, if you’re loving the popular farmhouse look, or if contemporary better fits your taste, look no farther than Hartford House. Their line of candles and home fragrances are most alluring, and, ironically, the day of my visit the “aroma of the day” was named Lake Burton. The next time you pass Hartford Home Furnishings… STOP. Visit them, share your sketch, or just your vision, and let Hartford House take it from there. Look for them at 126 Anderson Cir, Alto, GA 30510. If you have questions or need more info, call (706) 778-3449 or visit www.hartfordhousefurniture.com.
June 2021 - GML 79
