Shop & Tell – Knotty & Board Expands to Davidson

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Knotty & Board Adds Davidson Location

by Allie Spencer photographs provided by Knotty & Board

If you’ve ever set foot in Knotty & Board, you know that Davidson residents Michael Fournier and Kim Hankins have a gift for creating inspiring spaces. Their interiors store at 20700 N. Main Street in Cornelius, opened in November 2020 and is filled with décor, lighting, candles, gifts, home goods for entertaining, art and furniture. Shopping there is an experience in discovery — you may find something you never knew you needed, and it will fit perfectly in your home.

Hankins, a mortgage broker for the past 25 years, says the goal when they started Knotty & Board was to eventually own their retail space. They signed a three-year lease for their original location in Cornelius, but when the perfect property in downtown Davidson hit the market, they couldn’t resist.

The couple recently expanded the Knotty & Board brand to 265 S. Main Street in Davidson, occupying a 117-year-old home they bought in the summer of 2021.

“When we saw it, we just thought, this would be amazing to have an actual home and to display home furnishings,” says Hankins. The historic home with a beautiful wraparound porch and 10 visible fireplaces (an 11th was discovered during renovations but is concealed by cabinetry), is located in an area of Davidson that was zoned for small businesses or residential use. Hankins says the house itself was in great shape but converting a historic home to today’s commercial code was extremely challenging.

“Reinforcing of the house was wild, and fire suppression was incredibly expensive — every single wall had to be opened and closed back up,” she says. “There were points when it felt nearly impossible, but we got it done.”

Indeed, they did, giving the beautiful old home a Knotty & Board makeover from the black & white stripes painted on the front porch floor, to the wallpapered ceiling in the dining room and the moody “art room” on the second floor — each space has a distinct look and feel.

“I am constantly like, what can I do in this room, what new décor, accent, look or aesthetic do I want to bring in, and that’s super fun since we have so many different rooms,” says Hankins, who has two business degrees but clearly possesses an eye for design.

While Hankins manages the buying, Fournier is on the floor every day, bouncing between Cornelius and Davidson. The business originally started during the COVID-19 pandemic when Fournier, a graduate of the Naval Academy with a background in sales, started refinishing wood furniture. “He wanted a retail space for the furniture, so I said we have to add décor to that. So, it’s really a business for him, and I just do all the buying and help with the design,” says Hankins. “It’s much more fun than mortgages.”

What started as a career pivot for Fournier has grown into a local business with two locations and a staff of 25 people. With the new location, they have also expanded their offerings. In addition to their in-stock furniture, they now offer custom furniture from Sherrill Furniture (manufactured in Hickory, North Carolina), a full line of wallpaper from York Wallcoverings, made-to-order rugs and design services.

For now, they plan to offer gifting items at the Cornelius location and décor in Davidson. Their overall goal remains focused on finding items at the middle price point for customers.

“I like to decorate a lot. I love to redecorate all the time at my own home,” says Hankins. “And that’s the customer we’ve looked for and found, the customers that love adding little pieces here and there and doing affordable redesigns.”

Kitchen decor ideas adorn the actual kitchen at Knotty & Board in Davidson.

For more information about Knotty & Board, visit www.knottyandboard.com.