Located on Sidco Drive just off of Thompson Lane, Merridian Home Furnishings has amassed a loyal local following. With its ever-rotating collection of furniture, lighting, rugs, art, and accessories, this treasure trove offers an intimate, in-person shopping experience that’s hard to come by in a web-obsessed world.
An Ever-Changing Collection
The Merridian showroom is arranged like a series of fully furnished rooms. The staff, including owner Merry Dougherty and interior designers like Abby Chodkowski, ensures that each space is carefully designed to be both aesthetically pleasing and functional for everyday life.
“It kind of feels like you’re walking through a home,” Abby says. She adds that first-time customers sometimes come in expecting to find a section for chairs or tables, but Merridian isn’t organized that way. It’s set up like a house, making it easy for people to imagine the arrangements in their own abode.
Merry, a classically trained painter with an eye for composition, approaches these setups the same way she approaches art.
“I like focal points in every room,” she says. “Everything needs to be in harmony with one another.”
This results in a showroom that is constantly in motion. Because Merridian sells directly from the floor, displays evolve daily as pieces are purchased and new shipments arrive.
The “Merridian Style” — Old Meets New
Merridian’s inventory includes a variety of timeless essentials and a sprinkling of trendy favorites for what Merry describes as a “harmonious combination of old and new pieces that come together to achieve a timeless yet current look.”
“[It’s] a balance of textures, finishes, and eras that feels sophisticated but never stiff,” she adds. “And we have a good mix of classic pieces. If you’re investing in something, it needs to be for the long haul and not something that’s going to go out of style in three or four years.”
Hand-knotted rugs and traditional art hang alongside modern sofas and clean-lined case goods, while materials like burl wood and brass mesh with reclaimed pine and marble.
“We mix a little bit of everything — the marble, the brass, the wood — and everything pulls together nicely,” Merry says.
One-of-a-Kind and Refurbished Pieces
Merry sources antiques and handcrafted finds from around the world, giving Nashville residents access to unique pieces they’d never get their hands on otherwise.
“Whenever I see something anywhere, old pieces overseas or antiques that come up for sale, if I feel like it fits our vibe, I just buy it,” she says.
Sometimes, those finds are brought back as salvaged architectural elements and are used to recreate something new.
“A lot of our pieces are refurbished,” Abby says, pointing out a tall wooden piece with intricate, hand-carved designs. “Those doors are 200 years old. You can see the square nails on the back. And they built this cabinet around them. The paint shows its age, and that’s what makes it beautiful.”
Due to their uniqueness, items like these tend to sell quickly.
“When somebody buys something, that’s it; it’s gone,” Merry says. “That keeps it fun and challenging because every setting needs to look good.”
Designed for Real Life
Beyond its curated selection, Merridian is known for furniture that’s as practical as it is pretty. Merry, a mother of four, designs many of the store’s proprietary pieces with everyday living in mind.
“I know how people need to live,” she says. “[Furniture] needs to be functional, it needs to look good, and it needs to last.”
Solid wood construction is standard for most Merridian designs, with select veneered pieces chosen for their striking grain patterns. While Merridian typically doesn’t offer one-off custom commissions, many items can be specially ordered or customized from existing vendor lines.
Art, Accessories, and a Local Touch
In addition to furniture, Merridian offers a thoughtful selection of art and accessories, ranging from pillows and lighting to whimsical accents, including sculptures of octopuses, bees, and dragonflies.
“We always have a good mix of fun, happy things,” Merry says.
The store also supports local artists. Merryy works with Knoxville native Phil Savage to offer a selection of aluminum prints featuring Music City.
Clients often stop by to refresh their homes with minor updates, like these prints and other small pieces.
“Sometimes it only takes a couple of new things on your coffee table or some new pillows to make the room feel fresh,” she tells us. “It doesn’t take a lot to make an impactful change.”
Merridian makes it easy to find and receive furniture quickly. If a customer sees something posted online but it isn’t at their neighborhood store, customers can request to have it brought over.
“If it’s on the website, that means it’s in stock at either the Louisville or Nashville store,” Merry explains, adding that they run a truck between the two cities every few weeks to transfer items. “So if something’s at the other location, it’ll be here within a couple of weeks.”
For customers who prefer not to transport purchased items alone, Merridian partners with local services to handle the deliveries for a small fee.
A Legacy of Local Service
As the store approaches its 30th anniversary, Merry recalls memories of pieces that have passed through generations.
“One gentleman told me he bought his dining room table here 25 years ago,” she says. “He raised his family on it, and now his grandkids sit at the same table. That’s the kind of furniture I like to sell.”
That sense of longevity extends to Merridian’s team as well. The Nashville store manager recently retired after more than two decades with the company.
“We’ve had people with us for 20-plus years,” she says. “We’re grateful for our team and for the good people who walk in and out of our doors every day.”
Despite the challenges facing independent retailers in the age of online shopping, Merridian continues to thrive by focusing on what big-box competitors can’t offer: an in-person experience rooted in quality and trust.
“When you buy online, you don’t really know what you’re getting,” Merry says. “Here, you get to come in, touch it, and sit on it.”
That tactile connection, along with the store’s approachable atmosphere, curated selection, and professional assistance, keeps customers coming back.
“Most of our customers are repeat customers,” Abby says. “They know where to come.”
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