Enthusiast Magazine

Caryn McGarity, Owner of House of Boykin Consignments and Fine Furnishings, opened in historic downtown Braselton at the same location she was last year – 64 Brassie Lane. Her store is in a beautifully renovated barn from the 1900s full of reclaimed barnwood. Then put consignors high-end furniture, fine furnishings, and unique retail items in this setting, it just makes for a wonderfully inviting place to shop. House of Boykin is situated between Braselton Library and 2 doors down from Local Station Restaurant.

The historic town of Braselton, GA is home to many local restaurants and quaint retail stores that invite residents and visitors to experience the charming treasures of small town living. One of Braselton’s beloved treasures is House of Boykin, a high-end consignment and fine furnishing boutique owned by Caryn McGarity. Located in a lovingly restored 19th century barn at 64 Brassie Lane, House of Boykin features a delightful catalog of unique home décor, antique furniture, and accessories waiting to find new homes.

Caryn McGarity led a storied career in the hospitality industry before founding House of Boykin. She left her hometown south of Chicago to accept a job offer with United Airlines in Los Angeles, but later chose to pursue her interest in hospitality and moved to Palm Springs, CA to work for resort hotels and convention center. McGarity notably served for a company named LMI as a key member of the Palm Springs Convention Center.

In 1995, McGarity moved east to become the Director of Marketing at the Gwinnett Civic and Cultural Center in Gwinnett County, GA. She was promoted to assistant General Manager and later accepted an offer as Executive Director of the Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“It was a wonderful experience being a part of the growth of Gwinnett County and helping build our brand as a hospitality destination,” McGarity said, fondly recalling her time in Gwinnett. “I have met and made so many friends around the world that I am fortunate to still have in my life.”

McGarity also co-founded Barefoot in the Park, a non-profit fine arts festival that celebrated and supported arts education in the Gwinnett community from 2005 to 2018. “When you do something you love,” she said, “it never feels like work. We are all very proud of what we accomplished and the monies we granted to improve our community.”

Although she thoroughly enjoyed her hospitality career path, McGarity always had an underlying passion for design. As a high school student, she took a class in interior design and loved it, wanting to pursue it as a career, but was told that it was not a realistic career path and there was no money in the field. While McGarity didn’t consider interior design as a future job opportunity, it remained in the back of her mind for decades. A few years after retiring from the hospitality industry in 2009, McGarity decided to pursue that passion and open a consignment store in Braselton.

While searching for a home for her new venture, McGarity came across an old barn that had been renovated. “When I first saw it, I fell in love with it… it was perfect!” she said. The barn was quickly transformed into an upscale, high-end consignment store for modern and vintage furniture and home décor.

The team at House of Boykin begins with McGarity, the owner and “pack leader.” She named the store after her Boykin Spaniel dogs who come to work with her every day. Coco is the greeter, welcoming customers as they come into the store. Guinness is just a puppy, so he doesn’t come around as much. A third family pet, Gigi the French Brittany, goes to work with her dad Mike at McGarity & Efstration Law Firm where she dutifully greets his clients. Lastly is Mo, a french brittney who enjoys his time at home with Guinness, holding down the fort.

McGarity and her pack provide a joyful and inviting experience for each and every customer. House of Boykin is a fitting name for the business, as Boykin Spaniels are joyful, loyal and adventurous dogs, and shopping for one’s home is certainly an adventure. McGarity truly wants to help each customer find what they are looking for to make their house a home.

House of Boykin sells many different items such as high end furniture, home décor, rugs, lamps, mirrors, artwork, cowhides, seasonal items, jewelry and any unusual items that one might not find anywhere else. It provides the opportunity for homeowners to sell high quality items that do not have a place in their house anymore, and works to find the right home for every piece. This process eliminates the need for sellers to place items in storage, sell them online, or transport big pieces of furniture and all of the other hassles that come with selling.

Buyers can look through House of Boykin’s inventory by stopping in-person to see the beautiful displays, attending festivals and events, or keeping up on social media, where McGarity advertises all of her available products, including some not on display. With such a wide range of products, there is not always enough space for everything in store. Items that might not fit are still available to view and purchase in a regularly updated look book. These items are stored in a local facility until space becomes available on the floor.

Often, customers are searching for a particular product when they come into the store. New items rotate through House of Boykin every day, so if McGarity doesn’t have that specific item at the time, she adds that buyer to the House of Boykin wish list, a waiting list for customers to put their name down for that particular item and save their spot in line should it become available. McGarity does the shopping on behalf of her customers, reaching out when she comes across what they may be looking for.

When you consign with House of Boykin, you eliminate the inconvenience, disruption, and security concerns of traditional garage, estate, online, and newspaper sales of items. Your furnishings and home décor will be on display for qualified and eager buyers to see. By displaying and selling your items in beautiful and creative ways, they can command a higher selling price, which means a better result for you. They also have a “Wish List” from their customers on items they are looking for. Sometimes your furniture will sell the very first day because the staff at House of Boykin reaches out directly to potential buyers.

House of Boykin also carries a variety of home products that are so popular they have a permanent spot in the store. The Maison Berger is a functional and attractive accessory that has stood the test of time by purifying indoor air and adding a contemporary touch to any room. McGarity sells her own line of all-natural deodorant made from all natural ingredents, a healthier alternative to regular deodorant that is filled with chemicals. Specitalty cleanser for everyday cleaning of linens, clothing, and more. Other items include organic dog shampoo, men's skin care, baby & childrens clothes and gifts, fine belguim linens, custom made exotic skin cuffs and wallets. There are always little treasures ready for purchase.

McGarity first fell in love decorating her own home thru the years. She wanted her space to reflect her and her family’s personality with unique, conversational items that did not break the bank. Her philosophy regarding home décor is to focus on personal style, because that is what one’s home should reflect. If you need any help we have a outstanding list of professional interior designers and others that can help you with any type of design in your home. McGarity has been able to successfully help people reflect their lifestyle in their home through House of Boykin, whether that is getting rid of furniture that doesn’t fit them or finding that one item that adds the perfect amount of flair to their space.

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