photos by: JODIE BRIM CREATIVE
Accent Prone Owners Cheri and Justin Lingafelt have a clever back story – leading to how inherited expertise from both sides of the family has evolved into two retail locations and the ever-growing interior design side of their business
At the tender age of 18, the two sold market sample lamps from Justin’s mom’s showroom to finance a trip to Disney World.
“It was our first time trying something entrepreneurial together, and we were hooked!” says Cheri. Both were 23 years old when they opened the first Accent Prone location in 2012 – comfortably situated in their hometown of Kernersville and attracting shoppers from all over the Triad.
“We were babies, but honestly, I love that we were able to start so young before we were too scared of trying and failing! We didn’t have children yet and were able to put all our energy into the store. We lived in a tiny old cabin, so we were able to pour all of our earnings back into the business. The early years weren’t glamorous, but they taught us so much! Being from here, we wanted to add to Kernersville’s growing economy, and we knew the small town support would be important in opening a first-time business. It was so fun having old teachers and classmates come through the door!”
Their parents’ influence and daily lessons in entrepreneurship were invaluable early on.
“From the time I was five years old, I helped my dad at his jewelry business and was a ‘retail shop kid’ from an early age,” shares Cheri. “Fast forward 30 years, and my kids – oldest son, Brooks, who is seven, and newest son, eight-month-old Beckett – now have the same childhood, hanging out at Mom and Dad’s store. My dad had an extremely strong work ethic, and not only taught me the basics of greeting customers, ordering inventory and keeping the books, but also what it meant to wake up and go to work even when you don’t feel like it – and push forward in both the good and bad times. When we first opened the store, he was there every day, helping us figure it all out. We owe so much of our early success to him, and we are eternally grateful.”
Justin’s mom was an equally strong asset on the design side, teaching them the finer points of setting up a showroom and sharing her furniture industry connections.
“Justin and I worked the Furniture Market in High Point at his mom’s showroom, greeting customers and passing out bags, when we were just 13!” Cheri adds.
Both know being surrounded by the industry from such an early age certainly influenced their love for design and home décor. In April of 2024, they opened a second fabulous retail location in Huntersville, NC and have become fast friends with new customers in the Lake Norman area. At both locations, Cheri’s passion for interior design is taking on an even bigger role! You’ll see three packages on the website – space planning, e-design and in-home design – but, if you’ve spent much time at Accent Prone, you know their team does it all! From styling a few bookshelves to furnishing your entire home, no task is too small, and you can always count on the AP team to offer free design advice right onsite at the store. If their more tailored design services don’t fit your situation, bring pictures and measurements of your space, and they’ll help you find something amazing to take home that day.
“For larger projects, we send an initial questionnaire to get to know the client better, including likes, dislikes, allergies, family size and how the space functions,” Cheri adds.
If a client has a vision board or Pinterest board, even better! For example, she’s currently working on a bedroom for a client’s three-year-old daughter – so picture bright pink with modern wallpaper and pink tile in the bathroom!
But Cheri is the first to say her personal design style – rustic modern – hasn’t changed through the years. She loves raw woods and antique elements, mixed with clean lines, modern prints and details.
Of course, Accent Prone is also a full-scale furniture store with endless options right at your fingertips. That means “install day” will find them on your doorstep with tons of accessories and artwork choices for you to love and keep or choose to send back. Think of it as a “mini” Accent Prone shop inside your home for an entire day! Accent Prone also offers custom upholstery through their retail partner, Rowe Furniture. Nearly all of the sofas, sectionals and accent chairs you’ll see here are crafted by Rowe’s talented artisans in Virginia, featuring Cheri and Justin’s handpicked fabric selections.
Never a dull moment, Cheri is currently busy with a fun, unique barn project.
“We’re doing a feed room, tack room and laundry/bathroom inside the barn that will feel both modern and equestrian at the same time,” she explains. “I’ve never designed a barn before, so this is out of my norm – and such a fun stretch!”
The magic of Accent Prone will always be two-fold – as Cheri and Justin focus on growing both the retail and design sides of the business. As Cheri shares, “Another AP location down the road is something we would like to work towards, too!”
Accent Prone is located at 1022-F South Main Street in Kernersville, NC, 336.310.4753. Hours are Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and the warehouse is open on select Saturdays or by appointment. Visit Accent Prone at 15435 NC-73 in Huntersville, NC, 980.987.9394, Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. For information on their interior design services, visit Accentprone.com, email [email protected] and don’t miss following them on Instagram @accentprone.
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