A home decor store with a sweet twist: Both of the Parsons Gifts locations in Cumming and Alpharetta stock items to enhance your house,

as well as fresh batches of homemade fudge.

The store traces its roots to a feed and seed emporium called Allford's that opened in Duluth in 1925. When the present owner's grandmother married a Parsons, the name changed and, over the years, so did the concept.

"We used to sell everything you needed; now we don't sell anything you really need — just a lot of fun stuff you want," said Cris Willis, who runs Parsons with her husband,, Gary.

In 1945, Parsons opened on the store in Cumming, but a fire in 1982 forced them to move. The store moved again in 1991 to its present 22,000-square-foot space at 525 Lakeland Plaza. In 2000, Parsons opened a boutique store on North Point Parkway across from the mall in Alpharetta. And both offer the fresh fudge that you can sample before deciding how much to take home.

What you'll find

The Cumming location includes a gallery of Thomas Kinkade's art; a custom floral arrangement center; and an outdoor furniture area. An events center for decorating seminars, fashion shows and art sales turns into Christmas headquarters during the holidays. Both stores are packed with framed art, pillows, candles, clocks, mirrors and more.

"With Forsyth County being among the fastest growing counties, it was natural that we grew into selling artwork, lamps, decorative accessories," said Willis.

Best-sellers

"We sell a lot of art, especially any kind of architectural pieces," said Willis, who stocks rustic wrought iron accent pieces. "Last year, we found these painted canvases with wrought iron bars at top and bottom that have sold well. And we do a lot of lamps. Everybody's always looking for conversation pieces, bookends, candlesticks and that piece of greenery to drape over a mantel or bookcase."

Need to know

• Where: 525 Lakeland Plaza, Cumming, 30040; 770-887-9991

7300 North Pointe Parkway, Alpharetta, 30022; 678-879-1050

• Hours at both locations: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday

• Web site: http://www.parsonsgifts.com

Hot trends

With the trend toward nesting still going strong, Willis said bed linens are now a big part of the business. The store sells dust ruffles, pillow shams, duvets and table runners from Eastern Accents. The richly designed fabrics are reflected in the prices: Shams start at $100; a duvet is $680; throw pillows range from $52 to $96. "You can spend $2,500 easily if you order everything," said Willis.

Other new items include a line of Holly Springs outdoor wicker furniture. The rockers, gliders, sofas, tables and chairs, from $150 to $675, come in several colors, including natural, black and ecru.

In the area

Headed to Cumming? Wrap up a day of shopping with dinner at Austin's Steak and Seafood, an established eatery in the same center as Parsons. The Alpharetta location is surrounded by the selection of restaurants along the busy North Point Parkway, from Atlantic Seafood and Cancun Mexican to Famous Dave's Barbecue.