About

Propcellar Furniture & Events

A BIG EMPTY SPACE, A LOT OF HARD WORK AND A LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC

It all started with a couch, twice. The first time, it was Sadie—a pale blue, tufted statement piece with red legs.

Seeing something special where no one else did, Karlee Hickman gathered a few old church pews, distinctive doors and dressers and some gorgeous vintage furniture and set out to convert a dilapidated mid-century warehouse on Summer Ave into an inspired and incredible event venue. 

Established in 2013, Propcellar became a funky, cool space for gatherings, parties and weddings.

Then, Karlee discovered Ulla—a rare and stunning birch-trimmed mid-century sofa designed by Carl Malmsten.

And now Propcellar, still an eclectically elegant event venue, also houses one of the Mid-South’s largest collections of heirloom, investment-quality Scandinavian antique furniture and accessories for sale. Importing direct from Sweden, furniture arrives throughout the year and is celebrated seasonally with a Container Party to showcase the newest arrivals. Click here to be added to the invite list.

The Team

Karlee Hickman

Founder, Owner, & Head Chick in Charge

Karlee’s superpowers include, but are not limited to, throwing epic parties with a personal touch and sourcing rare Swedish furnishings with a history. With roots in California and Scandinavia, it all kind of makes sense. Just how Swedish is she? Dad was born and raised there and his culture and heritage plays a major role in her identity, going so far as to have lived and worked there. Today, she gets her Swedish fix through family visits and, of course, buying antique Swedish furniture.

A California girl at heart, Karlee studied international marketing and apparel merchandising and manufacturing in Los Angeles. She brought along her savvy business sense and keen eye for design when she and husband Mark, an ace of a FedEx pilot, moved to Memphis in 2010. They started an event venue and vintage rental business called Propcellar. [Prop•cellar: Says exactly what the business is and sounds like propeller. Clever, huh? We can all thank Joelle of Barefoot Bride for that one!] Somewhere along the way, they also launched an adorable family, complete with three extraordinary daughters.

During the pandemic, also known as “the year of no parties,” Karlee and Mark decided to develop what had always been a personal passion for them: collecting and selling heirloom antique Swedish furniture. Be it famous mid-century or old world Scandinavian styles, Sweden is a country world renowned for its design sensibilities, all of the pieces have been a blast to collect – the clean lines of the 60’s, the gentle curved and carved details of the Gustavian era, the colorful and whimsical painted elements of the 1700 and 1800's Scandinavian folklore furniture and the gentle, calming palate of Swedish pine pieces from up to 200 years ago.

Whether online or with an in-person appointment, Karlee looks forward to helping you plan and execute a unique event or sharing this collection of exclusive heirloom antique Swedish furniture with you.

Mark Hickman

Champion of Freedom, Hero to Many Small Children

Mark plays a vital part in making sure that Propcellar is financially sound and strategically smart. He’s also a damn good time.

This southern gentleman from Arkansas served in the Air Force for 21 years and now travels the world, sometimes all in the same week, as a FedEx pilot. His charm, wit and swagger were enough to sweep Karlee off her feet and to convince her to leave California and call Memphis home.

Mark’s entrepreneurial spirit, head for numbers and ability to move heavy furniture have made him an integral part of daily operations and strategic planning at Propcellar. Did we mention he’s a damn good time?

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