If you’re a design junkie like me, you have probably been hearing a lot about Round Top the past couple weeks. For those of you who don’t know, Round Top is a small Texas town known for it’s Antiques Week Fair — which takes place in the fall and spring every year. Celebrity designers and professional stylists have been traveling from all over the world to this fair for nearly the past 50 years. And it is well loved for its one-of-a-kind vintage treasures, Texas charm and Royers Pie Haven!
And as much as I also LOVE Round Top, I’m excited to share a few of my antiquing trade secrets with you! First off, one of my absolute favorite places to find vintage goods for my online shop is from an (even smaller) Texas town just 5-minutes south of Round Top’s city center — Warrenton, Texas. It’s definitely not as glamorous or Instagram-worthy as Marburger Farm or The Big Red Barn, but that typically means there’s way less of a sticker-shock (which is always a plus in my book)!
So, a couple weekends ago I loaded up my car with lots of water, snacks and headed to Warrenton to go treasure hunting with my good friend Alison. And, as you may have already noticed in the shop, I found a lot of amazing vintage goodies! In addition to sharing my haul with you, I thought it would be a great idea to share a little more on how I prepare myself for the hunt!
The most important, for me, is to list out a concise list of the “types” of items you’re looking for anytime you head to various flea markets, thrift stores, or Antique Fairs like Round Top. It’s so easy to get wrapped up into the idea you have in your head that you could miss other vintage goodies that could achieve exactly what you’re looking for — that’s both the beauty and curse of antiquing. So, making a simple list helps me broaden my search parameters and keeps me laser focused during an exhaustive day of shopping.
The Top Things I Look For When Treasure Hunting:
Brass
Wood
Needlepoint
Glass
If you’re not certain on what you’re looking for, try to identify the feeling(s) you want to evoke in your space! To add warmth, I would suggest choosing something “plant-based” (bamboo, woven, wood, wicker, an actual plant, etc.) If you’re looking for more character, consider throwing a few vintage or modern “statement” pieces into the mix (brass, paintings, MCM-anything). And, to balance it out, I also like to find vintage glass vessels (glasses, cups, mugs, vases) for a nice floral arrangement, or — one of my most recent obsessions — colorful needlepoint art to add a touch of femininity to the space.
Do you have any favorite spots or tips you use when antiquing? I’d love to hear them! Feel free to share in the comments below.