Photos by Mary Margaret Smith
Deke Rogers Collected for the Home; Proprietor and Principal Curator
Deke Rogers has always loved to shop, but over time he found himself drawn to pieces that tell a story—antiques, vintage finds, and the unexpected. “I enjoy working those elements into a room,” he says. “It’s what makes a space feel collected instead of overly styled.” What started as a visit to a friend’s antique booth in Destin has taken him all over Europe. He recently returned from Belgium and is soon to travel to the Mercanteinfiera in Parma, Italy. Travel influences his sense of style and the items he brings to Birmingham shoppers at Collected for the Home, the Irondale storefront he opened last year. “To me, travel means getting away and seeing things that I normally don’t—and that does not necessarily mean a trip to Europe. It could be stopping at a little antique store on a road trip just to explore,” he says. “It’s about seeing things that are out of my norm, seeing something unique that I don’t normally see. It’s always good to have a fresh perspective.” During his ventures, Rogers finds things for his own home, of course. Favorites include a 1960s Lucite horse sculpture from Italy and a Louis Vuitton trunk. “I first fell in love with Louis Vuitton watching Delta Burke on Designing Women when she was busting through the door with her little roller. I didn’t know what it was, but I liked it.” Another recent treasure he found in France is an 18th-century table painted in a delicate floral print. “I’m absolutely obsessed with it. It’s got a light blue marble top, and it’s really beautiful. I’d keep it if I had a place for it.” But the real joy comes whenever someone else claims a piece for their space. “When somebody walks in and finds something that’s perfect—whether it’s a small tchotchke or a big piece of furniture—it means the same to me,” Rogers says. “I’m just happy they found what they were looking for.” @collectedforthehome CONTINUED >
MAR CH 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/B I R M I N G HA M
29