8 minute read
Ask the Expert
MARGARET ASH ON ROUND TOP
Written by Margaret Ash / Photos by Margaret Ash and Mackenzie Smith Kelley
Interior Designers are known for their exclusive design resources, typically available only “To the Trade.” Luckily, several reputable antique markets across the country and in Europe are accessible to designers and the public alike. If you enjoy combing through aisles of knick-knacks and grandma’s rocking chairs, or if you want bragging rights having out-purchased a line of designers for the perfect vintage piece, Round Top Antiques Fair is the place for you. With foresight and a few inside tips, you can figure out quickly what pieces at Round Top are well worth the thrill of the chase.
Round Top Antiques Fair happens thrice yearly and attracts over 2000 vendors in 27 venues. The scene is nothing short of intimidating to the newcomer, from its expanse of 11 miles to the regular sightings of celebrities and famous designers—Emily Henderson and Joanna Gaines are regulars. I also recently ran into Suzanne Kasler and Marie Flanigan at The Compound.
The most sought-after venue is Marburger Farm Antique Show. Marburger typically opens midweek and draws quite the crowd (imagine hundreds of designers lining up an hour early waiting for the ribbon to be cut and a stampede of shoppers to commence).
Marburger will always be a fruitful endeavor, with the best of the best vendors securing their booths year after year.
Most vendors offer designer discounts because they know that they will continually source from them for their clients once they establish a relationship.
Plan to arrive at 8:00 am before the 9:00 am opening and expect to speed-shop through the one-of-a-kind furniture, accessories, clothes, silver, china, and jewelry. If you are going to do high-volume shopping, I recommend creating adhesive tags that say “SOLD” + your business name + cell phone + Venmo. The vendor can send you a Venmo request, and you can keep your momentum going to the next booth. When you buy a ticket to Marburger, it is good all week. If you are there for the “deal,” I highly recommend circling back on the show’s last day. Vendors only want to pay for shipping once and are more likely to slash furniture prices in your favor.
After years of learning the secrets of Round Top and finding my community there, I’m sharing the perfect itinerary to ensure you come away with stories and objects you will cherish.
DAY ONE: MARKET HILL
• Nomadic Trader: His gorgeous rugs cover this location. A second booth at Excess offers surprises like an incredible copper tub I discovered for a client.
• Architect’s Daughter: Graceful and classic iron outdoor furniture paired with antique garden urns by a Southern-born California curator who understands high hospitality and laid-back style in any climate.
• Alma Art + Antiques: A one-stop shop for cool vintage furniture and commissionable abstract art!
• Props: Klint Griffin, a Native Nashvillian, has a shop in Leiper’s Fork you can visit anytime, but most of his inventory goes to faithful clients like Kelly Wearstler at Round Top each season. He shares his space with neon sign artist Matt Houser of Liquid Fire Neon, making this the perfect bachelor-pad-meets-honky-tonk respite.
DAY ONE: THE ARBORS
• M.Naeve: Houston-based interior designer with a keen eye for one-of-a-kind vintage pieces focusing on textures and materiality.
• Devon Liedke Pop-up: Former buyer for Paloma Contreras in Houston, who moved to Barcelona and designed a new pottery line worth collecting. She returned to her home state of Texas to debut her collection.
DAY TWO: BLUE HILLS
This 26-acre property comprises 100,000 square feet of shopping space and over 60 curated vendors. This venue is known for its parties at night. They have late-night shopping, dinner in the hayfield, and vendor-led parties under the stars.
• Antonio Joseph: An Atlanta-based vendor with a great curation of English, French, and Italian antiques.
• French Blue: The best venue to find the perfect chest for your home.
• Hibiscus Linens: An influencer out of Houston with hand-embroidered linens. She often shares her booth with up-and-coming fashion designers.
• Houses & Parties: Wow, this booth is a jaw-dropping experience. They also throw great parties. Shop their party collections, tabletop, and offbeat gifts.
DAY TWO: BIG RED BARN (Cash or Check only. ATM on site)
• The Box Shop: This husband-and-wife team offers a great collection of Majolica pottery and every kind of decorative box made from tortoiseshell, tramp art, and quills.
• Fionda Art & Antiques: Another great source for tramp art mirrors and boxes.
DAY THREE: THE COMPOUND, THE WHITE BARN; EXCESS I & II:
• Eneby Home: This Nashville-based couple has a trade-only showroom in Nashville, but if you are not a designer and want to see their inventory of masculine mid-century pieces perfect for any bachelor pad, you must see their well-curated space open during Round Top at The Compound. They also have an excellent restaurant, bar, and live music daily.
• Laurier Blanc: Uncovered treasures and unique finds. They have a great collection of European antiques.
• Scott Kerr Art: A beautiful collection of abstract art. I found myself between Marie Flanigan and Suzanne Kasler, sourcing art for clients from this gallery.
DAY FOUR: MARBURGER
• Uncommon Objects: The best silver and turquoise jewelry collection I have ever seen. The owner Ed Gage was the original co-founder of Marburger. His stories about the show will keep you entertained for hours.
• Preserve Antiques: This group of mothers and daughters goes in each year to sell their curated antiques and vintage clothing.
• Well Sourced by Emily: Everyone’s favorite Vanderbilt graduate who now travels across Europe finding pieces that every Southern woman will swoon over!
• Battersea & Mudlark: Tossing an eclectic salad of European and American objects and furniture via San Francisco and San Antonio. Something you might peek at under a carnival tent. Eye-popping curiosities, things you cannot unsee.
• DinnerpARTy: A mix of post-modern furniture and abstract art.
• Good Weather: I once spotted a chair from the preview Instagram post of @marburgerfarm the night before opening day and made sure I was at the front of the line so I could buy it!
• Line Curve Modern: The whole vibe is Chris Stapleton-meets-Robert Redford, and they realize that their mutual friend is Matthew McConaughey...
DAY FIVE: COLE’S AND ZAPP HALL
Round Top has a prom every year at Zapp Hall that is not to be missed. Wear a vintage gown or overalls. Anything goes (in fact, some people come barely dressed at all). There is a live band, and there is so much fun to be had.
• The Boot Guy: George will tell you everything you need to know about vintage cowboy boots, what famous cowboy wore what, who designed which motif, and why. My first time at Round Top, I had zero cowboy boots; now I have seven because buying from George is like buying a piece of old master art.
• Pixie and the Moon: A great spot for vintage clothing. All the best vintage clothing vendors are at Zapp Hall, and you cannot go wrong with a pitstop here.
• Elements of Time: Tami Steiner-Aizenstat from Miami features a wonderful collection of fine jewelry, exquisite watches, and luxury handbags from Hermés, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Louis Vuitton.
Shopping at “The Show,” as it has been known in the 50 years since its founding, is an opportunity to collect as many memories and connections to cherish as you do heirlooms. There are opportunities to savor food, music, and friendships while you redesign your space and let a new setting reimagine the possibilities in your life. So, check out Round Top and kick up your heels (or boots)—happy hunting!
Margaret Waltemath Ash has returned to her hometown after living in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco for the past 16 years. After launching her own design firm in 2015, Margaret Ash Design opened its first retail store on Sacramento Street in San Francisco in 2019. Margaret Ash creates one-of-a-kind homes for celebrities, tech CEOs, and friends and family across the globe, from beach houses in the Hamptons and Kiawah, South Carolina; Mountain homes in Park City, Utah; and destination homes in Mexico; as well as family residences up and down the California coast. She splits her time between her San Francisco office and her new home base of Nashville, TN, where she plans to raise her son in the community. She credits her vibrant upbringing and love of antiques and sourcing across the globe.
Texas Antique Week / October 23-28, 2023 Marburger Farm Antique Show / 2248 South State Hwy 237, Round Top, TX 78954 roundtop-marburger.com
