Shop Round Top Like A Designer: Callie Blanks on Vintage Lighting, Unexpected Finds, and the Art of Collecting
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Time to read 4 min
From Italian alabaster lamps discovered in the Warrenton fields to a tapestry found at Excess I, designer Callie Blanks knows that some of the best pieces are the ones you never planned to bring home.
There are shoppers who arrive at Round Top with a list, measurements, and a plan. Then there are those who let the fields do the talking. For designer Callie Blanks, the sweet spot is somewhere in between.
She knows what she’s sourcing for client projects, but she’s equally willing to abandon the list when something special catches her eye. Her weakness? Art, tapestries, and especially vintage lamps.
With a love for layered interiors, mixed wood tones, and color that isn’t afraid to make a statement, Blanks approaches Round Top the way she approaches design: with an eye for character and room for the unexpected.
We caught up with her to talk about the finds she can’t resist, the venues she never skips, and why the ceiling might be the best place to experiment with color.
The Art of the Find
Three Things She Always Stops For
“Definitely art! Vintage or new- but always special.”
Tapestries and lamps round out her list, two categories that can bring instant character to a room.
The One Thing She Would Always Buy Vintage
“Lamps!”
Blanks has a particular appreciation for lighting with a past, and some of her most memorable Round Top finds prove the point.
Her Quickest Test for Real Character
“Markings, stamps or signatures (also some spider eggs or cobwebs haha)”
It’s a reminder that part of the fun of shopping antiques is discovering the little details that tell you something about where a piece has been.
Color Outside the Lines
The Colors She Loves With Antiques Right Now
“We are loving warm corals, golds and oranges! Pinky Beige, edge gold, and warm sunglow”
Rather than relying entirely on neutrals, Blanks gravitates toward warm, expressive color that can sit alongside old wood, vintage art, and collected objects.
The Color That Makes Old Wood and Brass Feel Fresh
“Our retail shop at CBI is Sherwin Williams Library pewter and we love it! We have an entire art wall and it feels so moody and cool.”
The Easiest Place to Start With a Deeper Hue
“Ceiling!!”
A little unexpected? Absolutely. But a painted ceiling can introduce a rich color without committing every wall in the room.
The Round Top Shopper
Where to Begin When Round Top Feels Overwhelming
“I love hunting and digging in the fields, but for someone new to vintage, I would recommend doing something more curated like Blue Hills or Marburger. Even if you’re not planning to purchase, it will help to train your eye for what to be on the lookout for!”
It’s an approach worth borrowing. Spend time studying beautiful pieces before diving into the fields. You may discover a category, silhouette, or material you hadn’t considered.
What to Measure Before You Arrive
“I would know your actual room sizes and heights of your ceilings. If you know that much you can usually place in fillers to know if you have the space.”
The One Thing People Overthink at Round Top
“Don’t get too hung up on your ‘list.’ It’s nice to have an idea of what to look for, but it’s also fun to just let the pieces find you! Also don’t worry about your woods matching within your home. I’m in the camp that pretty much all wood tones work with all wood tones.”
Permission to stop searching for the exact same wood finish? Granted.
The Finds She Still Thinks About
Ask Blanks about her favorite Round Top discovery, and choosing just one proves difficult.
“Probably a pair of huge etched Italian alabaster lamps- found in the Warrenton fields! Or my tapestry that’s hung in my living room. I found that at Joe Pete’s booth at Excess I”
Her other favorites include a plaster knot lamp, another example of her affection for sculptural lighting.
And while her sourcing for clients starts with a plan, the most interesting discoveries don’t always follow one.
“I have a list for client projects, and then I just go by feel”
Callie’s Round Top Hit List
The venues she never misses
- Blue Hills
- Marburger Farm Antique Show
- Excess
- Warrenton
The dealer she returns to
Joe Pete, whose booth at Excess I yielded the tapestry hanging in her living room.
The categories she can’t resist
Art and lamps, whether she technically needs them or not.
The finds worth remembering
A pair of oversized etched Italian alabaster lamps from Warrenton, a living room tapestry from Joe Pete, and a plaster knot lamp.
Beyond the Fields
No Round Top trip is complete without a few favorite stops away from the antiques.
Blanks has three places she doesn’t like to leave without visiting: Lulu’s, Mill Street Cafe, and Royers Pie Haven.
Her biggest piece of advice is less about where to shop and more about how to experience the show.
“Don’t over think it. Just go and experience it. Give yourself time to wander and talk with people along the way! It’s a great place to make connections and new friends!”
And the one thing she wishes she’d known before her first visit?
“The difference between Roundtop and Warrenton. I think it’s best to do those on two different days because it takes two different mindsets!”
One day for curated discoveries, another for digging through the fields. Both leave room for the kind of find you couldn’t have planned.
Because at Round Top, sometimes the piece you weren’t looking for is the one you’ll keep forever.
Follow Along with Callie Blanks
Instagram: @callieblanks.interiors
Website: callieblanksinteriors.com
Shop CBI: @shop.cbi
Based in: Houston, Texas
