Shop Round Top Like a Designer: Lindsey Herod on the Pieces That Make a Room

From a pink Murano chandelier to antique furniture with a second life, the Texas interior designer shares what nearly 14 years of shopping Round Top have taught her about finding pieces worth keeping.

A pink Murano chandelier. An antique chest reimagined as a bathroom vanity. The kind of one-of-a-kind pieces that make you stop and ask, Where did you find that?

For interior designer Lindsey Herod, of Lindsey Herod Interiors the answer is often Round Top.

Her interiors are layered without feeling crowded, colorful without being predictable, and filled with pieces that have stories of their own. Nearly 14 years of shopping the Round Top Antiques Show have given her plenty of those stories to tell.

Herod has an eye for the extraordinary, but she’s just as interested in the little things. Vintage frames, unusual ceramics, collected art, and the finishing touches that give a room its personality.

Some finds become the centerpiece of a room. Others find their place on a bookshelf years later. Then there are the ones that get away, including a rug Herod still thinks about leaving behind last year.

For our Shop Round Top Like a Designer series, we’re stepping inside her beautifully layered interiors to see where the finds live, what she always buys, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

The Art of the Little Things

Some of the most memorable pieces in a room aren’t necessarily the largest or most expensive.

For Herod, Round Top is a place to collect the objects that make an interior feel personal. She keeps a running inventory of vintage accessories and art to incorporate into client installations, knowing that the right finishing touches can make an otherwise beautiful room feel like home.

“Styling pieces! Small items that add character is where Round Top really shines.”

Rather than sourcing every picture frame, vase, or bookend from a major retailer, Herod looks for pieces with age, personality, and a little imperfection.

“Instead of picking up picture frames, vases, and book ends at big retailers (no judgement, we all do it) I collect these constantly to have a stock on hand for project installs.”

Her list includes vintage art, photo frames, easels, and ceramics in every imaginable shape, color, and style.

“They bring personality and patina into a home that make the interior look collected and can be personalized.”

Look closely at her interiors and you’ll see what she means. Blue-and-white porcelain arranged in thoughtful groupings. Framed art layered against patterned wallpaper. Decorative objects that give your eye somewhere new to land.

Her advice is to leave room for discoveries that don’t necessarily have an assigned destination.

“Think about bookshelves and tables, but also load up and leave room for the spontaneous and figure out where the piece wants to live when you bring it back home! Somehow there is always room for more!”

What Makes a Piece Worth the Splurge?

With thousands of antiques to consider, knowing when to spend can be just as important as knowing what to buy. Herod has a few categories she believes are particularly worthy of investment.

“A well crafted case good or chest with unique graining, details, or painted finish. I also love fabulous lighting and mirrors.”

Her interiors make a convincing case for all three.

An antique chest brings warmth and character to a bathroom, offering a beautiful contrast to the surrounding floral wallpaper and stone countertop. Elsewhere, a pink glass chandelier commands attention above an elegant dining table, proving that lighting can be as much a work of art as a practical necessity.

These are the kinds of pieces that give a room its identity.

Of course, recognizing a worthwhile investment doesn’t always mean arriving with a plan to purchase it.

When asked what shoppers should buy rather than risk walking away from, Herod’s answer is wonderfully simple.

“If it makes your heart skip a beat and you can’t stop thinking about it! Antiques are typically one of a kind so grab it when you see it or you’ll dream about it for years… speaking from experience!”

The Ones That Stay With You

Every seasoned Round Top shopper has a story about something they almost bought.

For Herod, there’s a rug from last year’s show that she still wishes she’d brought home.

“There’s a rug I fell for last year but didn’t take home and I still dream about it!”

Fortunately, there are also the finds that prove just how rewarding following your instincts can be.

Years ago, she purchased a faux-painted malachite coffee table that became a fixture in her own home. When the table eventually moved to her office living area, her affection for it hadn’t changed.

“I’m still in love with a faux painted malachite coffee table I nabbed many years ago. It lived in my house for many years and now it’s in our office living area and I still love it just as much.”

That’s one of the wonderful things about a truly special antique. It doesn’t necessarily belong to one room, one house, or even one chapter of your life.

Sometimes the best finds keep finding new places to live.

A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way

While Herod appreciates the unexpected, her Round Top shopping trips are anything but aimless.

“We always go with a long list for all of our clients complete with ideal measurements and furniture plans.”

She also shops for accessories and artwork to keep in her inventory for future installations.

Her approach is a useful reminder that even the most spontaneous-looking interiors often require thoughtful planning.

Measurements matter. Knowing what you’re looking for matters. Having a sense of what something should cost matters, too.

“Do your research! Pay attention to pricing wherever you go and don’t pull the trigger without a quick search to make sure you’re getting a good price.”

But perhaps her most practical advice has less to do with furniture and more to do with who accompanies you.

“Go with a friend who’s been there! Small groups are best. The worst thing you can do is show up with a big group who’s never been, you’ll be so overwhelmed and not productive.”

Round Top rewards shoppers who are willing to wander, take their time, and follow an interesting piece into the next booth.

It’s considerably harder to do that when you’re coordinating an entire entourage.

Where Lindsey Shops

After nearly 14 years of sourcing, Herod has developed a list of dealers she returns to.

Among her trusted sources are Janet Wiebe and Très Bien Antiques, both names she mentions when asked about her favorite vendors.

She also makes time for Mariana of Hibiscus Linens at Blue Hills.

“I adore her and all that she creates and the community she’s built in her building at Blue Hills.”

It’s a reminder that Round Top is as much about the people behind the pieces as the pieces themselves.

Herod also has a strategy for avoiding the busiest shopping days.

“Don’t fight the weekend crowds, you’ll see the pros out on the weekdays.”

For those hoping to shop with a little more breathing room, it’s advice worth remembering.

A Day in Round Top With Lindsey Herod

Fourteen years of shopping trips have given Herod plenty of opportunities to refine her routine. Here’s what a perfect Round Top day looks like through her eyes.

When does she start?

“As soon as the tents open!”

Herod doesn’t waste the best shopping hours.

The Must-Visit Vendor

Hibiscus Linens at Blue Hills

Mariana’s work and the community surrounding her space have earned a permanent place on Herod’s itinerary.

Where She Stops for Lunch

Artisan and Vine’s truck at Blue Hills

A convenient place to refuel before heading back into the tents.

The Underrated Shopping Stop

Excess and Excess II

“Still phenomenal shopping! But more spread out and never crowded.”

Happy Hour

Boon & Co.

“The bar at Boon & Co - vibe is swanky and the cosmos are amazing!”

One Last Look

La Bahia

Herod likes to stop on her way out of town, where there’s always the possibility of discovering one more treasure.

The Drive Home

Weikel’s Bakery

A stop for kolaches for the kids before heading back to Houston.

Her Round Top Essentials

On her feet: Tecovas boots, which she considers her most comfortable pairs.

In the car: “A cooler of beer and a tape measure.”

The Best Advice She’d Give a First-Timer

Beyond comfortable boots, careful measurements, and a manageable shopping group, Herod has one more practical suggestion.

“Bring cash! You’ll get better deals.”

Of course, the best Round Top finds aren’t always the result of a perfectly executed shopping strategy.

Sometimes they’re the pieces that surprise you. The unusual ceramic tucked into a crowded shelf. The antique chest with just the right finish. The chandelier you didn’t know you were looking for until you saw it.

Herod’s interiors are a beautiful reminder that the things we bring home don’t have to match perfectly, arrive together, or even have an immediate purpose.

They simply have to be worth making room for, and if you find yourself thinking about something long after you’ve left the fields, well, there’s a good chance you should have bought it.

Discover more of our Shop Round Top Like a Designer series on Round Top Finds™, where we go beyond the shopping lists to discover what designers buy, where they find it, and how those pieces become part of the homes they create.

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