Looks fu ladies!
The Art of Shopping Round Top, According to Leanne Ford + Grace Mitchell
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Time to read 7 min
There are two types of Round Top shoppers: those who have said, “Let’s circle back,” and those who have lived to regret it.
Leanne Ford and Grace Mitchell fall into both camps.
The longtime friends, HGTV alums, and interior designers have been hunting Round Top together for years, filling projects and their own homes with pieces found across the fields. Eventually, they took the Round Top impulse buy to its logical extreme: They came looking for furniture and bought a farmhouse instead. Their first shared property, ‘Round the Round One, was followed by ‘Round the Round Two, another Round Top restoration layered with salvaged and collected pieces.
So when Ford and Mitchell tell us a piece is worth chasing, we listen.
And in one case, chasing is exactly what they did.
The One They Actually Came Back For
“Grace and I found this amazing old glass cabinet and thought we had put it on hold, only to come back and find it had been sold to someone else!” Ford tells Round Top Finds.
For most of us, this is where the story ends with a dramatic text to a friend and several years of bringing up the cabinet.
Not for these two.
“We loved it so much we tracked down the new owner and convinced them to sell it back to us,” Ford says. “We paid a little extra, but sometimes you have to fight for the good stuff!”
Round Top lesson No. 1: “I’ll circle back” is a dangerous game.
Design Leanne Ford and Grace Mitchell Photography Sarah Barlow
Design Leanne Ford and Grace Mitchell Photography Sarah Barlow
Then There Was the Bathtub
If the cabinet demonstrates commitment, their favorite Round Top find demonstrates a more creative skill: designer math.
“We’re both bath girls, so our best Round Top find might be the marble bathtub we bought together,” Ford says.
And then comes perhaps the most convincing financial argument we’ve heard all season:
“Neither of us could afford it alone, but together it was basically 50% off!”
No notes.
The oversized marble tub came from Architectural Artifacts, one of the sources the pair return to for substantial traditional pieces that they like bringing into more modern spaces.
And that juxtaposition starts to explain what makes their source list interesting.
Don't Shop a Style
Ford and Mitchell have noticeably different design vocabularies. Recent coverage of the pair has characterized Mitchell’s work by its color and playfulness and Ford’s by a more tonal, collected approach.
Yet their Round Top hit list moves happily between worlds.
There is European midcentury at Cyril Clerc. Modern art and objects at Amelia Tarbet. Traditional pieces at Leftovers Antiques. Industrial lighting at Nomad Trading Co. Salvaged doors at Preservation Co. Oaxacan ceramics and relaxed upholstery at Cisco Village.
That’s perhaps the more useful lesson hiding inside a list of favorite vendors:
The goal isn’t to find everything that matches. It’s to find things worth living with.
Their homes show the same instinct. Ford has described their approach as removing generic newer elements in favor of older pieces carrying more soul.
And Round Top happens to be very good at providing those.
Sarah Barlow
Leanne Ford + Grace Mitchell’s Round Top Sourcebook
THEIR GO TO STOPS
Round Top is a little obscure in the way that it seems to have no start and finish. This place is endless, you could spend weeks there and still not see everything. But here you have it — our go-to vendor list:
Jardin de France — it’s what Parisian estate dreams are made of! Make sure to let Patrice and Gloria know we sent you!
LooLoo Design — your one stop shop for vintage bathtubs, bath fixtures, bath accessories and more! Jill and Web Wilson are exactly the kind of people that make Round Top what it is, they are a wealth of knowledge and are without a doubt a must see.
Amelia Tarbet — one of the best collections of modern art, lamps, furniture and vessels! While everything is fresh and modern it all still has a certain warmth to it. Every time we walk in here our wheels immediately start turning.
The Halles — your one stop shop for dining, shopping and entertainment!
The M — from lighting to decor to furniture this spot is always a visual delight and so inspiring!
Marburger Farm — this has been quite the scene in Round Top for years now. Basically a big party in a field of treasures!
Cyril Clerc — midcentury modern through a European lens — say no more!
Knock on Wood Antiques — vessels, lighting, leather sofas, you name it
Jersey Junker — another must see. We both have been sourcing from Mark for YEARS
Leftovers Antiques — an incredible source for more traditional pieces that are ready to live a new life in a modern home! This is where we sourced all of the sconces in our ‘Round the Round Project from!
Architectural Artifacts — somehow we always manage to find the most amazing oversized pieces from Stu — including the wood table and marble bathtub in our ‘Round the Round Project. Another source for more traditional pieces that live well in modern spaces.
The Modern Exchange at Marburger Farm — fresh, warm, modern goodness!
Bader Ranch — European treasures that will make your heart beat faster
Prize KC — really stunning pieces that we have used in both our projects and our own home’s
Tollgate Revival — vintage chesterfield sofas and so much more in both Pittsburgh and Texas!
Preservation Co. — the best collection of salvaged doors we have ever seen
Nomad Trading Co. — love all their industrial lighting
SVO Antiques — a go-to for whenever we are in need of something with a very modern feel. Think De Sede, Willy Guhl, Etc.
Rengi Living — we’ve bought a lot of lighting from them and all of our marble bowls in RTR are from their spot
Recycling the Past (Matt) — treasures, treasures and more treasures!
Antiques and Vintage (Pieter) — another great spot for salvaged doors! We got the double doors that open up to the bathtub at our ‘Round The Round Project here and just love’ em!
Cisco Village — incredible Oaxacan ceramics, slipcovered sofas, and the dreamiest, most relaxed pillow selection
East End Salvage — 19th-century cabinets in their original paint, farm tables ready for another hundred years of dinners, and salvaged architectural pieces that bring instant history to a space.
Design Leanne Ford and Grace Mitchell Photography Sarah Barlow
Design Leanne Ford and Grace Mitchell Photography Sarah Barlow
Sarah Barlow
Leanne Ford + Grace Mitchell’s Round Top Spots to Stay, Eat, Drink, and Have Fun
Round One + Round Two
Our home away from home that we have opened up for all of you to stay at too!
Round One and Round Two — our home away from home that we have opened up for all of you to stay at too!
LuLu’s — feels silly to admit it but it’s become a daily meal for us when we are there — breakfast, lunch or dinner!
Royer’s Cafe — yes — the pie is worth the hype! Grab a slice or heck, get the whole darn pie!
Boon and Co. — we like to come here and share all sorts of plates with one another. Make sure you don’t pass on dessert — the brookie with vanilla ice cream is Leanne’s favorite!
La Petite Dame — (only open during the show) truly wonderful people and an even prettier space! Order a cocktail or glass of wine at the bar, snag a bistro table with your friends and then sit back and enjoy your evening surrounded by beautiful Parisian treasures.
Mill Street Cafe — where to grab your morning coffee or tea!
Ellis Motel — great cocktails on the porch… need we say more?!
Junk Gypsy and The Wander Inn — now these ladies know how to have a good time. If you happen to be there while they are hosting Prom do yourself a favor and grab tickets ASAP. And yes, you will want to get all dressed up, people go ALL out for this!
Bader Ranch — (only open during the show) an amazing spot for great finds as well as food and cocktails
Prost — the best wine and pizza in town! Make sure to grab a seat around the fire and get to know the yokels!
Lady Elaine — (only open during the show) incredible tacos and margaritas, and FROSE all day. Chances are, you will find us here at sunset.
Yoga at the Round Top Family Library — Classes are held Mondays at 5:00 pm with instructors and Wednesdays at 9:00 am in the main library.
Catch a concert at the Round Top Festival Institute — live music and dancing — what more can a girl ask for?!
ONE LAST TIP: SHIPPING
Because falling in love with an eight-foot table is only half the problem.
Ford and Mitchell recommend sorting out shipping when you arrive or even before you get to Round Top.
Many vendors can give you their preferred shipper.
As far as current favorite, Leanne and Grace love working with Sweet P's Transport.
"Nick P and his team have been nothing but a pleasure to work with."
You can reach them at sweetplogistic@gmail.com! Tell them Leanne and Grace sent you!
And Always Get The Pie
After all that?
Royers.
Ford’s order is Texas Trash.
Mitchell goes for Apple or Lemon Blueberry.
Because even designers who can successfully negotiate the return of a sold antique cabinet know there are some Round Top traditions you simply don’t mess with.
