Coast to Coast Inspiration at Marburger Farm

It is still hard to believe that a little map dot with a population of less than 100 midway between Austin and Houston becomes the destination for antique decor twice a year - but one step inside any of the white tents at Marburger Farm is enough to make anyone a believer that Round Top is at the top of the list for antique shows.

As a premiere venue, Marburger Farms draws some of the most talented designers from across the country. This big show is a huge undertaking for vendors, particularly those who have lengthy commutes; they spend months designing their set, days driving it to Round Top, and several more days setting it all up. I like to compare doing a show with moving an entire apartment - and then changing your mind and moving back to the original space (but hopefully with lots fewer belongings!), all in the span of a weekend or a short week. In the case of Marburger Farm, which is a five day show, lots of vendors spend more time on the road getting to and from the Farm than they do actually selling.

I want to showcase some of my favorite vendors, many from afar and others from right here in Central Texas. This post will feature those who travel great distances to get here. 

Up first is the talented couple from South Porch Antiques. They make the drive to Texas pulling a trailer full of treasures at least twice a year for Marburger, and a few years back when the Country Living Show was in Austin, they came three times. I am exhausted just thinking about that drive!  But I am so glad they make the trip because their booth never fails to inspire:

That swing was something else and already sold by 1pm on opening day.

South Porch's neighbors in their Marburger tent actually drive in from the other coast. Ludwig and Linda of Willow Nest are out of San Luis Obispo, CA, though they are former residents of the Round Top area. Some of my favorite purchases came from their booth at the City Wide Garage Sale a few years ago...how I wish they still showed there! But I do love seeing Linda's whimsical and romantic wares in Round Top. 

Across the way from those couples are Matt and Heather from Perspective Design and Antiques out of New Mexico. I first saw them last fall; their space was even bigger and better this spring. 

Their details in the decoration of smalls are impressive.

Their style is one of a kind - industrial yet elegant.  

Back to the east coast, vendor Sweet Pea Home hails from Florida. I love everything about her booth and spent lots of time trying to capture the essence of her space. 

Having just returned from a two-day show about four hours from home (more to come on that soon!), I don't have a clue how these long-distance vendors do it - the amount of creativity needed to design and stage a show, the energy required to haul it, unpack it, and repack it, plus the charisma needed to sell for days on end is beyond exhausting. I am in awe of these talented designers and look forward to their seeing their hard work each April and October.

Check back soon for a post on some of my favorite Texas vendors and my experience at Petticoats on the Prairie this past weekend!

Have a chic week,

~Sarah