At the famed Round Top, Texas Antique Fair, husband-and-wife duo Kaci and Robert Lyford of East End Salvage set up shop to welcome in over 100,000 interior designers, vintage enthusiasts, and fun-loving wanderers all hoping to find unique pieces to dress up their homes. Kaci has been coming to Round Top for over 15 years, and her antique store East End Salvage is now a staple at the Blue Hills venue during both the fall and spring shows. Homeworthy sat down with her to learn about the intricate treasures one can stumble upon at their seasonal Round Top barn or at their online store and Instagram all year round.
HOMEWORTHY: Describe your collection as a whole – what kinds of pieces are you drawn to?
KACI LYFORD: At East End Salvage, we specialize in European Antiques and Architectural Salvage, AKA old house parts (found in Europe). The majority of our collection has been found in England, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Sweden and occasionally, Italy.
When I am sourcing pieces, I look for authenticity. The piece must be a true antique, no reproductions! Second, I love a piece with real history. The older it is, the better! 18th and 19th-century pieces steal my heart!
Old school construction techniques, like pegged, mortise & tenon, and dovetail joinery are important to note. I love pieces that have been repaired over the years, but they must have been done as originally intended.
Original paint is everything! I am passionate about original finishes on antiques and salvage. Back in the day, Robert and I used to own a faux finish painting business where we replicated antique finishes, so my number one tip is to look for original paint. If it’s a cabinet door, where would that piece have worn? If you can see the patina from years of use, then it’s a good chance you’ve found the real deal.
Most importantly though, furniture must be functional. Tables need to be a comfortable height with modern chairs, cabinets must have shelves with ample storage and doors that shut tightly, and unusual pieces must have a purpose. Lastly, I love patina! Patina is the character that tells the story of each piece. A cabinet door that has a worn spot where it was opened and closed many times with years of use, a table leg that is worn from the kitchen mop wearing it down over the years, a dark stained finish that has faded in areas from the sunlight. Antiques are special because they have stories to tell, new pieces don’t.
I buy pieces that I truly love… if I wouldn’t put it in my own home, then I wouldn’t have it in my collection.
HOMEWORTHY: Tell us the story behind the most unique piece in your collection. How did you come across it?
KACI LYFORD: So hard to choose just one, but a piece that stands out in my mind is a fabulous screened cupboard that was originally used as a food pantry in a farmhouse in Northern France. The piece is not only gorgeous to look at, and will easily make a statement in any room of the home, but it is also super functional and practical! Solid, sturdy, and built to last, the frame of the cupboard is constructed from oak with wire mesh panels that have been framed in simple pencil molding. Originally stained a dark, espresso brown, the cupboard is worn in areas revealing the natural wood beneath, resulting in an unrivaled patina. A single door opens to reveal 3 adjustable slatted shelves, offering considerable storage. Two simple rustic slide bolt latches and hinges at the door show signs of age and rust. The cupboard is raised on straightforward legs, lending a tall and dignified air. The cupboard would be great in the kitchen for storing white dishes, in the bedroom for displaying a collection of quilts, or in the bathroom with stacks of fluffy white towels.
HOMEWORTHY: There’s been a resurgence of interest in shopping vintage and sustainability among the younger generation. Are there certain trend shifts that you’ve noticed because of this and has this changed the way you source and sell?
KACI LYFORD: When I initially wrote the business plan for East End Salvage in 2019, social media and a strong online presence were at the top of the list. I personally love shopping from the comfort of my own home, and at the time there weren’t a lot of options to purchase antiques online. My team and I have spent countless hours building a website, and with strong will and determination, we have grown an online presence that has enabled us to be instantly recognized.
Selling pieces online via our website and on our Instagram account all year long gives us the flexibility to be exactly where our customers are at all times. If you’re not subscribed to our mailing list, you should be!
Dedicated daily posting on Instagram, whether on our feed or in our stories, draws our audience in and makes them feel as though they are part of the action. We love our IG community and are serious about building relationships through DMs! Send us a DM on Instagram if something catches your eye.
HOMEWORTHY: What advice would you give to someone who is just starting to build their personal collection at home?
KACI LYFORD: From my experience, antique dealers love to talk about their goods! Most of us are truly passionate about this business and love to take a deep dive into the history of the pieces we are selling, and we love to share that knowledge with others. Antiques have stories and we are their storytellers. So, my advice to someone who is just starting to build their personal collection is to ask questions! Also – start small! Purchasing a large and possibly expensive furniture piece can be intimidating, so start with a smaller decorative object that has a story to tell, such as a Victorian-era marmalade crock, a handwoven basket, or a small landscape oil painting. Building upon these pieces as time goes by helps to create a layered home with a sense of history and personality.
HOMEWORTHY: How long have you been coming to Round Top?
KACI LYFORD: My mother and I first came to Round Top in the Fall of 2007. At the time, we were selling antiques from a 10×10 booth at the First Monday Trade Days in Canton, TX. Our neighbor, Linda, a fellow antique dealer, told us about this “magical place that we must see!” She also gave us some great advice that we will never forget and still to this day hand out to other Round Top first-timers: “When you arrive at the antiques corridor and you have turned onto Hwy 237, spend your first day driving the entire 20+ miles to the very end, the last venue at Tree Park… and then turn around, and slowly stop at the places that caught your eye.” It is impossible to see it all, so don’t expect to!
HOMEWORTHY: What makes Round Top different from other shows across the country?
KACI LYFORD: Longhorns, bluebonnets, and cowboy boots. It’s a vibe! Round Top is located in one of the oldest and prettiest counties in the state. There is Texas history around every corner and the landscape is beautiful with rolling green hills dotted with cows and colorful sunsets. The variety of venues brings in all kinds of people and there is so much more to do than shop! Live music, fashion shows, field dinners, and designer panels add to the experience.
Held twice a year, 4,000 of the world’s best antique, vintage, and home decor dealers load up their wares, hoping to catch the eye of over 100,000 attendees. Unlike most antiques and vintage markets, navigating the Round Top Antiques Show requires driving between venues and fields (literally cow pastures). The antique corridor (State Hwy 237) stretches for 20+ miles between Burton and La Grange.
“Only in Round Top” is a phrase Mom and I say whenever we stumble across an item that both surprises and delights us. It truly is one of the greatest antique shows in the country and full of the most interesting, eclectic vendors AND shoppers. There is something for everyone at Round Top!
