A Cup of Tea Led These Homeowners to Their Round Top Retreat

Photography by Caroline Smith

Text by Bethany Adams     

Kristine Brown fell in love with what she now calls the “Raleigh property” during early mornings spent drinking tea on the front porch. When she and her husband, Shane, owners of Los Angeles-based Big Daddy’s Antiques, would visit the Original Round Top Antiques Fair in Texas, she maintained a standing appointment with the owner of the cabin across the road.

Photography by Caroline Smith

“We would have tea and solve all the world’s problems every single morning,” Kristine recalls. “And so, when she told me, ‘I’m going to sell the property,’ I could not imagine not sitting on that porch and having tea anymore.” To solve the problem, she decided to purchase the home and continue the tradition of morning tea during visits to the fair. 

Photography by Caroline Smith

Once the deal was complete, Kristine and Shane focused on designing an interior that would reflect the spirit of Round Top. “It needed to be updated,” Kristine says, noting that “everything was basically redone.” From fresh paint and updated lighting to the new coffee table, sofa, and décor, the living area features plenty of modern elements to complement the rustic style of paneled walls and cowhide rugs. A chandelier by Paul Michael—one of the first new additions to the space—adds contemporary interest to the white background, and artwork purchased from a Round Top vendor contributes a touch of abstract style.

Photography by Caroline Smith

But not everything is new to the home. In fact, the purchase hinged on the condition that many of the pieces already in the cabin remain in place and be integrated into the design. “We absolutely loved some of the things that were already there,” Kristine says. “We knew that we could incorporate them and they would go with our look—and they were precious.” Rustic items like the dining table and kitchen island blend seamlessly with pieces from Big Daddy’s—including the furniture in the breakfast nook and the “Country Florist” sign—to create a classic farmhouse feel.

Photography by Caroline Smith

Largely untouched since the purchase, the bedroom still features furniture that defines country cottage style. The weathered finish on the painted headboard is the perfect vintage counterpart to the fresh white bedding, one of the few things Kristine and Shane replaced in the room. As in the rest of the home, the couple focused on combining old and new elements to create a fresh style—something Kristine calls “sophistication with a touch of country warmth.”

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