Jo Bailey

👯‍♀️ You know it’s a friendship for life when you text a pal, “I might be in your country soon,” and despite the four-hour flight ahead of them (and only a couple of weeks’ notice), they reply, “Where and what time should I meet you?”

That’s exactly what happened when I messaged my friend of 20+ years, Holli, who lives in the US. And since she’s an architect n’ that, I thought she’d be all in for the plan: a trip to Texas to discover the largest antiques fair in America. 🇺🇸

@roundtopantiquestexas invited @homesandgardensofficial to host a conversation for Designer Day at the iconic Big Red Barn. Joined by interior designer @nicolahardingandco and @joastudholme, colour curator at @farrowandball, we explored the principles of British interior design: timeless, layered and effortlessly lived-in (or even “grubby chaos,” as Nix so perfectly described it during the talk). 🇬🇧

Whether working as an editor or (previously) a set designer and stylist, I’ve spent years hunting down the best homeware destinations, but nothing quite compares to Round Top. It’s completely unique, equal parts brilliant and a little bit bonkers, with the warmest, most welcoming people you could hope to meet ☀️

Set in a tiny town of just 90 people, about an hour and a half drive from Austin, it transforms entirely for the show. Think Glastonbury, just with antiques, returning not once but three times a year (March, September and December).

Sadly, we didn’t have long at the show, but before my flight back to the UK, Holli and I slipped away to Austin, back to where we’d hung out together a decade ago. A little trip down memory lane, revisiting old haunts (with a nights stay at the retro @austinmotel) and retracing familiar steps, right down to recreating the same “I love you so much” photograph outside @joscoffee eleven years on.

@roundtopantiquestexas @bluehillsatroundtop we’ll be back one day 🤍 And @ghotihok16 — here’s to the next adventure ✨✨✨

Our March cover:-
Interior design: @vsp_interiors 
Photography: @paul_massey 
Background: Ramble fabric by @lowri_studio