This Striking Bed and Breakfast Has All the Texan Charm With a Modern Twist

There's something undeniably charming about Texas. The breathtaking sprawling landscapes, the abundance of wildlife, the culture, and the people (oh, and the food), all make it a popular destination but it's the small towns that really ramp up the charisma. Take the 100 resident town of Round Top. It's brimming with natural beauty and despite its diminutive size, it has a lot going for it like the famous Round Top Antiques Fair also known as one of the best antique shows in the country. Thousands of dealers and vintage enthusiasts venture out to the fair three times a year and it does not disappoint. 

And if you are planning on visiting the fair, or just want to experience Round Top for yourself, then we have the perfect place for you to stay: The Prairie at Round Top. The charming property was in need of a redesign. Thankfully the talented Tammy and Mickey Price of Fragments Identity worked their magic on the 43-acre Bed and Breakfast (the property consists of eight charming buildings including the original Farmhouse built in the 1800s).

The couple infused a modern farmhouse style, updating all the lighting, paint, bathrooms, and designing all new custom furnishings and bath linens. In fact, the project was a complete redesign of the interiors and furnishings across the entire property. Read on to hear how Price created a unique and individual look for each cottage and really ramped up the charm and personality of each building. 

"The property has a deep-rooted rich history that you can feel immediately," says Price. "There is such a magical, peaceful presence at every turn." Because of that, they wanted to uphold that charm while giving it a revamp of a modern-day farmhouse feel through the interior and product design. 

Price's favorite part of the project was creating interiors for each of the nine buildings on the property individually. But that in itself also posed a challenge. The sheer size and volume of rooms that needed to be redesigned didn't seem to deter Price however and she managed to ensure each of them had their own unique look and personality, tying them all together so the overall look still reflected the feel of the modern day farmhouse.

They achieved this seemingly monumental task by updating the existing bathrooms and kitchen areas, selecting and installing all new lighting elements throughout the property, yet keeping it consistent in all buildings. That was the true magic here. "Additionally, we absolutely loved creating special and unique one-of-a-kind furnishings and textiles for each space, something that we pride ourselves on at Fragments Identity," she says. "This also allowed us to pull together a sophisticated yet charming identity for each individual building."

While no major renovations took place other than cosmetic updates, they did give each space a fresh coat of paint throughout. They also selected all new lighting elements, architectural details, window coverings, furnishings, floor coverings and reconsidered every element to create the new modern look you see now.

They accomplished the modern day farmhouse look by mixing a blend of the old and new. This room is a perfect example of that with reupholstered vintage chairs paired with an IKEA pendant lamp. 

The pair did incorporate some existing wood pieces left on the property into the new mix. Some pieces they had painted while others we moved to various areas of the home to give authenticity and texture to the space.

The color scheme was a natural choice since their interiors (and the Fragments Identity Brand) is born out of a neutral palette. They layered it with texture and a mix of unique textiles to create visual interest.

The timeline was definitely the biggest challenge. "We had our initial site visit at the end of June 2018, headed back to the Fragments Identity Studios in California and started the design process right away," says Price. "While we were back in California we had daily discussions with the property manager who has been with the property for the past 20 years and all three ownerships. Danny Riebeling and his crew were getting all of the paint schedules underway, bathroom updates, new lighting installed and all the details we had needed to implement our new designs."

Back in the studio, they were also busy designing their Fragments Identity furniture collections and having the crew build out their brand of products. "We designed new furniture, window coverings using our textiles from our textile collection with S. Harris," she adds. "We also created a new collection called 'Fragments Identity for The Prairie' specifically for the redesign." The collection included bedding, bath towels, pillows, throws etc.

The logistics were also a bit of a challenge. They had to have three truckloads shipped from in from their California warehouse which included very quick turn-around trips to assure all products would be on site ready for installation upon their arrival which was around the first of September. "Phew, it was so close but we made it happen and stayed on site for two weeks," she explains. "Overall this was really a phenomenal project for us and we enjoyed every bit of it."

While there are so many great finds on this property, there were a few gems they sourced at a local store in Round Top. "If you don't know of them, you should," preaches Price. "Old Glory Texas is a large store in the center of Round Top that has the most amazing finds." The wood tables, case goods and architectural elements they bought from this store ended up being some of the key details in the design process and attributed to that perfect balance of old to mix with the new.

While it's hard to name one, Price's favorite thing about the space is just how unique each building is. "This project gave us the opportunity to create and give each building its own identity," she says. "The grounds on the property are also pretty magical."