Leanne Ford Went to Texas Looking for Antiques—Instead She Bought a House With Her Best Friend

Designers Leanne Ford and Grace Mitchell, known for their love of vintage finds at the Round Top Antiques Fair, embarked on a new venture when they collaboratively purchased an 1880s farmhouse in Texas. This unexpected acquisition, spurred by Ford's husband's habit of browsing real estate and Mitchell's subsequent interest in the property, led the HGTV alums to jointly invest in and renovate the home. Despite the inherent challenges of buying and renovating a house with a friend, their shared passion for vintage items and unconventional design approaches facilitated the process. They also found the joint ownership to be financially beneficial, humorously noting that even a "bonkers" purchase like a marble bathtub becomes 50% off when split between two people. The designers saw an opportunity to infuse the house with character and decided to make it available for short-term rentals, with rates starting at $520 per night. The tour of the three-bedroom retreat highlights several design choices and anecdotes from Ford and Mitchell. In the kitchen, a vintage table, deemed oversized by conventional standards, was intentionally placed to make the room feel more expansive. They also addressed a stained-glass window, with Ford attempting various modifications before concluding its original state was best, and Mitchell proudly showcasing a piece of Calacatta Rosa marble she salvaged. Further detailing the kitchen, a vintage cabinet was re-acquired after being mistakenly sold, showcasing their dedication to specific finds. The German silver sink, sourced from LooLoo Design, features custom-added drawers. The living room boasts custom extra-long Ever sofas from Ford's Crate & Barrel collection, strategically used to make smaller rooms feel larger, and features a painting by Alexandra Valenti, noted for its depiction of two women in matching outfits, mirroring the designers' collaboration. Another focal point in the living room is a coffee table from Eneby Home, described as the "final pièce de résistance" in optimizing the room's layout. In the bathroom, the designers acquired a bulk of sconces, initially intending to buy fewer, and installed them throughout the space. The shower, originally tiled, was plastered over to avoid demolition, and features a massive steel shower door from Jardin de France. A particularly challenging installation was a large stone tub, which required significant structural reinforcement and multiple people to move, complemented by antique doors from Antiques and Vintage Texas. The bathroom’s location offers privacy with views of greenery. The bedrooms include Dutch doors leading to a screened-in porch, allowing for open-air sleeping. The porch itself is furnished with more Ever sofas, mirroring the living room arrangement. A record nook was created in the living room, utilizing an otherwise unused space and paying homage to Texas's musical heritage. In another bathroom, original beadboard was preserved, and tadelakt walls were used for waterproofing behind the tub. The exterior of the farmhouse is painted in Oxford Stone by Farrow & Ball, and an outdoor firepit, delivered on the day of their departure, awaits future use, completing the transformation of their shared Texas retreat. #HomeTour #RenovationProject #LeanneFord #GraceMitchell #RoundTop #VintageFinds #FarmhouseDesign #InteriorDesign #RentalProperty #HomeTour #RenovationProject #LeanneFord #GraceMitchell #RoundTop #VintageFinds #FarmhouseDesign #InteriorDesign #RentalProperty