Hardware Hunting, DIY Inspiration, and Affordable Finds
Round Top isn't just for decorators with unlimited budgets.
If you flip furniture — refinishing, repurposing, creating — Round Top is a goldmine. Not for the $4,800 tables (though they're beautiful). For the hardware. The inspiration. The pieces you can recreate at home.
This guide is for the DIYers. The furniture flippers. The people who see a beat-up table and think "I could build that."
The Hardware Tents
Why They Matter
Every furniture flipper knows: hardware makes the piece.
And Round Top has entire tents dedicated to vintage hardware. Bucket after bucket of:
Use Round Top Finder to filter vendors by category — search for "Architectural Salvage" or "Hardware" to find the tents and vendors that stock exactly what you're looking for, so you're not wandering the fields hoping to stumble on the right bucket.
- Rusty drawer pulls
- Chunky cup handles
- Round knobs in every size
- Dog-face drawer pulls
- Hole handles
- Decorative brackets
One flipper described going back to the same hardware tent multiple times:
"I love to flip furniture so these were awesome. They had just bucket after bucket filled with hardware, drawer pulls — they're just rusty and chunky."
Pricing
The hardware is affordable:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Cup handles (rusty, chunky) | ~$2 each |
| Round knobs | ~$2-3 each |
| Decorative pulls | ~$3-5 each |
| Dog-face pulls | ~$2-3 each |
| Specialty pieces | Varies |
Bulk pricing: Many vendors will deal if you're buying 20+ pieces.
What to Look For
For dressers:
- Cup handles in sets of 6-8
- Matching knobs for small drawers
- Decorative backplates
For cabinets:
- Larger pulls
- Hinges (if you can find matching pairs)
- Latches and catches
For statement pieces:
- Unusual shapes
- Mixed metals
- Pieces with patina
Pro Tip: Buy More Than You Need
Hardware tents won't be there next time you visit. If you find something you love, buy enough for current AND future projects.
One flipper bought 26 cup handles for a specific project, plus another 20 round knobs for future work.
Inspiration, Not Purchase
Some pieces at Round Top are priced for collectors. But that doesn't mean they're useless to flippers.
What to Study
The $4,800 beat-up table:
"It looks like it would be easy to build. And then look at these fun carved chairs."
A flipper looked at that table and saw a project, not a purchase. Study the:
- Proportions
- Leg shapes
- Hardware placement
- Finish treatment
- Distressing technique
The chippy paint effect:
"I love these old weathered chippy beat-up pieces. I think with this one it's the wood, the blue and the white — that combination is so pretty."
This is research. Take photos. Note the colors. Study how the layers interact.
The stenciling:
"I would love to try and mimic the little stenciling done on those two nightstands."
Stenciling is learnable. Find examples, photograph them, recreate at home.
The DIY Challenge
One flipper saw a table she loved:
"I loved this table just the color of the raw wood... those big chunky drawers. I'm actually going to try and recreate this. It might be a big flop but I think I can do it."
That's the flipper mindset. See it, study it, build it.
Affordable Pieces to Actually Buy
Not everything requires a collector's budget.
Wood Bowls and Trays
- Weathered wood bowls: ~$10
- Decorative trays: ~$10-15
- Can be used for displays or storage
Found example: Teal green weathered bowl for $10:
"It's like this really pretty teal green color. I thought it was really interesting and beautiful."
Antique Books
- Faded, beautiful covers: ~$4-5
- Great for shelf styling
- Actual antiques at paperback prices
Found example: "Alaska" book with bright yellow faded cover for $4:
"It just looks like a pocket full of sunshine."
Sugar/Cheese Molds
- Various sizes available
- Perfect for candles or small plants
- Weathered wood aesthetic
Wooden Shovels/Tools
- Decorative small shovels: ~$7 each
- Caramel wood colors
- Unique shelf décor
Chamber Pots
- With lids: ~$20
- Beautiful staining and crazing
- Decorative use only (obviously)
The Recreatable Pieces
Horse Pictures on Fabric
One flipper noticed that popular "paintings" were actually prints on fabric:
"They weren't paintings — they were actually a print on fabric. And I'm thinking we could recreate that, right?"
DIY approach:
- Find high-res vintage horse images
- Print on fabric at a print shop
- Frame or stretch on canvas
Blue Interior Hutches
A common high-end look at Round Top:
"They did have so many pieces that had this combination of the brilliant blue inside the wood hutch. I really like that contrast."
DIY approach:
- Find any wood hutch or cabinet
- Paint interior with bold blue
- Leave exterior natural or with light treatment
Chippy Paint Tables
The distressed, chippy paint look is everywhere at Round Top — and it's recreatable.
DIY approach:
- Layer paint colors
- Use crackling medium
- Sand through layers strategically
- Seal with wax or poly
Garage Workbench Kitchen Islands
A huge trend at Round Top:
"Another common piece that they had in all the tents — these long wood tables. A lot of people were buying them to replace their kitchen islands. The vendors said the majority of them are old garage workbenches."
DIY approach:
- Find old workbench (estate sales, FB Marketplace)
- Clean and stabilize
- Add butcher block top if needed
- Wheels optional
The Thrift Store Validation
One of the best realizations from Round Top:
"This made me feel so good about some of my recent thrift store finds that I got for just a couple dollars."
Seeing similar pieces at Round Top prices proves that thrift store finds have value. Your $3 find could be a $30+ piece with the right treatment.
What Not to Buy (for Flipping)
Finished High-End Pieces
Unless you're buying for personal use, the $2,000+ finished pieces don't make sense for flipping. The margins aren't there.
Fragile Items Without Margin
Pottery and glass are risky for resale:
"Three jugs packed carefully in my carry-on, someone bumped it, all broke."
If you can't survive breakage, avoid fragile inventory.
Anything You Can Make Yourself
If a piece inspires you but the price is high, ask: can I build this?
Often the answer is yes. Save your money for hardware and materials.
Planning Your Flipper Trip
Day 1: Hardware and Inspiration
- Hit every hardware tent you can find
- Take photos of everything inspiring
- Buy hardware in bulk
- Note colors, techniques, proportions
Day 2: Affordable Finds
- Warrenton fields (better prices)
- Burton venues (off the beaten path)
- Outdoor tents (most negotiable)
- Focus on $20-and-under pieces
What to Bring
- Phone with lots of storage (photos)
- Tape measure
- Notebook or notes app
- Cash for negotiating
- Bags for hardware
- Padding for fragile finds
The Flipper's Price Points
Worth Buying at Round Top
| Item | Price Range | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Vintage hardware | $2-5 each | Can't find locally |
| Wood bowls/trays | $10-20 | Unique weathering |
| Antique books | $4-10 | Shelf styling |
| Small decorative pieces | $10-30 | Finishing touches |
Better to Find Elsewhere
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Base furniture | Thrift stores/estate sales cheaper |
| Paint/stain | Buy at home |
| New hardware | If you don't need vintage |
| Large pieces | Shipping kills the margin |
The Trend Report
What's selling at Round Top (for flipper intel):
- Cowboy boots — Hot sellers, always in demand
- Western belts — Especially with character
- Needlepoint pillows — $40 each
- Nature/botanical prints — On trend
- Items with green matting — Currently in style
- Shell/nautical items — Popular aesthetic
- Chippy blue-and-white — The Round Top signature
Final Thought
You don't need $5,000 to have a successful Round Top trip.
Bring $200. Hit the hardware tents. Take 500 photos. Study the techniques. Find the affordable pieces that will elevate your projects.
Then go home and build something.
The best Round Top find might be the piece you create yourself — inspired by what you saw. And when you want to find that hardware vendor again for your next project, they'll be right where you left them — saved in your Favorites on Round Top Finder.
Round Top Finder — Find the vendors, hardware, and inspiration your next project needs. Available on web, iOS, and Android.