Inside a Texas Home Filled with Colorful Vintage Finds

You never know what treasure you'll turn up at an antiques fair. For Holly Kuhn, owner of Denver-based Old Glory Antiques, that happened to be a 1914 house in her home state of Texas. While on the hunt at the Round Top Antiques Fair, she stayed at a historic home-turned-B&B and became so smitten that she purchased it and the adjoining dance hall (yes, dance hall!). Now, she hosts friends and family every chance she gets (up to a dozen at a time) and runs a pop-up shop in the former dance hall during the biannual antiques event. Here's how she and Texas-based designer Holly Mathis used colorful vintage finds to convert a sleepy B&B into a space that's perfect for Lone Star-style R&R. RELATED: Country Living's Guide to the Round Top Antiques Show

1. Display collections front and center. An avid collector of pennants, Holly framed her prized banners to give the tattered souvenirs—reminders of places she's called home—an easy face-lift. The Texas native also created a head-turning (and functional) entryway display of ten-gallon hats and straw toppers. "We mixed thrift shop scores with new finds from Target," says Holly. 2. Add a star-spangled wave of color. For a large splash of red, white, and blue in the creamy neutral room, Holly hung a vintage banner she purchased from a flag collector in Denver. "I've always been drawn to a patriotic palette," says Holly. "It's both warm and welcoming—the perfect way to salute guests at the front door." 3. Pull up a (salvaged) seat. Instead of offering the traditional entryway bench, Holly invites guests to take a load off on vintage seating from the original General Motors auditorium—a shopping score from Detroit. "Every room needs a conversation piece," says Holly. "These folding wooden seats never fail to break the ice with first-time visitors." RELATED: 30 Ways to Make Your Entryway More Welcoming

4. Set up a help-yourself dining space. Inspired by the home's past life as a B&B, Holly stocks a hardy oak sideboard (a Round Top find) with breakfast and snacks so that guests can grab a bowl of cereal or an afternoon bite when hunger strikes. 5. Use pops of red to perk up old finds. Even subtle accents, like the cereal bowls, striped rug, and painted soda crate, add a youthful, energetic kick to Holly's mix of antique furnishings. 6. Play with scale—literally. The key to an artful arrangement? Embrace the power of threes with different shapes and sizes. Here, a large rectangular 1950s diner menu (from Genna Morrow Antiques in Denver) plays well with a medium geometric star and a small dry goods scale.

7. Add polish with black. The slick painted banister, along with a few other black touches, grounds the space and prevents the red, white, and blue palette from feeling kitschy. RELATED: 29 Stunning Staircases that Wow

8. Streamline guest rooms with neutrals. Shades like white, khaki, and light blue create the illusion of more space (a particularly welcome touch in a shared room). In both bedrooms, Holly added interest by layering patterns within the scheme. She dressed windows (far right) with sheer curtains to play up the breezy mood, and upgraded worn-out wood floorboards with a cozy coat of green paint. 9. Don't overthink the gallery wall. Holly grouped heirloom frames in a casual cluster, then taped vintage photos in and around the arrangement. (Bonus: She can easily swap out snapshots of family members based on who's visiting.)

10. Boost character with bold typography. "Vintage posters and boards add age and patina to newly revived rooms," says Holly. "They help each space tell a little story." Take, for example, the rustic street signs (from her Denver store) in the bunk room and the eye-catching "Antiques" sign in the bathroom. RELATED: 64 Bathroom Decorating Ideas

11. Go bold with pillows. The Euro shams take center stage when paired with simple striped bedding and a streamlined Amish-made bed. Holly applied the same strategy with a star-patterned accent in the otherwise subdued sitting area. RELATED: 22 Great Guest Bedrooms

12. Offer bellhop-style storage. To up the hospitality factor, Holly brought in a vintage hanging rack. She stows away extra linens in antique suitcases. RELATED: 21 Relaxing and Cozy Reading Corners

13. Embrace rough textures. Instead of hiding a so-called eyesore, Holly played up the rusted corrugated metal wall by forgoing colorful accents, short of one lone-starred towel. "When you make a living seeking out all things old, you can't help but celebrate it in your home."

14. Create a grown-up bunk room. In order to sleep a crowd, Holly outfitted a sophisticated bunk room with iron twin frames, wired baskets that stand in for luggage racks, and made-in-Austin sconces that allow her guests to read without disturbing their roommates.

15. Turn old finds into smart storage. You don't have to sacrifice style in a utilitarian space. This coatrack made of large sewing spools hammered into a painted board makes a clever alternative to traditional hooks. To minimize how much dirt gets tracked throughout the house, Holly corrals her family's boots in this copper tray. RELATED: 23 Laundry Rooms and Mudrooms That Are Pretty and Useful

Holly and Brian Kuhn perch on their porch with daughter Laura. Vintage Kraft shortening cans-turned-planters add a colorful pop of rustic charm to the front entry of the 1914 Hill Country home.