The Junk Gypsy for PBteen Collection was unveiled this fall, and with it sisters Amie and Jolie Sikes have created rooms full of Texas inspired décor and accessories (not just for Texans, but for the whole country). Native Texans based in Round Top, the Junk Gypsies have been around for almost 20 years and are experts at taking found items and transforming them into treasures for a space.
TLM: How did growing up in East Texas influence your style?
JG: The love we have for small towns, and the country way of life, is something that influences everything we do, everything we design, and the way we want to live our lives. There is a spirit of community, of belonging, of pride, in small towns that we embrace and love.
TLM: Where did the name Junk Gypsy come from?
JG: Our name came from what it was we were doing. We were running the roads, going to flea markets all across the south, and we really felt like gypsies. All of it was so empowering. We accidentally found ourselves, and our style, out there on the road, so we wanted a name that reflected that. That’s when Junk Gypsy was born, literally and figuratively.
TLM: How has your style evolved over the years?
JG: Our style evolves continually. We just love great old junk and all the stories behind it. We can find an amazing old concert poster and it will inspire an entire new collection for us.
TLM: Although the collection is sold in the PBteen line, did you also create items with adult rooms in mind?
JG: We are never going to grow up when it comes to the way we decorate. We live in homes that have glitter in every crack and coffee tables that beg for old cowboy boots to be plopped on them. So yes, we created this line for teens, but we also create for ourselves, and the way we live. We think everyone’s home should be an escape, and one that speaks to adventure, and of course, fun.
TLM: How can people decorate with Texas flair without making their room too kitschy?
JG: We see this so often—folks try to add a Texas kick to their room, and it ends up looking like an episode of “Hee Haw. The glorious thing about Texas is that there are so many wonderful styles that reflect this state. From the landscape to the music, it’s diverse. Therefore, you don’t have to commit to lone star flag wallpaper if you don’t want to. We like to add things like rusty horseshoes, painted tractor seat stools, and old concert posters. This is our third collection with PBteen and we still love the glittered horns from our first line. They’re the perfect dichotomy of glitter and grit.
Round Top, Texas is not only where you can find the Junk Gypsy store, but also a treasure trove full of antiques and vintage items. The spring and fall shows are the best time to visit, but you can find fun and unique items all year round in the quaint town located between Houston and Austin.
The original Round Top antiques fair:
January 27 – 28
March 27 – April 1
1215 SOUTH STATE HWY 237 | ROUND TOP
Catch the Junk Gypsy sisters in Austin at the Texas Conference for Women on November 15.
