How to Decorate

Ep. 454: Carson Kressley Mini-Series Pt. 2 - The Junk Gypsies

How to Decorate

Show Notes

We are back for Part 2 of our Carson Kressley takeover! This week, Carson invites his "partners in crime," Amie and Jolie Sikes—better known as the Junk Gypsies—to the podcast.

Broadcasting (virtually) from Round Top, Texas, the sisters share the story of how they turned a love for "junking" into a global lifestyle brand. Carson and the Gypsies discuss the magic of the Round Top Antiques Fair (the "Super Bowl of Junk"), why you should mix velvet with raw wood, and how to decorate with "glitter and dirt."

Quick Decorating Takeaways:

Mix "Glitter and Dirt": The Junk Gypsy aesthetic is all about contrast. Don't be afraid to pair a crystal chandelier with chipping paint, or velvet upholstery with rustic wood. The friction between fancy and rough is what makes a room interesting.

Buy What You Love (It Will Fit): When shopping at flea markets or antique shows, ignore the "where will I put this?" doubt. Amie and Jolie believe that if you truly love a piece, you will find a place for it—even if it ends up in the bathroom holding towels.

Souvenirs > Trends: Your home should be a scrapbook of your life. Carson and the girls discuss why buying weird, unique items from your travels (like a giant roadside sign or a beat-up guitar) beats buying a generic trend from a big-box store every time.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

00:00 Welcome to Part 2 of the Carson Kressley Mini-Series!

02:00 Meet the Junk Gypsies: Amie & Jolie Sikes

05:00 What is Round Top? Explaining the "26 miles of treasure" in Texas

09:00 The "Glitter and Dirt" Philosophy: Mixing fancy with rustic

14:00 Why you shouldn't worry about "where it will go" when buying vintage

20:00 Designing for Miranda Lambert: Airstreams & Tour Buses

28:00 The "Wander Inn": The sisters’ hotel project in Round Top

36:00 How to shop a flea market like a pro (and why you need a flashlight)

45:00 Carson’s favorite finds: The "Giddy Up" art and "Howdy" pillows

Also Mentioned:

Junk Gypsy Company (Amie & Jolie's Brand)

The Wander Inn (Round Top, TX)

Round Top Antiques Fair

Shop the Carson Kressley Collection at Ballard Designs

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.

Happy Decorating! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More from How to Decorate

Oct 20, 2026

Elizabeth Lawrence, partner at the interior design firm Williams Lawrence, joins the podcast to discuss her first book, Decoration, co-authored with her partner Bunny Williams. The book functions as a collection of essays that groups rooms by stylistic similarities rather than presenting individual projects, drawing inspiration from vintage French design books. To encourage readers to slow down and step away from screens, the physical book features a photo-free, linen-textured cover and pages that alternate between matte cardstock and gloss finishes.

Oct 14, 2026

Designing with Vibe and Layers with Corine Maggio

Oct 6, 2026

Alton LaDay and Olivia Westbrooks join the podcast to discuss Alton’s new book, In the House: Celebrating America's Leading Black Interior Designers. The book profiles 33 of America's most talented black interior designers, tracing both contemporary talent and historical pioneers. Alton, a veteran marketing director and PR firm owner, was inspired to write the book during the 2020 lockdown to highlight positive success stories within the design community. Olivia, an interior designer and host of Hallmark’s Home is Where the Heart Is, is one of the featured designers in the book.

Sep 29, 2026

British architect and interior designer Ben Pentreath returns to the podcast to discuss his new book, A Year at the Parsonage, co-authored with his husband, Charlie McCormick. The book functions as a deeply personal visual diary of the 15 years the couple spent living in an 1820 Regency house in Dorset, England. Rather than staging polished lifestyle scenes, Ben and Charlie photographed the book themselves, capturing authentic daily moments, the evolving interiors, and the passage of seasons in Charlie's beloved garden.

Sep 22, 2026

Scott J. Sottile, a partner at the prestigious residential architecture firm Ferguson & Shamamian, joins the podcast to discuss his firm’s new book, Transformations. Published by Rizzoli and written by Guy Trebay, the book highlights 15 distinct projects spanning from subtle restorations to radical rebuilds across the United States. Scott shares his deep passion for traditional architecture, which was cemented during his time studying Thomas Jefferson’s historic designs at the University of Virginia. He explains how to preserve the historical integrity of an old home while ensuring it functions seamlessly for modern, multi-generational living.

See all episodes →