Kirby Ellis, self-professed army brat and seeker of beautiful objects, celebrates her gypsy lifestyle by picking up artefacts along the way. She's been cultivating her treasure-hunting skills since age five, when her mother started taking her to flea markets. Through Germany, Washington, and Pennsylvania they traipsed, until they discovered North Carolina. That's been home base for a while; Kirby's particular oasis is a 1919 Winston-Salem bungalow.

Living on the outskirts of the High Point International Home Furnishings Market is strategic positioning for this interior decorator. She is privy to insider information; that's how she ended up with the corduroy drapes-showroom discards-for her living room and bedroom. She also traded a hydroplane propeller for a pair of sofas. Kirby lives close to a handful of fabulous flea markets, including the Lexington Farmer and Flea and the Metrolina in Charlotte, both stops beneficial for an antiques dealer.



Kirby loves worn-down paint finishes. She created the look at home in North Carolina with the help of painter Jennifer O'Kelly, who drew, glazed, and sanded the living-room walls, taking cues from an old Art Nouveau book.



This frequent party hostess wanted drama in the dining room; mirrors and candles deliver just that. "Why put up portraits and look at someone else, when you can put up mirrors and look at yourself?" she says, laughing.



A medical cabinet showcases three collections: The dog display is a tribute to her beloved springer spaniel, Bailey, who passed away. Next are the trophies, Kirby says, "symbols of precious moments." The clocks simply look good.



Kirby refers to her bedroom as "The Cloud"; pale grey-blue walls, vintage linens, and romantic prints create a restful atmosphere. This mirror would have been an asset anywhere; used as a headboard, it transforms the bedroom.



Kirby gutted her bathroom, put up the beadboard, laid honeycomb tile, then furnished it with bits of old Italian sconces, salvaged shelves and a barber-shop cabinet.



Celebrate imperfection: Kirby loves signs of experience-chips, tears, and worn-down paint can turn a great piece into a terrific buy. The centrepiece urn is rusty, mirrors are chipped or crazed, the velvet bench has a small tear (easily concealed), and a lampshade has a ripped seam. Kirby adopts objects, offering them a fine home.



Find creative uses for objects: Kirby's fondness for trophy cups extends beyond sentiment to the service they provide for storage. Here, an old rake manages a mass of pretty necklaces and rosaries.




Text: Amy Hunt