For the past 15 years, interior designer Paige Williams has wandered the floor of Nashville’s Antiques & Garden Show in search of new design trends, repurposed heirlooms, and stunning landscapes. This year, as the show returned for its 34th run in support of Cheekwood Estate & Gardens and ECON Charities, Williams noticed a shift—the tides have changed in regards to heirlooms.
“It’s clear people are spending their money in different places,” Paige says. “I’m seeing more and more people choosing to refresh pieces with new fabrics rather than buying heirlooms outright. People are investing differently, leaning into prints and patterns to bring fresh energy into their spaces.”
Paige is a Nashville native who attended Franklin’s O’More School of Architecture and Design. She worked as a florist before launching her own design firm, Paige Williams Interior Design. The Franklin-based business now turns houses into homes all over Middle Tennessee and beyond, working in tandem with homeowners to merge their vision with modern trends and functionality.
We gathered Paige’s insights on Southern style from this year’s Antiques & Garden Show.
Repurposing Antiques
It’s no surprise the “Antiques” & Garden Show was filled with heirloom pieces. But, one thing that struck Paige this year was that many of the historic items had been made new again. Dated wooden chairs had been reinvigorated with bold, brand-new fabrics, and showrooms had new components like modern art and trending wallpaper woven together with historic elements like classic china and timeworn sconces.
It was a perfect example of what Paige sees happening with her millennial clientele.
“Younger homeowners appreciate history, but they don’t necessarily want their parents’ antiques as they are,” she explains. “Instead, they want to make them their own—pairing classic shapes with fabrics that feel fresh and modern. It’s about merging the old and the new in a way that feels natural.”
Heirloom pieces are a funny thing – many things like serving ware and platters were designed for very specific purposes, which was a sign of wealth back in the day and a staple of Southern culture. One item that caught Paige’s eye this year? Oyster trays.
“These were clearly designed with a very specific purpose in mind,” Paige says. “Now, I’m seeing them everywhere, from antique originals to glossy, modern remakes.”
This serves as an example of how Southern design honors its roots while embracing reinvention—much like how my own grandmother’s asparagus server will always have a permanent spot on our holiday table, be it for asparagus or anything else in need of scooping.
The UK vs. U.S. Approach
One of the lectures shed light on the differences in home design between the United States and the United Kingdom. Led by British design icons Veere Grenney and Rita Konig, plus the editor-in-chief of FREDERIC, Dara Caponigro, Paige’s biggest takeaway was the juxtaposition between old and new.
In the UK, most homes are historic in and of themselves, embodying a timeless charm and plenty of trending “cottage core.” Designers may modernize a space by adding high-quality prints and tapestries or new furniture, weaving in heirloom pieces to tie in the home’s central charm.
But in the U.S., the trend to fill ultra-modern homes with antiques (mainly procured from the UK) is a stark contrast. It’s not uncommon to see a new build with floor-to-ceiling windows, brand-new appliances, and the latest and greatest technology, then decorated with curated antique pieces.
Designers Are Better Together
Paige didn’t explore the Antiques & Garden Show alone. This year, she attended alongside three fellow design firms, each bringing a unique perspective to the show. Unsurprisingly, Paige was drawn to bold colors and funky prints, while others gravitated to exhibitors better aligned with their preferred styles.
That’s precisely why a show like this is so beneficial – it offers plenty of useful learnings spanning a variety of tastes, so attendees can find ways to tweak their personal style while also exploring those drastically different.
“At the end of the day, the best designs come from striking a delicate balance—history and modernity, bold and neutral, heritage and reinvention,” Paige says. “It’s a joy to continue watching Southern design evolve while staying true to its roots. Homeowners don’t have to choose between old and new, we can find a way to make them both shine.”
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