Meet Henrik and Mary Follin
How did a Danish boy and Arizona girl grow up to build a family and the largest European antique business in beautiful Colorado only to sell it all and move to rural Texas? Love at first sight of course! As in all good stories, it is our journey, not the destination that tells our tale.
As a child, Henrik grew up in the Danish countryside, the land that inspired the fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen with rolling green hills and expansive woods. A born entrepreneur, as a teen he bought & sold Swedish antiques on weekends, staying with grandparents or sleeping in his truck. Henrik is a true visionary, and grew that weekend trading into a wholesale antique business throughout Northern Europe, housed in a sprawling Danish country manor.
The jump from Denmark to Denver was thanks to the US economy being friendlier to young entrepreneurs and Scandinavian Antiques was born in Colorado, 1994. Over the next 25 years, Henrik became the largest importer of Scandinavian antiques in the western US. While expanding his showroom in December of 2000, he was working on hands and knees to revive old hardwood floors one afternoon when I literally walked into his store and life. For three hours, Henrik and Mary shared stories of world travel, other cultures and Danish holiday traditions as Christmas was only a week away.
Digging through dusty antique shops searching for hidden treasure was always fun to Mary, but this store was far from that. Large, open and clean, it was more reminiscent of her European travels than any American antique shop. She had just ended my corporate career and was on sabbatical investigating starting my own business. Little did Mary realize then that she was not an entrepreneur but would marry one, because she met her future husband that day!
The Story of Round Top Ranch Antiques
Running your own business, working full time as a couple and rearing a family is not for the faint of heart. As Henrik and Mary’s children grew so did Denver, along with the hectic pace that comes with both. Craving a lifestyle with more peace & quality family time yet still able to do what they do best ~ find and sell amazing European antiques ~ was the desire of our hearts. Henrik longed to move to back the country. While their son, daughter and Mary had only known city life they were all hopeful for change but unclear what that might be.
Henrik brought Mary to the Fall 2018 Round Top Antique Show “just to see antiques.” Driving from the Austin airport to tiny Round Top, they were both amazed by the rolling green pastures and incredible old oak trees. Struck by the natural beauty and how much it reminded them of Denmark (it was just hot, not cold!), it was indeed “love at first sight” and they knew they had found their new home. Some call it serendipity; they declare it was blessed by God because 4 short months later they bought 8 acres in Round Top, TX. One year later (to the day!), Henrik’s vision and their miracle came to life: the 3 most amazing buildings/antique showrooms Round Top had ever seen were built. Call it crazy, call it a giant leap of faith, but there was never a question that building and living in this special place was truly meant to be for Henrik and Mary.
Visitors can open the beautiful carved blue doors of the main showroom and step into a European dreamscape from exquisite antique furniture to quirky finds. Rosie, the official 4-footed greeter will likely be there to wiggle a warm “hello.” If you need a fun and funky place to stay, check out Henrik and Mary’s 3 cottages available through Airbnb. They are working to restore the original old farmhouse, so it will be available to rent soon. As their Texas story unfolds, they look forward to you being part of the coming chapters of Round Top Ranch Antiques!
Round Top Ranch Antiques is located at 2545 Texas 237, Round Top, TX 78954. The showroom is open for businesses Monday – Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. For more information or to check out their inventory visit Round Top Antiques website!