Say hi to Fire Station Guy

Meet the most Instagram-savvy dealer at Round Top's biggest antique show

There are some things that Texans naturally associate with the month of October: pumpkin patches, homecoming mums, and, of course, the Marburger Farm Antique Show.

While the show — which offers almost 300 dealers spread across 43 acres — has always been a draw for the nation’s best and brightest interior and architectural design talent to shop, mingle, and style forecast, the invention of social media has no doubt boosted Marburger's meteoric rise into an influencer/fashionista festival — not that there’s anything wrong with that. It certainly keeps the people watching interesting.

As with any good design, mixing old with new is a delicate dance which, when done correctly, is a delightful thing to witness. In recent years, what shall be respectfully referred to as “the old guard” of Marburger and the influencer/fashionista crowd have begun to focus less on the more traditional celebrities in attendance in favor of the dealers.

To be clear, the Marburger Farm Antique Show maintains standards that guarantee that every dealer in attendance is legitimately top notch; anyone who has been can attest to that. There just happen to be two “camps” in the tents: the “no selfies allowed” dealers, and the Instagram savvy dealers who encourage it…especially everyone’s favorite, Don Fields, or, as he’s known on Instagram, “Fire Station Guy.”

This is far from Fields’ first rodeo. This is his 15th year with Marburger, which has multiple shows a year — not to mention all of the other antique shows across the country. It’s little wonder that his flamboyant show sets and whimsical antiques have amassed him over 60,000 Instagram followers.

CultureMap sat down with Fields before the opening bell rang out on opening morning to take a glimpse inside the mind of the most popular dealer at the show. Fields may be know as “Fire Station Guy” on Instagram, but his company is actually Kansas City, Missouri-based Morning Glory Antiques. Fields also operates KC shop Ringstad-Fields which he shares with partner Craig Ringstad.

Fields finds it humorous that people flock to his booths, but he certainly knows what he’s doing when it comes to advertising. “You’ve gotta have something a little ‘off’ to draw people in,” he says with a chuckle. When asked about a certain taxidermy bird that received attention during the spring show, Fields replied, “I had the big ostrich with the crown on top, and it did sell — everyone loved him.” And yes, “you can always take a selfie in this booth,” he cheerfully affirms.

With constant sourcing trips to antique fairs in Italy and France, plus being a dealer stateside, Fields is always looking for treasures to add to his inventory. “It seems like I buy something every day,” he says.

So, what’s the secret to being “Fire Station Guy”? For Fields, it’s simple: “I just approach life trying to be happy. Laugh a little. Stand behind what I sell,” he says.

“People really like that when you’re online — that what you have described is what you are going to get.” Fields participated in Marburger’s first ever Atlanta show over the summer, but Texas remains a priority. “[Atlanta was] wildly good! Very successful, but we will always be here,” he affirms.

With only minutes to spare before the opening bell rings, Fields closes with some expert advice for those looking to create a collection of their own.

“I think you should buy with your heart. What you fall in love with, you buy, and then you assemble the things you love,” he says. “And if it feels like you and like your home — I like that it’s a traveled and eclectic mix that shows your personality — whatever speaks to you.”

Last question — why "Fire Station Guy?” As it turns out, Fields actually lived in a fire station at one point in time, and the nickname has stayed with him. “I’ve since moved,” says Fields, “But ‘Cottage Guy’ just doesn’t have the same ring to it!”

Courtesy of Marburger Farm Antique Show

Shoppers from Texas and beyond flock to the Marburger Farm Antique Show.

don fields marburger farm shopping

they're durable, too

3D-printed Houston housing project cements a more affordable future

Courtesy of Cole Klein Builders

Homes in Zuri Gardens are a hybrid of 3D concrete and traditional wood construction.

Houston is putting itself front-and-center to help make sustainable, affordable housing a reality for 80 lucky homeowners in a scalable housing community that will hopefully catch on nationwide. Recently, developer Cole Klein Builders partnered with HiveASMBLD to pioneer what’s touted as the world’s first large-scale, one-of-a-kind, affordable housing development using 3-D printing technology, merging robotics, design, and sustainability.

Located across from Sterling Aviation High School, near Hobby Airport, Zuri Gardens will offer 80 two-bedroom, two-bathroom homes of approximately 1,360 square feet situated in a park-like setting, including walking trails and a community green space.

Homes in Zuri Gardens will hit the market in early summer of 2026. Final pricing has yet to be determined, but Cole Klein Builders expects it to be in the mid-to-high 200s.

Interestingly, none of the homes will offer garages or driveways, which the developer tells CultureMap will provide a savings of roughly $25,000 - $40,000 per home.

Instead of parking for individual units, 140 parking spaces will be provided. Ideally, this small-town-inspired design will provide opportunities for neighbors to meet, connect, and build community.

Each two-story home is comprised of a ground floor printed by HiveASMBLD, using a proprietary low-carbon cement alternative by Eco Material Technologies that promises to enhance strength and reduce CO2 emissions. The hybrid homes will have a second floor built using engineered wood building products by LP Building Solutions. Overall, the homes are designed to be flood, fire, and possibly even tornado-proof.

The Zuri in Zuri Gardens is the Swahili word for “beautiful,” a choice that is fitting considering that the parks department will be introducing a five acre park to the project — with 3-D printed pavilions and benches — plus, a three acre farm is located right across the street. The Garver Heights area, where Zuri Gardens is located, is in what’s classified as a food desert, which means that access to fresh food is limited. Residents will have access to the farm’s fresh produce, plus opportunities to participate in gardening and nutrition workshops—that’s a win for everyone.

With the novelty of Zuri Gardens, it’s no surprise that the neighborhood already has an 800 person waitlist, but with stringent buyer requirements, it’s unclear how many of those 800 will qualify. Developer Cole Klein Builders created Zuri Gardens in partnership with the Houston Housing Community Development Department, who provided infrastructure reimbursements for the roads, sewer lines, and water lines. In return, CKB agreed to push the purchase prices for the homes as low as possible.

Zuri Gardens also received $1.8 million dollars from the Uptown Tourism Bond, 34 percent of which must be used with minority owned small businesses. Qualified buyers must fit a certain area of median income according to HUD guidelines, and must be owner occupied at all times — so no property investors or short term vacation rentals will be allowed.

“They’re trying to bridge that gap to make sure there is a community for the homebuyers who need it — educators, law enforcement, civil workers, etc.,” Cole Klein Builders’ co-principal Vanessa Cole tells CultureMap. “You have to go through a certification process with the housing department to make sure that your income is in alignment for this community. It has been great, and everyone has been really receptive.”

Cole has also brought insurance underwriters to visit the site and to help drive premiums below regular rates for Houston homeowners since homes in Zuri Gardens are not built to traditional standards — claim risks for one of the 3-D homes are extremely low. Tim Lankau, principal at HiveASMBLD, notes that the 3-D hybrid design allows for a more traditional appearance, while having the benefits of a concrete structure: “That’s where the floodwaters would go, that’s where you can hide when there’s a tornado, and that’s where termites would eat. So you get the advantages of it while having a traditionally-framed second floor.”

It’s important to note that Zuri Gardens is not located in a flood prone area, nor did it flood during Hurricane Harvey — being flood proof is merely a perk of a cement house. The concrete that Eco Material Technologies developed is impervious. The walls are printed into hollow forms, which house rebar, plumbing, and accessible conduits for things like electrical lines and smart house features. Those walls are then filled with a foamcrete product that expands to form a “monolithic concrete wall.”

David McNitt, of Eco Material Technologies, explains that his proprietary concrete is made of PCV, and contains zero Portland cement. Instead, McNitt’s cement is made from coal ash and is 99 percent green (there are a few chemicals added to the ash). Regardless, it’s made from 100 percent waste products.

“This is a product that has really been landfilled before,” says McNitt. “It’s coal ash, and it’ll set within 8-10 minutes. It’s all monolithic, and one continuous pour — it’s literally all one piece.”

Eco Material Technologies’ concrete product is impressively durable. A traditional cinderblock wall will crush at around 800 psi, while this material crushes at about 8,000 psi.

“It’s ten times stronger than a cinderblock wall that can withstand hurricanes,” claims McNitt. “I don’t think you’d even notice a hurricane. It’ll be really quiet inside, too — so you won’t get interrupted during your hurricane party. It’s way over-engineered, it really is.”

The second story is built using weatherproof and eco-friendly products by LP Building Solutions. Their treated, engineered wood products come with a 50 year warranty, and their radiant barrier roof decking product blocks 97% of UV rays, and keeps attic temperatures 30° cooler than traditional building materials. These materials, combined with the concrete first floor, will keep heating and cooling costs low — something the folks at HiveASMBLD refer to as “thermal mass performance.”

Courtesy of Cole Klein Builders

Homes in Zuri Gardens are a hybrid of 3D concrete and traditional wood construction.