Meet Lady Mary Beth

Houston's 'Patron Saint of Thrifting' is always hunting for fresh finds

Lady Mary Beth with JFK’s teacup and saucer from Air Force One, thrifted from The Guild Shop.

Courtesy of Lady Mary Beth

There is a rumor that Houston is the number one city in Texas for thrifting. By taking even the most casual inventory of charity resale shops, thrift stores, and antique malls in and around the city, it’s not a difficult claim to believe. It is of little wonder, then, that Houston would produce its own patron saint of thrifting — Lady Mary Beth.

Lifestyle expert Mary Beth Schmitz, most famously known by her trademarked brand “Lady Mary Beth,” and her promise to help “Elevate Your Everyday,” has quickly become the absolute authority on where and what to thrift in Houston. Schmitz’s rapidly-growing empire consists of her annual Houston Resale Guide & Map, a weekly YouTube show that’s 36,000 subscribers strong, successful Instagram and Facebook accounts, an online store selling everything from crystal to tea, plus upcoming ticketed events and retreats. She is absolutely adored by her fans, but who is Lady Mary Beth?

What credentials qualify Schmitz to be a lifestyle expert and luxury thrifting aficionado? It starts with her status as a sixth-generation Texan and a card-carrying member of both the Daughters of the American Revolution and a Dame of the XVII Century. Combined with her illustrious career with Waterford Crystal and a stint as a luxury gift consultant for Fortune 500 companies, she is more than qualified.

CultureMap caught up with Schmitz from her summer home in Saarland, Germany (as one does), to learn more about the origins of “Lady Mary Beth,” her favorite local places to thrift, the best rummage sales, her most-coveted thrifted item, and more.

Lady Mary Beth was born from an epiphany Schmitz had while having her hair done (relatable). A well-placed piece of wall decor with an inspiring message, followed by some encouragement from her family, bolstered Schmitz’s resolve to launch her YouTube channel in January 2020.

“I’ve always been an avid thrifter. I create beautiful tables with thrifted items and table settings, that’s what I’m meant to do,” says Schmitz. “It was kind of scary because I didn’t have the technical ability of editing; I didn’t know what to do. I just knew that I loved thrifting, and I knew a lot about a lot of things, but I didn’t know what I was doing.”

That same week, Schmitz set up a tripod and filmed her first episode. Her show is mostly educational, covering collectible legacy brands, patterns, artisans, and how to identify them. Not to mention her lessons on setting tables and creating tablescapes.

“It’s really neat to see, with this YouTube channel, how people are inspired to have a hobby or to find ways to make themselves happy with collecting,” she says. “I feel like it enriches the whole experience when you’re thrifting, if you can then research [a piece] even further. I’m always learning and that’s what drives me.”

Lady Mary Beth thrift guide Pick up a free thrift guide at participating antique and thrift stores around town.Courtesy of Lady Mary Beth

The success of the show ultimately led to the creation of the popular thrift shop guides. “Lady Mary Beth’s Houston Resale Guide & Map” of antique, consignment, and thrift stores launched in 2024 to great fanfare. Now in its second edition, the guide comes out in May. The 50,000 printed guides contain user-friendly maps that can be broken down by area, contain store information and tips for identifying hallmarks, plus upcoming events like rummage sales. Guides can be found in most shops, plus local hotels and cafes. Schmitz and her map partner Carol Sullivan will soon be launching guides for both Round Top and Dallas as well.

So, with hundreds of Houston shops to choose from, where would Schmitz spend her time if restricted to a single day in the city? Her favorites are charity thrift shops that are linked directly to the local community, which is certainly a lead worth following. The Bluebird Circle, the Charity Guild, and the Guild Shop are Schmitz’s top three.

“There is so much to discover, and they are each different, which I like, because, not only are their missions unique, but you can also get kind of a different vibe from each store,” she says.

A hidden gem that Schmitz admits escaped her notice until somewhat recently is Second Blessings in Montrose. “It’s a totally different shop. You can’t compare it to other stores inside the loop,” says Schmitz. Their annual rummage sale is something she claims is a do-not-miss event: “their sale goes on for miles.” Schmitz notes that the donors to Second Blessings have exceptional taste — don’t be surprised to find Baccarat en masse.

The sale is November 7-8, and, according to Schmitz, “That’s the one you don’t want to miss!” She also recommends the Pink Elephant Sale put on by the River Oaks Garden Club, and any estate sale by Town & Country Estate Sales.

The Lady Mary Beth brand has expanded into a line of products, as well as luncheons and thrifting retreats. William Morris-patterned graphics decorate tea towels, thrift journals, and a line of teas custom-blended by a boutique manufacturer out of Dallas. The love of porcelain tea sets, cups, and saucers shared between Schmitz and her fans is what inspired her line of teas.

“It seems like a common thread as we all enjoy these porcelain teacups and drinking tea, and really taking that time out of your day — whether it’s morning, afternoon, or evening — to just have a moment to appreciate the good things in life,” she says.

Speaking of the good things in life, the crown jewel of Schmitz’s thrift finds is a teacup and saucer from JFK’s Air Force One. Plucked from the shelves of The Guild Shop while on a mission to fill an heirloom tea cabinet, the Franciscan Masterpiece cup and saucer lived amongst its eclectic cabinet mates for years before being properly identified. The cream cup — complete with gilt rim and presidential seal — was assumed to be a somewhat mass produced souvenir — that is, until Schmitz decided to sell it. A deep dive into the provenance led to the discovery that it was, indeed, from JFK’s private set from Air Force One. The teacup is, understandably, no longer for sale.

While most thrifters tend to shop for themselves, Schmitz stresses that the stigma of gifting a thrifted item is unwarranted. “Really, to me, if it brings joy, it doesn’t have to be the most fabulous manufacturer or history,” she says. “I always say ‘thrift the gift!’ We don’t have to have it in the original box just to make it valuable or special.”

Schmitz also credits the notable shift in clientele for aiding the stigmatic erasure of thrifting, especially when so many shops support community programs. The uptick in thrifting has led to local charity shops seeing record sales, which amplify community services, which Schmitz feels is the entire point: “You need the people who are shopping at Saks and Neiman’s to come into your store. Numbers are through the roof, and they [charity shops] are able to give back to the community — and that makes it all worth it.”

Looking to source a piece of history of your own, but not sure where to begin? Antique and thrifting enthusiasts will be delighted to learn that Lady Mary Beth is going on the road! This November, head to the historic Bingham Estate in McKinney, Texas, for a special two-night retreat designed for lovers of timeless style, elevated thrifting, and slow living. This intimate weekend will include fireside tea chats, vintage-inspired workshops, and thoughtfully-gathered moments with like-minded antiquers.

Can’t make the trip? Consider attending Lady Mary Beth’s peacock-themed Savor & Style Luncheon this September at the Junior League of Houston. “Elevate your everyday” at the three-course luncheon with expert table-setting tips, engaging conversation, and exclusive table favors. Attendees will also enjoy a beautifully-curated swag bag and the chance to win exciting giveaways.

home-design sustainability shopping thrift stores

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.