from salvage to stunning

Meet the Houston artisans turning napkin sketches into fine furniture

Peck & Company is on the move. Since their inception in 1987, the bespoke fine-metalwork fabrication and restoration house has grown into what is now the quintessential designer and architectural darling of most of the top industry leaders. Now, thanks to a significant increase from 13,000 to 25,000 square feet on the outskirts of the Houston Design District, their star is poised to continue rising.

For those unfamiliar with Peck & Co., the fabrication house’s public-facing projects include The Wortham Center, the Four Seasons Hotel, and Whispering Pines Golf Club, to name a few. Interestingly, unlike many other ASID Industry Partners, Peck & Co. (and their diverse architectural salvage yard) is open to the public.

Owner Levi Stovall holds an impressive Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The Art Institute of Boston. “My background is in fine arts. I started welding in high school and fell in love with it,” Stovall tells CultureMap. “I’ve combined the fine arts world with a tangible product that people would actually buy — I love it.”

Stovall operated his own “one man show” fabrication operation creating architectural metalwork — gates, fencing, staircases, and the like — prior to joining the sales team at Peck & Co. in 2013.

“Bill Peck was 69 years old at the time and would joke, ‘Oh, this is the guy who is going to buy me out.’ We had that conversation for a couple of years, its been a blessing,” he says. Sure enough, in 2019, Stovall purchased Peck & Company from Bill Peck.

Their fully in-house design and fabrication process is what sets them apart from other metalworking outfits. “That’s what I love about this shop,” says Stovall. “A lot of fabrication shops are either outsourcing, or the showroom is over here and the shop is over there,” Stovall says while gesturing broadly. “Here, the designer can come here and talk about it. ‘Oh, by the way, your table is being fabricated. Do you want to take a look at it?’ It’s truly custom.”

As previously mentioned, it’s a rarity for a shop with a pedigree so intertwined with interior designers and architects to be accessible to non-trade members, but the general public is welcomed enthusiastically at Peck & Co.

“I don’t care who comes through the door. Even if it’s just a sketch on a napkin, we can start pulling ideas—it’s Pandora’s Box,” he says. “We do the isometrics and pretty renderings for clients. I have a great design and drafting team who take the idea from the client and put it on paper.”

Speaking of the team, Peck & Co. currently employs 19 people spanning multiple fields. Stovall credits a philosophy of cross-training his artisans so that there is a lot of promoting from within. “Trial by fire,” is how he refers to his training methods, saying of his artisans: “One day he’s gotta be a hammer, and the next day he’s gotta be a feather — blows me away how talented they are.”

The move to the new space has been two-and-a-half years in the making. Once fully completed, an on-site 300-square-foot, glassed-in showroom and design center will offer striking views of the fabrication shop, allowing clients to watch Peck & Co. artisans at work beneath the sea of salvaged antique chandeliers currently on display — and for sale.

The inventory of architectural salvage goes back 35 years. Stovall shares that the majority of their pieces come from buildings in the northeast and Latin America, but there are also pieces from “Round Top, before it was ‘Round Top,’” and other similar places. “It’s fun because some people come in and want a unique, one-off piece, but then, if you have a little history behind it, it makes it more exciting.”

While bespoke furniture, drapery hardware, and lighting work keeps Peck & Co. busiest, not every client has that lead time available. This is why the salvaged antique lighting inventory is such a popular choice. Any piece of architectural salvage can be altered or reproduced in-house, with any tweaks worked out on-site.

“If someone needs something in a hurry, or just wants an antique piece, we will take them down, refurbish them, rewire them — we can get them UL certified if that’s what they want — or if they see one they like and want four more of them, we will make them,” he says.

As somewhat of a fine arts romanticist, Stovall prides himself on being a steward of the architectural salvage found at Peck & Co. With some pieces even predating welding, it’s hardly surprising that he’s so particular.

“I like to give these pieces new life,” Stovall says. “It has already been demolished, transported all over the place — now it’s waiting, like purgatory. ‘Am I going to Heaven or Hell, right? Am I being made into this beautiful console that this family cherishes and becomes an heirloom, or am I going to be hung up outside on someone’s fence?’ When those people [the latter] show up it’s like…we don’t have any of that.”

Stovall values Peck & Co.’s eclectic clientele that includes well-documented relationships with top designers like Benjamin Johnston and Courtnay Elias of Creative Tonic. “Courtnay is a great lady, great friend, great designer — very unique style. We’ve done a couple of those unique pieces for her. That’s something that makes me enjoy clients like that, because that’s something that would never even be on my radar.”

As for the remaining Peck & Co. clientele, or anyone who may feel a twinge of intimidation before pursuing a potential project, Stovall shared some reassuring insight: “I don’t care whose house it’s going in. I probably should. But it’s not going to affect the pricing, it’s not going to affect the quality — we strive for perfection every time.”

Courtesy of Peck & Company

Peck & Company makes custom furniture.

home-design peck & company

Marburger Farm updated

Round Top's 43-acre antique show unveils renovations for spring 2026

Courtesy of Marburger Farm

Visit Marburger Farm March 24-28.

The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus believed that the only constant in life is change. Since 1997, the Marburger Farm Antique Show, which typically closes out both the spring and fall editions of the Round Top Antiques & Design Show, has largely remained unchanged. As enthusiastic Marburger tailgaters listen for that opening triangle to ring, everyone has their well-established and particular beeline-paths prepared in advance. But this year, change is a’comin’.

When the fall show closed last October, Marburger began a huge renovation project that included the full restoration of its historic buildings, including the original Marburger Farmhouse, Legler House, Coufal House, Zieger House, Silver Dollar Saloon, Gulf Warehouse, Dance Hall, Bingo Hall, Blacksmith Shop, and the General Store. Notably, the restoration has made it possible to add heating and air conditioning to these structures.

New additions debuting this spring include The Canteen, which is a large food pavilion overlooking the previously-underutilized pond; The Parlor, a design showcase space; a live music stage; enhanced pathways; and a communal green space designed for gathering and celebration. Over the summer, the addition of two large climate-controlled sheds and updated seating and lounge areas throughout the grounds will complete the project.

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“This is a much more intentional undertaking to really breathe life into those buildings,” Marburger CEO John Sughrue tells CultureMap. “It’s going to be very obvious — when on the property — what we’ve done. The vision for what we’re doing was establishing a greater sense of place, and a greater sense of community.”

While fans may worry that these improvements may impact the charming and rustic aesthetic that shoppers have come to expect at Marburger, the overall experience should remain the same. Once randomly strewn across the 43-acre property, the historic structures have been gathered together around a newly-hardscaped central square. New green spaces are intended to evoke a sense of nostalgia, the layout inspired by the Texas Courthouse Square. At one end, the western-facing pavilion will overlook the pond and rolling hills, and adjacent to that, the familiar 90,000-square-feet of tented shopping remain unchanged.

“One thing that is apparent about Marburger is that people have a real sense of connection with it, a sense of history, and take a personal interest in it,” says Sughrue. “You’ll see that in the level of craftsmanship, the placemaking, and how we have, in essence, redeveloped the existing historical buildings.”

One of the things Sughrue is enthusiastic about is the ability to participate in the winter show, as well as inviting exhibitors who left for climate-controlled venues to return home to Marburger. Improved facilities for their local and beloved food and beverage vendors make for expanded offerings and shorter lines — a notion sure to please even the most staunch Marburger purists.

“We are trying very much to maintain the Texas heritage of Marburger,” Sughrue says. “I consider us guardians or stewards of the brand. I consider Marburger a brand like Blue Bell Ice Cream or the State Fair of Texas. There is something very much rooted in the land, very much rooted in how generations now have engaged with Marburger and in Round Top. We are trying to hold tight to being a heritage brand, while positioning for the future — that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Sughrue is all too aware of some of the sentiments that were shared five years ago when Marburger was purchased by “these Dallas guys” [real estate development firm Brook Partners]. In the last four years, they have listened to vendors and guests alike to learn how they can improve the show experience for their core audience: top exhibitors, designers, architects, and vendors. While he finds the relatively-recent glitterati element in Round Top to be amusing, it’s not something he’s interested in attracting or catering to specifically. So, everyone can let out a sigh of relief on that concern.

“These are designers who come into Round Top, and to Marburger in particular, and they are very important to our success. We attract some of the best exhibitors in the country, if not the world,” explains Sughrue. “Day one they meet with designers who have flown in from all over the country. Our focus is being a resource to those designers and architects — that’s what’s driving our business. We are not a lifestyle offering, and we are not trying to be all things to all people.”

At the end of the day, Sughrue’s overall goal is connecting the best exhibitors to the best buyers. “Everything else that happens in Round Top is just noise.” He loves the generational aspect of Marburger, oftentimes noticing three generations shopping together in the tents.

“Y’all make a tough crowd, I’ll tell you that,” Sughrue says with a laugh. “I think we are going to get more of it right than wrong, and what we get wrong — we are going to listen very hard to people — we are going to make that right. I promise you that. Marburger captivates me. It just devours all of my time and attention, but how lucky am I?! All these issues surround purpose-driven lives, and we get to work on Marburger to bring a community of people together to celebrate design, antiques, Texas. It’s like the American Dream is alive and well on the Round Top fields during Marburger. It’s just an incredible collection of people.”

Visit the refreshed Marburger Farms from Tuesday, March 24 to Saturday, March 28. Purchase tickets at marburgerfarm.com.

Courtesy of Marburger Farm

Visit Marburger Farm March 24-28.

marburger farm round top shopping