Antiques at the Gardens 2026
In the fall of 2006, Antiques at the Gardens co-chairs Joan Starnes and Kim Matthews gathered 45 committee members, 33 premier antiques dealers, and one big idea under the theme “Heirlooms in Bloom.” That first Antiques at the Gardens raised more than $262,000 and welcomed over 1,400 guests—and the dealers lined up to return the next year. Today, the show has prospered into a four-day celebration of antiques, design, floral artistry, and collecting that draws visitors from around the world.
This year’s event is led by co-chairs Jennifer Ard, Jeremy D. Clark, Marguerite Johnson, Stephanie Lynton, and Rachael Rummel. They are joined by the 2026 honorees—Bart McCorquodale, Richard Keith Langham, and Margot Shaw—whose involvement dates back to the show’s earliest days. Guests will be invited to explore a collection of phenomenally transformed galleries and gathering spaces filled with botanical and antique beauty. The show supports the mission of the nonprofit Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens: to protect, nurture, and share the wonders of the Gardens.
Presented by 1919 Investment Counsel and Fidelity Brokerage Services and featuring 20th Anniversary Design Sponsor Gracie, this year’s show embraces a richly layered design vision inspired by romantic garden follies, hand-painted chinoiserie, and timeless collected interiors.
Tickets are on sale now. For tickets, show schedule, speaker bios, and dealer information, visit bbgardens.org/antiques. Follow show announcements and reveals on Facebook and Instagram.
2026 Honorees
RICHARD KEITH LANGHAM, BART McCORQUODALE, AND MARGOT SHAW
Honored Thursday, October 1 at the Honoree Celebration, all three have been involved with Antiques at the Gardens since its earliest days.
Thursday, October 1
Honoree Celebration*
6 p.m. — Honoring Richard Keith Langham, Bart McCorquodale, and Margot Shaw
Gala in the Gardens
7–11 p.m. — Sponsored by Jones Walker LLP & ServisFirst Bank
Friday, October 2 (Show Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Red Diamond Lecture Series
Sponsored by Red Diamond Coffee & Tea. Introduction by Richard Keith Langham.
In Conversation
Veere Grenney and Amy Astley, Editor in Chief, Architectural Digest**
11 a.m., book signing to follow — Sponsored by Red Diamond Coffee & Tea and Gracie
VEERE GRENNEY
has spent 30 years building a portfolio of houses around the world. Born in New Zealand, he trained under Mary Fox Linton and served as a director at Colefax and Fowler. He was inducted into the AD100 Hall of Fame in 2023. The author of On Decorating and Seeking Beauty, he recently launched a course with Create Academy.
AMY ASTLEY
is the global editorial director and U.S. editor-in-chief of Architectural Digest (AD). Prior to AD, she founded Teen Vogue and served as editor-in-chief. She is also the editor of the newly released AD at Home (Rizzoli).
Dialogue in Design
David Netto, Richard Bories, and James Shearon**
2 p.m., book signing to follow — Sponsored by Red Diamond Coffee & Tea
DAVID NETTO
is a Los Angeles-based interior designer and writer. His work has appeared in Vogue, Elle Decor, AD, House Beautiful, Town & Country, and VERANDA. He has written for The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Cabana, and he currently pens “Case Studies” for Town & Country. A self-titled book represents 20 years of his own designs.
RICHARD A. BORIES & JAMES SHEARRON
“Good proportion, suitability, and a sense of invention” is the credo of architect Dick Bories and James Shearron, partners in their award-winning AD100 architectural firm. Their passion is translating the best principles of classical and modern architecture into inspiring spaces for today. Projects range from Grey Gardens in East Hampton to Montecito and Palm Beach. The firm collaborates with interior designers including Mark Sikes, David Netto, Markham Roberts, and the late Suzanne Rheinstein.
Street Theater Documentary Screening
Robert Rufino and Mish Tworkowski
3:30 p.m. — Sponsored by McCorquodale Transfer and The Urban Electric Co.
ROBERT RUFINO
is a celebrated design editor, stylist, and visual storyteller whose eye has shaped the pages of House Beautiful, VERANDA, and Elle Decor. The Urban Electric Company’s short film, Street Theater, by Joshua Charow, explores Rufino’s career and early beginnings designing windows for iconic New York institutions—from Henri Bendel to Tiffany & Co.—helping pioneer the display style known as “street theater.”
MISH TWORKOWSKI
is a Palm Beach-based jewelry designer whose botanical collections have earned a devoted following. He serves in leadership roles with the New York Botanical Garden and the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach. In Street Theater, he offers behind-the-scenes insights.
Saturday, October 3 (Show Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
The Making of a Collection
Alexander Widener, Rudy Saunders, and Max Sinsteden
9 a.m. — Moderated by Hudson Moore, Frederic — Sponsored by Paige Albright Orientals & Visual Comfort & Co.
ALEXANDER WIDENER
Alexander Widener built a career in the textile world working with Matouk, Sister Parish, and Samuel & Sons. He now owns Widener Company, an interiors shop and guest cottage in coastal Maine, where his collector’s eye makes him a natural voice on living with the things you love.
RUDY SAUNDERS
Rudy Saunders, design director of Dorothy Draper & Company, Inc., oversees interiors across the U.S. and internationally, including hospitality projects at The Greenbrier and Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel. He launched his exclusive R! by Rudy collection in 2020 and leads Sunday’s “Needlepoint with Rudy” workshop.
MAX SINSTEDEN
Max Sinsteden is a New York-based interior designer celebrated for his fresh take on traditional American decorating, layering antiques and fine art into rooms that feel both elegant and livable. His work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, and VERANDA.
HUDSON MOORE (moderator)
Hudson Moore is the senior design editor at FREDERIC magazine. He previously served as the brand manager of Schumacher.
Designing a Forever Home
Matthew Carter, Annie Meyers-Shyer, and Nathan Turner**
11 a.m., book signing to follow — Moderated by Steele Marcoux, Editor in Chief, Veranda — Sponsored by Cobbs Allen, PURE Insurance & Veranda
MATTHEW CARTER
is an award-winning, Lexington, Kentucky-based designer known for his thoughtful use of antiques, heirlooms, and architectural detail. Named one of VERANDA’s Next Legends, Carter has projects spanning Palm Beach, Napa Valley, and Charleston.
ANNIE MEYERS-SHYER
Daughter of filmmaker Nancy Meyers, Annie Meyers-Shyer is the voice behind @thisoakhouse, where she documents the restoration of her 1940s Gerard Colcord home in Los Angeles. Drawing on an editorial background at Harper’s Bazaar and CHANEL, she champions the belief that a home should feel as good as it looks. Her debut book, This Oak House, arrives from Chronicle Books in 2026.
NATHAN TURNER
A fourth-generation Californian, Nathan Turner merged his passions for design, travel, and food into his namesake shop on La Cienega in West Hollywood. He is the author of three best-selling books and has appeared on the Today show and Good Day LA/NY.
STEELE MARCOUX (moderator)
Steele Thomas Marcoux is the editor-in-chief of VERANDA, overseeing brand strategy and writing on architecture, design, travel, jewelry, and gardening.
Legacy in Action: Wealth, Family, Purpose
Rudy Saunders, Kaitlyn Sheehy, and Special Guest
12:30 p.m. — Moderated by Jennifer Evans — Sponsored by 1919 Investment Counsel & Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
Designing Women
Jennifer Gracie, Elizabeth Locke, Ann Mashburn, and Frances Schultz**
2 p.m., book signing to follow — Moderated by Karen Carroll, Flower — Sponsored by Flower, Synovus + Pinnacle Financial Partners
JENNIFER GRACIE
is the creative director of Gracie, representing the fifth generation of the family. She co-authored The Art of Gracie (Rizzoli, 2024) and speaks on craft and artisanal interiors. Gracie carries a selection of Chinese and Japanese antiques, but it is still best known for its exquisite custom hand-painted wallpapers.
ELIZABETH LOCKE
draws on a lifelong fascination with antique Etruscan, Greek, and Roman jewelry in her neo-classical handmade 19k gold designs. A former Town & Country editor turned gemologist, she founded Elizabeth Locke Jewels in 1988 and scours the globe for antiquities to transform into wearable art.
ANN MASHBURN
is a renowned American womenswear designer, former fashion editor, and co-founder of the eponymous lifestyle brand she built with her husband, Sid Mashburn. Their retail empire is known for timeless classics and hospitality-driven shopping.
FRANCES SCHULTZ
Author, speaker, and artist Frances Schultz has built a career from her love of houses, gardens, and travel. She has written and co-written 10 books, including The Bee Cottage Story. She is editor-at-large for VERANDA and a contributing editor for FLOWER magazine.
KAREN CARROLL (moderator)
is the editorial director of FLOWER and previously served as editor-in-chief and vice president of Southern Accents, and editor-in-chief of Entrée. She was a founding contributing editor for Coastal Living. Karen is the author of the book Entertaining with Southern Style (Bulfinch Press) and has been a contributing writer for other books, including Living Floral (Rizzoli).
Sip & Clip: A Lesson in Floral Design*
Shean Strong
3:30 p.m. (includes materials and take-home arrangement) — Sponsored by Anna Cooper
SHEAN STRONG
is an internationally recognized event and floral designer based in Atlanta and known for refined color palettes and architectural installations. His work has been featured in BRIDES, VERANDA, Architectural Digest, and Martha Stewart Weddings, with events produced across destinations worldwide
Sunday, October 4 (Show Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Stitch with Rudy Saunders: Needlepoint with Friends
9 a.m. — Sponsored by Leah Mackin Taylor
Enduring Decoration
Bunny Williams & Elizabeth Lawrence**
11 a.m., book signing to follow — Moderated by Anne Hardy — Sponsored by Regions Bank
BUNNY WILLIAMS
An AD100 Hall of Fame member and fixture of Elle Decor’s A-List, Bunny Williams received the New York School of Interior Design’s Albert Hadley Lifetime Achievement Award and the ICAA’s Arthur Ross Award. The author of eight books, Williams oversees businesses, including Williams Lawrence and Bunny Williams Home, and has collections with Ballard Designs, Lee Jofa, Dash & Albert, and Currey & Company.
WITH ELIZABETH LAWRENCE
Bunny Williams’s business partner, Elizabeth Lawrence, runs the Bunny Williams umbrella of brands alongside her mentor. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, VERANDA, and House Beautiful.
ANNE HARDY (moderator)
Journalist and strategist Anne Hardy is a contributing editor for House & Garden. Her work has been featured in House & Garden, Town & Country, Architectural Digest, Milieu, and CTCG.
In Pursuit of Beauty
Charlotte Moss and Margot Shaw, Editor in Chief, Flower**
2 p.m., book signing to follow — Sponsored by Christopher Collection and Life Insurance Company of Alabama
CHARLOTTE MOSS
is synonymous with Southern hospitality. She has designed residences across the U.S. and abroad. Licensed collections include Century Furniture, Fabricut, and Stark Carpet. Her newest book, Charlotte Moss: At Home in Virginia, arrives in September 2026. Accolades include the New York School of Interior Design’s Centennial Medal and Elle Décor’s Grand Masters list.
MARGOT SHAW
is the founder and editor-in-chief of FLOWER, which inspires, educates, and entertains readers with a point of view that sees the world through a botanical lens. She is the author of Flowering Outdoors and Living Floral: Entertaining and Decorating with Flowers. Her conversation with Charlotte Moss, “In Pursuit of Beauty,” promises a fitting finale to the anniversary weekend.
*Patron ticket required. **Book signing sponsored by Leaf & Petal at the Gardens.
Design Sponsors
20th Anniversary Design Sponsor: Gracie — We are honored to welcome Gracie as this year’s design sponsor. Renowned for its hand-painted wallpapers, the family-owned company continues a tradition of artistry, crafting rooms and interiors that are entirely unique.
Returning as long-standing sponsors, Gabriella White—home of Gabby and Summer Classics—and Visual Comfort & Co. continue their valued partnerships with the event. This year’s décor sponsors also include Samuel & Sons, Mirth Studio, Little Greene Paint Co., Elegant Earth, and more. Design partners include Claremont Furnishing Fabric, Architect Sissy Austin of Austin & Co., and Trestle Construction.
Antiques at the Gardens 2026 Dealers
1841 Antiques • Antique Cupboard • Beth Poindexter • Black Sheep Antiques • Blackwell Botanicals • Christopher Cawley • Dana Kelly Oriental Rugs • Edwin C. Skinner • Gray Antiques • Gum Tree Farm Designs • Hedgerow Antiques • Justin Westbrook • Kevin L. Perry • Kristy Cohn Design • Mayfair Design • McDonough Fine Art • Pennoyer Newman • The Pigeonnière • Piggy Kitchen • Recreo • Relic Interiors • Right Proper • Roger D. Winter • The Silk Purse • Thomas M. Fortner Antiques • Village Braider • Virginia Richardson • Whitehall Antiques
