Refuge from Reality: No need to use a matched bedroom set—after all, variety is the spice of life! Mix and match old and new, pricey with inexpensive, and indulge in a variety of decorative styles. The only rule to follow: “use what you love,” including a rich assortment of objects.




By Risa Palazzo
From carefully arranged tabletops to sweeping room settings and one-of-a-kind wall displays, this magical place is a treasure trove of design inspiration.

Angie Conrad’s shop, My Father’s Daughter, is truly a family affair. After Angie’s years of successfully selling antiques in malls alongside her father, Matt Massoth, the two decided to finally take the plunge and move into a 2,000-square-foot store in Lawrence, Kansas. Since Angie claims she inherited the antiquing bug from her dad, the two thought up their business’s catchy name, derived from the 1930s Gene Stratton Porter novel Her Father’s Daughter.
Any budding entrepreneur must address practical matters. Angie advises,“You must ask yourself questions such as, ‘Where will your financing come from?’ and ‘Can your family afford to live without a second paycheck for a while?’”
Once the details are ironed out, attention must be paid to many other issues as well. With a husband and three children, Angie thought long and hard before committing to the time required to successfully launch and run a retail shop.
“Lots of women ask me how I had the nerve to start my own business...it is not for the faint of heart!” she admits. “You must be willing to wear all hats—accountant, buyer (the fun part), janitor, etc.” And Angie admits that perhaps the most difficult task is learning how to negotiate time so that one’s family, home, business and friends each receive the proper due. Sometimes it takes a precarious balancing act to successfully juggle the all too few number of hours in the day.
While any novice should be open to advice from more seasoned retailers, Angie found that one bit of advice she received proved to be wrong. She says, “I love antiques. Someone successful once told me, ‘Never sell what you love, you won’t be successful!’ This is definitely not true. On the contrary, sell ONLY what you love. Your customers will sense the love you have for your wares and this automatically instills a sense of trust in you that is the basis of an extraordinary seller-buyer relationship. My customers are my friends. I have come to know many of them by name. When they come into my shop, it’s like they’re coming into my home. I treat each and every one with the same respect and friendliness—whether they’re wearing Gucci or Kmart.”
All items featured are available through Angie Conrad’s store:
My Father’s Daughter,
844 Massachusetts Avenue,
Lawrence, KS 66044.
Phone: 785-749-9241.

Dine In Style: A French sideboard, English table and a mix of European antiques give a dining room an international feeling. A group of candlesticks makes a simple but beautiful centerpiece that casts a flattering light on dinner guests. Secondhand chairs wear brocade covers.

No Green Thumb Required: Even if you don’t have a potting shed, create the look of one with a painted bench, garden tools, a collection of pots, baskets, and fresh or silk plants and flowers. While this terrarium house is an antique find, reproductions of these indoor “hothouses” can easily be found in gift shops in many sizes and styles.

Photos: Bill Mathews; Styling: Gloria Gale