“I’ve always loved the hunt - finding special pieces that nobody else has. There’s something about older furniture, the soul it carries, the quality, the story behind it.” Emily Read, the owner of Post Trading Company, has been drawn to collecting vintage furniture for as long as she can remember. Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, she moved to Salt Lake City in 2013, bringing with her a lifelong love for design and a deep appreciation for unique, well-crafted pieces.

“I had $500 and an idea.” Ron Green’s journey to founding The Green Ant was not meticulously planned. It unfolded naturally, shaped by his love for vintage furniture and an unexpected turn in his career.

“My parents both immigrated to the U.S. and worked in the fields of design and architecture. My dad was a lighting designer and electrical engineer, while my mom worked in architectural software,” recalls Dustin Matinkah, the visionary behind Dara Modern.

“I’m a preservationist of history. Every piece here has a story.” Capital City Antique Mall, a cornerstone of Salt Lake’s antique scene since its opening during the summer of 1999, is more than just a store to Ralene Barton; it is a living museum. Ralene, the shop’s third owner, has been part of the store’s journey since she became a dealer in 2011.

“We noticed there were some high-end shops in town and some budget-friendly ones, but nothing really in between - nothing really woman-owned at the time.” This insight from Danielle Bossert, one of the co-founders of Strawberry Mansion, captures the essence of what she and her sister, Josie, set out to create when they opened their shop in 2022. Set in a vibrant area of Salt Lake, Strawberry Mansion offers a carefully curated collection of furniture, art, pottery, lighting, and books, all echoing the sisters’ deep-rooted passion for design.