A Collector’s Paradise at Marshall Curated

A Collector’s Paradise at Marshall Curated

By Lizzy Catherwood

One would be hard-pressed to find someone more personable than Rosanna Funiciello Smith of Marshall Curated.

The antique, vintage, and, curated aficionado is happy to show a visitor around any of the fifteen booths representing local collectors, artisans and vendors in her Marshall shop that opened on Jan. 1.

It features a wide range of offerings, including a unique collection of gems and minerals carved into bowls and lamps. There are locally made soaps, hip face masks and headbands, various types of crafted jewelry, as well as furniture and other antiques from the 19th century up to recent eras, including mid-century modern décor, and everything in between.

Rosanna Funiciello Smith of Marshall Curated.

Photo by Vicky Moon

“I super love the vintage, the stories, and what the things could have been, or what they can be,” Smith said. “Or how they can be used.”

She didn’t always have an interest in antiques. As a youngster, she spent summers in Italy visiting family and always enjoyed the heirlooms in her grandparents’ homes, but said she never paid much attention to what made them special.

Her husband, Kevin, and his grandmother, Margaret Reeder, ignited the spark many years later. Rosanna and Kevin moved into Kevin’s childhood home in Gainesville, Virginia filled with a number of antiques. But an old farm table found abandoned in a nearby field got the ball rolling, inspiring Smith’s delight in finding and saving old things.

The farm table was quickly given some necessary TLC and was moved into their home. From there, Smith’s passion blossomed into Bella Villa, an antique store in Aldie she opened in 2007.

Smith said she discovered a seemingly newfound popularity of antiques and vintage goods, especially among a younger generation of antique buyers. She eventually added the service of renting furniture and décor elements for weddings, conferences, galas, parties, and a variety of special events.

She eventually closed the retail portion of the Aldie location and rented the upstairs level of 8371 W. Main Street in Marshall (above what used to be Robin’s Nest Antiques) to house all her rental pieces.

Last November 16, she and Kevin purchased the building. It happened to be on the exact same month and day she began her first corporate job after college in 1998; the same month and day her husband proposed in 2002; and the same month and day Bella Villa held its grand opening in 2007.

Over the 2019 holidays, Robin’s Nest owner Robin Converse retired and cleaned out the inventory. Smith moved in with some of her new/old things and a curated group of vendors, who helped shape a new brand, new look and altogether new shop.

Smith has rented out fifteen booths to vendors, with two booths from her own collection. The variety makes Marshall Curated that much more unique.

In the back corner, fans of the European Victorian style can find all the elaborate wooden furniture they might need. The Royal Bungaleaux booth has a wide variety of floral art and faux bouquets.

Green Mansions Designs has a line of baby gifts, and high-end home decor. Perhaps its most breathtaking merchandise includes a large collection of precious rocks and gems from around the world, in particular South America and the Southwest, shaped into bowls, necklaces, and objects of art.

There are countless classic antiques and collectibles, at reasonable prices. Whether you’re looking for something specific or just want to happily meander through booths, Marshall Curated is definitely a must-browse.