Coastal and Rustic in a Magical Blend, Fixer-Upper Style
Joanna works her magic, divining her clients' wishes and giving them just what they're looking for in their first fixer-upper — and maybe a few things they didn't even know they were looking for.
Gayle and Tim Jackson had been looking for a new home for months. They'd toured more than 20 properties and still the magic just hadn't happened. Making things even more interesting, Tim was basically interested in a new-build home while Gayle was keen on the idea taking the plunge with a vintage refurb. It’s a classic HGTV dilemma. So guess who won out. (Come on. The show is called Fixer Upper, after all.)
Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A
And the challenges didn't stop with the new vs. classic debate. The clients were after a certain look that's a blend of styles, incorporating both a coastal/beachy and rustic vibe. Not mutually exclusive styles, mind you, but two distinct things that might or might not always mesh.
Striking the right balance between two combined styles is something that's hard to communicate and, in most cases, one of those "know it when you see it" kinds of things. Of course, it's in situations like this that Joanna's vision really shines.
The goal here is we want the Jacksons to feel like they're on vacation every single day.Chip Gaines
Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A
Moreover, once the Jacksons make their choice from among their three house options, the home selected is in need of some reconfiguring in order to adapt and update it for a family of four. In fact, after struggling through some of the elements of Joanna's design plan, Chip is ultimately prompted to refer to this particular renovation as a jigsaw puzzle.
Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A
But undaunted and fearless, our heroes press on, and the results are every bit as spectacular as you might expect. In addition to reinventing the living and dining spaces, and fashioning a fabulous kitchen, standout features in the renovation include a very stylized home office and a multipurpose family-room-slash-guest-room.
I had in my head what I thought I wanted, and somehow Jo just kind of read between the lines, and this is the result. It's like magic.Gayle Jackson, homeowner
The office features stained shiplap walls, a sliding-door window treatment and French doors opening onto a new patio.
The new family room gets a Murphy bed that folds up when not in use, leaving lots of room for entertaining or just relaxing and family hang-out time. Also on deck for this room is a custom game table with walnut inlays, courtesy of one Clint Harp. As far as what Chip and Jo do with the outside of the house to give it that elusive beachy-by-way-of-Texas feel, well you'll just have to wait and see.
Not to divulge spoilers, but things to watch out for in this episode include Chip's conversation with a goat, his new theory of Sumo-style demolition and a creative technique for removing a chandelier. And then there's the coconut incident. (You'll see.)
Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A
The Fixer Upper episode titled "New Chapter for Family of Four" premieres on HGTV on Tuesday, December 5 at 9p|8c. And be sure to check back here to see the full photo tour as well as more Fixer Upper updates, photo galleries and exclusive video.