A Timeline of Chelsea and Cole DeBoer's Relationship

HGTV's hit series Down Home Fab follows married couple Chelsea and Cole DeBoer as they navigate launching their own design and renovation business and undertaking full home makeovers in their home state of South Dakota — all while raising four kids, keeping up a small farm and maintaining a menagerie of farm animals. Keep scrolling to find out how their relationship began, how they got to where they are today and all the fun stuff in between.

You may know Chelsea DeBoer (née Houska) as the co-host of Down Home Fab, but she originally rose to fame on MTV's reality show 16 and Pregnant (2009) and its spinoff Teen Mom 2 (2011). Fans watched as she became pregnant with her first child while in high school and later struggled through the trials of being a young, single mom. It was during her 10-season stint as a staple on Teen Mom that she met her soulmate and future husband, Cole DeBoer.

Chelsea and Cole have an unusual meet-cute story. The two spotted one another at a gas station. "He was across at the other pump," Chelsea later told Us Weekly, "and I looked, and he was staring at me. We didn’t even talk. We just kept looking at each other because we’re both shy." In an alternate reality, that might have been the end of it. But, as Chelsea tells HGTV, "I went home. My friend was there, and I was like, 'Oh my god. I just saw the cutest guy at the gas station.'" A few days later, Cole reached out to Chelsea on Facebook. "I was freaking out," she laughs, "because 'the gas station guy' messaged me!" And the rest, as they say … "I was 'the gas station guy,'" adds Cole. "And now we have four children."

After dating for about a year, Cole moved in with Chelsea and her daughter, Aubree. Before the year was out, Cole asked Chelsea to get married. Yes, he got down on one knee, but not before asking permission from Aubree, who was 7 years old at the time.

Chelsea and Cole were married during a simple, private ceremony in a scenic locale overlooking a lake. The wedding was officiated by Cole's brother, Brock DeBoer, and was attended by a group of family and close friends, with only around 20 in attendance.

The following January, Cole and Chelsea welcomed their first child together — Watson Cole DeBoer. Their family of three had expanded to four.

To celebrate their first wedding anniversary, Chelsea and Cole held a rather belated wedding reception, this time with around 120 invitees. The "second" wedding took place in a scenic location near Crofton, Nebraska, where Chelsea's family owns a cabin and where she spent a lot of time growing up.

On her own 27th birthday (August 29), Chelsea gave birth to her third child, Layne Ettie DeBoer. As reported in People magazine, Chelsea refers to Layne as "mini me" and "my wild child."

In August of 2020, Chelsea announced on Instagram that she and Cole were expecting their third child together. "One more DeBoer!" the post read. "Coming in early 2021." Then, in November, Chelsea announced she'd be leaving Teen Mom 2 after completing her 10th season on the series. Following the premiere of her final episode on MTV, Cole offered his love and support for her decision in a post on Instagram: "I can’t even put into words how proud I am of her and how lucky and grateful I am to have her as my wife. I am beyond proud of her."

As promised, Walker June DeBoer made her Earthly debut on January 26, 2021. In what seems to be a DeBoer family tradition of consolidating birthdays, Walker June shares the same birthdate as her big brother, Watson.

The entire DeBoer fam now lives in a contemporary-style farmhouse — custom-designed and built by Chelsea and Cole — just outside Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The home sits on a 25-acre compound that also serves as a residence for farm animals. "If I'm ever having a bad day," Chelsea tells HGTV, "I go out and see my goats and my cows, and it instantly makes my mood better." It was while the duo was building said home that Chelsea DMed HGTV on Instagram, saying, "I feel like HGTV is missing out on some quality TV by not following our home building adventures." Her message caught the attention of HGTV execs, and …

On February 6, 2022, HGTV announced it had greenlit a new series starring Chelsea and Cole. "After building our dream farmhouse in Sioux Falls a few years ago," said Cole, "we realized we have a real knack for design and home reno and it’s evolved into our passion."

Fun fact: The working title for the series during production was Farmhouse Fabulous. It was later renamed Down Home Fab.

The series — which premiered on HGTV January 16, 2023, in an episode titled "Ranch Glam" — highlights the launch of the DeBoers' renovation and design business and features Chelsea's eclectic, edgy and Western-inspired style. When asked in an HGTV fan Q&A to describe her preferred color palette, Chelsea responded, "Black, some more black, some neutrals, gold, cowhide. Cowhide counts as a color, right?"

This bold kitchen renovation from Down Home Fab boasts an open-concept layout with dark hardwood flooring, an oversized island, a custom counter-to-ceiling vent hood, butcher-block countertops and copper accents.

The DeBoers expanded their brand when they opened a home goods store, Down Home by DeBoers, in March 2024.

On March 4, 2025, HGTV announced the talent lineup for the latest season of its popular design-competition series Rock the Block. Season 6 competitors include show veterans Alison Victoria (Windy City Rehab) and Michel Smith Boyd (Luxe For Less), as well as Jonathan Knight (Farmhouse Fixer) and his New Kids on the Block bandmate and brother, Jordan Knight. First-timer competitors include Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama of Renovation Aloha and, of course, Chelsea and Cole.

Cole and Chelsea may be the rookies on the block, but they bring plenty of cred when it comes to design chops, inspiration and sheer determination. "We’re here to make a name for ourselves and put our name on that street!” says Cole.

In related news, Chelsea and Cole recently made guest appearances in the third season of another HGTV fan-favorite, Home Town Takeover, where they helped Ben and Erin Napier revitalize a historic small town — Sebring, Florida.