Chelsea and Cole DeBoer's Boldest Designs From Down Home Fab

The husband-and-wife home renovation team transforms ho-hum houses into homes loaded with edgy accents and unexpected finishes without sacrificing comfort. Get big style inspiration from their splashiest spaces.

By: Susan Hall

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Show: Down Home Fab

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Photo By: Greg Latza

Photo By: Stephanie Rau

Photo By: Stephanie Rau

Photo By: Stephanie Rau

Photo By: Stephanie Rau

Photo By: Stephanie Rau

Photo By: Stephanie Rau

Photo By: Jenn Ackerman

Photo By: Jenn Ackerman

Photo By: Jenn Ackerman

Photo By: Jenn Ackerman

Photo By: Jenn Ackerman

Photo By: Jenn Ackerman

Photo By: Jenn Ackerman

Photo By: Jenn Ackerman

Photo By: Jenn Ackerman

Photo By: Jenn Ackerman

Chelsea and Cole’s Fearless Style

Chelsea and Cole DeBoer are husband and wife, parents of four and partners in a burgeoning home remodel business in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The designer and project manager are known for their fearless design style, their dedication to craftsmanship and delivering dream homes to their clients — while helping them step out their comfort zone along the way. “We’re showing clients how to go for it, take risks and choose what you love just because you love it,” Chelsea says. See their most dramatic style moments from Down Home Fab, and get inspiration for your home, too.

see more: Down Home Fab

Refresh Dated Surfaces with Paint

This rambling rancher received a cozy-yet-glam refresh to honor the homeowners’ “respectful but loud and wild” style. The DeBoers whitewashed the living room’s dated stone fireplace to transform it from focal point to full-blown statement piece. “You can still see the texture and variation in the stone, so it doesn’t take away the character,” Cole says. Chelsea chose a sleek quartz waterfall hearth for a modern touch and went bold with moody, green paint on the original wood-paneled walls. Stained ceiling beams and a custom antler chandelier strike a rustic balance. “Anytime you get colors that go together in nature, like wood and green, it will always look good,” Chelsea says.

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From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Stack Objects for Impact

In this ranch house living room, Chelsea deftly combined vintage and natural elements with a side of glitz. This vignette features old suitcases stacked to create an inventive side table, and beyond, a hearth-to-ceiling wood pile frames the whitewashed stone fireplace and infuses the space with earthiness.

see more: Dave and Jenny Marrs' 40 Best Decorating Ideas

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Add Drama with Metal

This open-concept kitchen gets a jolt of new life from glossy black cabinets, a splashy copper-wrapped island and a striking counter-to-ceiling vent hood with inset shelves. The custom copper wrap was distressed to add texture and will gain patina over time, enhancing its — and the room’s — character. The 10-foot-long entertainer’s island is topped with bronze- and copper-veined white quartz, which picks up tones in the copper wrap and butcher block counters that surround the sink and stove. A coat of lustrous black paint applied to original diamond-patterned cabinets gives them an elevated look and subdues the unique motif, allowing other design elements to shine.

see more: This is the One Kitchen Trend Chelsea DeBoer Stays Away From

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Use Wallpaper as Art

“Framed peel-and-stick wallpaper is a DIY project anyone can tackle,” says Cole of Chelsea’s smart solution for a wall in need of a dramatic focal point. In this intimate sitting room, black crocodile-print paper with gold wood trim fits the bill and adds depth and height. Floors decked out in antelope-print carpet are the embodiment of the ranch-glam aesthetic beloved by the homeowner. A sunburst light fixture, daring chartreuse chairs and turquoise fringe lamp add layer upon layer of understated opulence.

see more: 10 Tips I Learned Hanging Removable Wallpaper in My Apartment

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Give Sentimental Pieces a Place of Prominence

Chelsea went bold in this foyer by placing Gus the deer, a treasured flea market find scored by the homeowners on an anniversary trip, front and center in a black lacquered frame. It’s a thoughtful way to honor the couple and display their whimsical style to guests when they first step inside.

see more: Chelsea DeBoer Answers Fans' Most-Asked Questions

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Brush Up With Chalk Paint

What was once an awkward pass-through is now an inviting dining room. A substantial table with rustic materials and modern angles — and a gold light fixture reminiscent of branches — evoke a contemporary yet homey vibe. With a coat of black chalk paint, the family piano jibes with the home’s rustic-glam aesthetic.

see more: You Can Chalk Paint That!

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Get Dramatic with Stone

It’s all about cozy sophistication in this home’s reimagined kitchen. A waterfall island topped with stunning blue-veined marble is “the biggest moment for this house,” Chelsea says. “It’s bold but not too bold.” The countertops continue along the back wall and envelope a 224-pound marble apron-front sink, and the elegant range hood echoes the farmhouse-forward wood cabinets. Vertical chevron tiles add movement and interest to the backsplash, and large glass and gold pendant lights inject further drama.

see more: The Property Brothers' Best Kitchen Ideas From 'Forever Home'

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Modern Can Be Cozy, Too

“It feels like a fancy hotel in another country,” says the homeowner of her contemporary-yet-cozy new living room. The DeBoers opened the fireplace to the opposite wall for a true double-sided fireplace and applied a stucco coating to add texture and interest. A pair of mod barrel chairs creates an intimate moment that adds romance to the space.

see more: The Property Brothers’ Best Living Room Design Ideas From ‘Forever Home’

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Be Creative with Color Combinations

Green and pink may seem like an odd couple when it comes to color pairings, but in this cozy bungalow kitchen, it’s all about embracing the eclectic. The dark cabinets pop against the black-and-white Maori quartz countertops, and soft pink walls pay homage to the Victorian living room fireplace in the same hue. An undermount sink and hardware in copper add glam, Chelsea says, and exposed shelving showcases the maximalist-leaning homeowners’ treasured collections.

see more: Our Favorite Farmhouse Kitchen Designs From 'Farmhouse Fixer'

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Play with Shapes and Textures

This '90s home was plagued by an unattractive, horseshoe-shaped kitchen placed awkwardly in the center of the living space. The DeBoers thoughtfully streamlined the layout to maximize the homeowners’ love of cooking and hosting with an entertainer’s dream of an island and plenty of storage within elegant, multi-toned wood cabinets. A gold undermount sink adds an unexpected touch and contrasts beautifully with black-and-white quartz countertops. The dramatic quartz appears again on the sleek range hood, and clustered orb pendants and half-moon-shaped stools add soft curves to the otherwise hard-angled space.

see more: 35 Stunning Kitchen and Bathroom Designs by Christina Hall

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Carve Out Some Fun

For hardworking homeowners who love to unwind and bond over a beverage at the end of the day, this chic alcove bar is a dream come true. Glossy vertical tile and a playful, illuminated sign give off a sexy hotel vibe, says Chelsea.

see more: Best Kitchen Designs by Dave and Jenny Marrs, Hosts of 'Fixer to Fabulous'

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Try on a Slat Wall

In addition to new wood flooring installed at an angle, a brick fireplace covered in stucco and black accent walls, this modern living room gets a creative boost from a smart and affordable wall treatment. The slat wall to the left of the fireplace provides visual interest and support for shelving, which can be adjusted up and down along the slats. And because it runs horizontally, it makes the room appear wider.

see more: 20 Living Room Decorating Ideas From HGTV Stars

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Just Say Spa

This primary bath opens to the bedroom not with a door but with a grand, open archway. The shower entrance repeats the curved architectural motif, infusing the space with a spa-like feel, says Chelsea. “The arch became a theme in this home,” she says. “It adds a softness that allows us to go bold in other areas.” The huge double shower features oversized black-and-white tile from floor to ceiling, and the modern wood vanity is crowned with glossy, geometric tile and fashion-forward lighting for a bold result, indeed.

see more: Mina Starsiak's Best Design Ideas for Every Room

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Go Bold with Boutique Hotel Vibes

This primary bedroom is an elegant retreat that Chelsea designed to feel like a boutique hotel. Cole constructed a slat wall made with pre-cut pine painted green to add color, texture and a chic effect. The mod double-decker sconces add structural interest and are just right for reading in bed.

see more: Christina Hall's Best Design Ideas for Every Room

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Repurpose Vintage Pieces

This historic craftsman home is filled with character — and family members. With eight homeschooled kids, the homeowners were looking for a smarter use of their limited space, including more places to study, do homework and craft. Cole refashioned a small door, which was removed from the living room wall to increase the functionality of the space, into a charming fold-out desk, preserving a piece of the home’s history and providing much-needed workspace for the family.

see more: The Best Historic Home Renovations from HGTV Stars

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Get Smart With Hard-Working Built-Ins

A custom built-in media center is the crown jewel of this family-friendly living room and provides much needed storage space as well as cute, pull-down desks for home-schooled kids to utilize at study time.

see more: 20 Neutral Living Room Ideas From HGTV Stars

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Select Family-Friendly Finishes

A kitchen for a family of 10 is undoubtedly going to be a high-traffic area, so Chelsea chose durable surfaces, like luxury vinyl tile (which is budget friendly, waterproof and easy to maintain) and leathered granite countertops, which are stain resistant and don’t show fingerprints. Shaker-style cabinets and a glazed handmade-tile backsplash honor the home’s Craftsman style, and a huge soapstone farmhouse sink is sizable enough to hide eight kids’ dirty dishes (up to a point).

see more: Watch: Cole DeBoer Stars in HGTV's First ASMR Video

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Embrace Your Home’s Character

In a Craftsman-style home, it’s all about the original woodwork, says Cole. To enhance the warm wood trim and built-ins in the dining room, he added white wainscoting while Chelsea found the perfect peel-and-stick wallpaper for a wow-worthy accent wall. A custom dining table sports room for 10, the gold chandelier is simple yet elegant, and a sweet collection of family photos — and a photo of the original owners — add heart to this character-rich room.

see more: Our Favorite Before-and-After Fixes From 'Help! I Wrecked My House'

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Add a Little Edge

This farmhouse kitchen was functional but needed a style update. Chelsea brought in sleek, flat-front wood cabinets with variations in the grain for a clean look. Taken to the ceiling, the cabinets now provide maximum storage. She balanced the rustic-leaning cabinets with a high-drama industrial vent hood constructed of custom steel. The quartz waterfall island seats a crowd and can be admired from the open-concept living room. Large hexagonal backsplash tile in glossy white and black and geometric pendant lights balance the space.

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From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Apply a Coat of Black Paint

Chelsea’s love of black paint is evident and inspirational, and it’s not limited to interiors. This suburban farmhouse lacked character, but now in a sea of similar-looking homes, it stands out thanks to whitewashed brick, a black-painted bump-out and new cedar shutters and pergola for a striking modern finish. The team installed pavers with a black border for even more impact and completed the landscaping with river rocks, low maintenance-but-beautiful plants and a cedar-topped bench.

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From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

Find Your 'Wow' Moment

“Every room needs a ‘wow’ moment,” Chelsea says. In this suburban living room, the new floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace is clearly it. “Natural stone is timeless,” she says. Hugging the fireplace surround are angled shiplap walls painted black, which elevate the room literally — making the walls appear higher — and stylistically. New wood floors laid in a herringbone pattern are classic while amping up interest.

Watch Down Home Fab on HGTV, and stream it on discovery+.

see more: Down Home Fab

From: Chelsea Houska DeBoer and Cole DeBoer

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