Fixer Upper: Behind the Design - The Holmes Home

Joanna designs a stunning cabin in the country with modern motifs for metal-craftsman Jimmy Don Holmes and his son Jake. The renovation makes the most of amazing views and indoor-outdoor spaces including a rock patio and firepit. Look for #neverbeforeseen spaces and elements not featured in the original Fixer Upper episode.

By: David L. Haynes

Show: Fixer Upper: Behind the Design

Related To:

Photo By: Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A

Life In the Country...

Fixer Upper fans will no-doubt be familiar with Joanna's friend and frequent collaborator, Jimmy Don Holmes, a talented metal artist who appeared in several Fixer Upper episodes and made original decorative designs seen in some of the renovations. Chip and Joanna took on the renovation of a small cabin on the Holmes family property in Crawford, Texas, just outside Waco.

...With a Modern Twist

Joanna came up with a design for an update on the cabin that incorporated a modern aesthetic and massive windows to take full advantage of the scenic setting.

Friends and Neighbors

Jimmy Don (far right) wanted to update a partially finished one-bedroom house on his property, creating a country retreat for his 21-year-old son Jake (far left). For his first home, Jake wanted a something with a "mountain man" motif, a cabin-like feel, a darker color palette and accents of wood and metal. "The biggest challenge here," said Joanna, "is that I don't want this mountain cabin to come off as cliché … I really want this to be a fresh take on the mountain design."

Before

The barn-like building sat empty on Jimmy Don's property for years. Built in the '80s, the cabin was a mere 750 square feet, with one bedroom and one bath. Jimmy Don was eager to modify the structure, getting rid of the dilapidated wooden deck and changing the pitch of the gambrel style roof.

After

"We put up all the new siding," said Joanna, "and painted it a sleek, dark gray, which I think will balance nicely with the rustic tin roof to give us a more modern mountain vibe." The roofline is completely transformed, adopting a 'saltbox' style profile that's actually common to New England farmhouses. The structure also gets French doors in raw wood finish, natural flagstone walkway and a newly planted oak tree — from the ranch of former president and first lady, George and Laura Bush.

After

Joanna added floor-to-ceiling picture windows for a dramatic look and to take full advantage of the views. She went with simple furnishings in sleek, contemporary design. "With a house that's only 750 square feet," she said, "small design details have a huge impact."

Before

Joanna's vision for the kitchen was to add large windows for lots of natural light and to incorporate a mix of wood and metal materials.

After

The kitchen gets a thorough transformation with gray shiplap walls, stainless appliances and new cabinets with metal facings fabricated by Jimmy Don.

Kitchen, Detail

There's a lot of darker colors going on so, to help lighten it up, I'm adding a couple pieces of white dishware to go with the terra cotta and the natural wood. I don't want it to look too rustic, so these little accents will go a long way to help balance everything out.
—Joanna

Before

The upstairs space was suitable for a spacious bedroom but the low, angled ceiling made it feel cramped and awkward.

After

The new roofline gave the upstairs vaulted ceilings, made room for huge windows and created a far more open feel. The pony wall at the top of the stairs was removed and replaced with an open metal railing and integrated custom headboard.

Bedroom, Detail

I'd bet that I could design and decorate a 2,400-square-foot house faster than I could decorate this 700-square-foot house. Because it's so small, everything needs to really be just right.
—Joanna

Outdoor Spaces

Though not featured in the original Fixer Upper episode, Joanna decided to surprise Jimmy Don and Jake with a patio and firepit for enjoying the natural surrounding and entertaining friends. Rather than a grid layout or square pavers, she went with a round gravel pad and natural flagstone for a more organic and nature-based look.
#neverbeforeseen

Outdoor Spaces

#neverbeforeseen
I feel like outdoor living is just as important as indoor living, especially when you're talking about this kind of house. You know, this fire pit was a last-minute add we wanted to surprise them with, and I just feel like it ties in to the landscape, it matches just everything that's going on and feels super natural.
—Joanna

Outdoor Spaces

The back patio, just off the kitchen, features a grill area, outdoor serving bar and pass-through with hinged windows.

Texas Neighbors

Joanna and the girls meet former First Lady Laura Bush when they pay a visit to the Bush's tree farm to select an oak tree for the Holmes cabin. Jimmy Don had previously done some metal work for the Bush family who also make Crawford, Texas their home.

Behind the Scenes

Cameras roll as Chip preps for the big reveal.

Behind the Scenes

Jimmy Don and Jake get their first look at the renovated cabin.

Behind the Scenes

Want To See More?

If you enjoyed this Behind the Design feature, be sure to check out the complete renovation gallery from the original Fixer Upper episode: "A Modern Cabin in the Country for Jimmy Don & Son".

And you might also like: "The Colossal Crawford Reno".

Fixer Upper: Behind the Design

Fixer Upper: Behind the Design - The Holmes Home

Related To:

Life In the Country...

...With a Modern Twist

Friends and Neighbors

Before

After

After

Before

After

Kitchen, Detail

Before

After

Bedroom, Detail

Outdoor Spaces

Outdoor Spaces

Outdoor Spaces

Texas Neighbors

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Want To See More?

Shop Related Products