Fixer Upper: A First Home for Avid Dog Lovers

Chip and Joanna Gaines help create an ideal forever home for a young couple and their canine family members. A late 1950s-era ranch home is transformed with an open, free-flowing floor plan, soaring vaulted ceilings — and something special for the pooches.

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November 29, 2016

Raise the Roof

To create this dramatic living space and open kitchen, Chip and Joanna altered the home's roof pitch, removed several walls, gutted the kitchen and relocated a fireplace.

Home Exterior, BEFORE

"The Cargo Ship House" — as Chip dubbed it because of its elongate shape and exposed vent pipes — was built in 1958 and came with four bedrooms, three baths, about 2340 square feet. The split-level portion was clearly an add-on, and the inside was dated, but clients Andrew and Brittany were excited about the large backyard with established live oaks and Joanna's vision of what the interior could become.

Andrew and Brittany's home wish list included a large main living area, lots of space for their dogs and four bedrooms to one day accommodate a growing family.

Home Exterior, AFTER

In one of their more ambitious exterior makeovers, Chip and Joanna re-pitched the roof line of this home and dramatically enhanced the entry with a porch bump-out that features post-and-beam construction. The exterior is further dressed up with fresh green paint, contrasting black shutters and new stairs and railing.

Cool Contrast

The new kitchen was given a clean, fresh look with all white cabinetry, white stone countertops and a distinctive gray tile backsplash. Visual contrast and depth was provided in the form of rich blue paint for the vent hood and island base as well as reclaimed and natural wood elements.

Redefined Dining

An enclosed dining room is replaced with this open dining area that's part of the new open floor plan. The dining area was pushed back into the main living space, making way for a much enlarged and better designed kitchen.

Open Flow

In the newly reconfigured space, a new double-sided fireplace serves as a visual focal point both this main living room and a sunroom just beyond.

Gracefully Gray

The master bath gets a complete makeover with a large glass-enclosed shower, gray stone tile and double vanity.

A Hint of Treehouse

The upstairs master suite has new, large windows that provide a view out onto the branches of a large live oak, creating a natural green and tranquil backdrop for the bedroom.

Kitchen, BEFORE

The existing kitchen was enclosed, cramped and cluttered. The refrigerator was placed such that, when the refrigerator door was open, the work space was essentially blocked.

Kitchen, AFTER

Reconfiguring the downstairs space allowed for the creation of an open and spacious kitchen complete with a large island, a butler's pantry, plenty of cabinet storage and two sinks.

Kitchen, BEFORE

Kitchen, AFTER

The open kitchen is now centered within the downstairs floor plan. The large island becomes a focal point for the home, ideal for family gathering and entertaining as well as food prep.

Kitchen, AFTER

Detailing in the kitchen includes twin lantern pendants above the island, stone countertop with ogee edge and farmhouse sink.

Kitchen, Detail

Above the range, the subway tile is offsest with a dramatic gray tile backsplash with pot-filler faucet.

Kitchen, Detail

Crates built into the lower cabinets provide a novel take on storage as well as a warm visual contrast against the white cabinetry and countertops.

Kitchen, Detail

Dining Room, BEFORE

Dining Room, AFTER

Dining Room, Detail

Living Room, BEFORE

Prior to the renovation, the main living area had low, flat ceilings and the existing fireplace was awkwardly placed.

Living Room, AFTER

Re-pitching the roof line created the opportunity to create a much more dramatic space with vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and lots more natural light. The living space also features new hardwood floors and a oversized chandelier.

Living Room, BEFORE

Living Room, AFTER

An obtrusive utility closet, just inside the front entrance, was removed to facilitate the creation of a welcoming foyer that flows naturally into the main living area.

Foyer, AFTER

A high-backed wooden bench adds an elegant touch in the new foyer.

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, AFTER

The new placement of the fireplace, with gray stone surround and reclaimed wood mantel, is in a much more inviting location and forms a visual delineation between the main living rooom and adjacacent sunroom. The pass-throughs on either side of the fireplace provide a logical flow between the two spaces and attractive sight lines.

Sun Room, AFTER

The large windows and high ceilings provide the entire living space with an open and airy feel.

Sun Room, Detail

The original fireplace, in what is now the sun room, was converted to create built-in bookshelves with a lower compartment that accommodates firewood storage.

Sun Room, Detail

The Mud Room and "Dog Spa"

The clients have two dogs — a chocolate lab and chihuahua — that they consider full-fledged family members. Joanna took that as an opportunity to do something special in the new laundry room, incorporating a decidedly dog-centric theme and design.

The Mud Room and "Dog Spa"

This space actually includes a doggie sized shower complete with (what else?) white subway tile and glass door.

"This was a fun room to design," says Joanna. "One of the things [Andrew and Brittany] kept asking was to make sure that what I was incorporating was dog-friendly. So not only did we want to make it super functional and practical for our clients, but we also wanted to just throw in a little extra surprise for them."

The Mud Room and "Dog Spa"

On the wall opposite the dog shower is a generous laundry area with open storage and a modern washer and dryer.

The Mud Room and "Dog Spa"

"What I like about smaller spaces like mudrooms and even small guest or powder baths," says Joanna, "is you don't always have to do just one or two things. In here, I wanted to go all-out...There's a lot of things going on here, but I feel like somehow it all comes together, and I really love how this room turned out." Custom features include a gray herringbone tile floor, black wainscoting, fun wallpaper and wood crates built into the open storage.

Want to read more about the Dog Spa Mudroom? Check out this post on our I-Heart-HGTV blog for more info, and meet two new four-footed members of the Gaines family.

Master Suite, BEFORE

The second-floor bedroom had worn carpeting and was in need of updating, but it offered ample space to create a luxurious master suite.

Master Suite, BEFORE

Master Suite, AFTER

Joanna's reccommendations included new, large windows for more natural light, a dramatic light fixture and sliding barn door, but one in an elegant rather than rustic style.

Master Suite, Detail

The master bedroom includes this sitting area ideal for reading or relaxing.

Master Suite, Detail

Master Bath, BEFORE

Master Bath, AFTER

The remodeled master bath includes built-in cabinets with glass-front storage and marble tile floor.

Master Bath, AFTER

Other highlights in the bath include a pedestal tub and large glass-enclosed shower.

Master Bath, AFTER

Master Bath, Detail

A mirror with stained wood frame and twin metal sconces help warm up the space.

Master Bath, Detail

Master Bath, AFTER

Finis

If you liked this Fixer Upper project, you might also like this one: Fixer Upper: A Family Home Resurrected in Rural Texas. And check back often at HGTV's Fixer Upper Central for more new galleries from Season 4, web-exclusive video clips and lots more.