Fixer Upper: A Home With a View

Chip and Jo take on a different kind of 'Fixer Upper' when they undertake a from-the-ground-up new build, creating a Euro-inspired cottage style home with grand interior spaces and beautiful views.

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February 21, 2018

By: David L. Haynes

Show: Fixer Upper

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Jeff Jones

Photo By: Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A

Photo By: Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo Agency

Blank Canvas

After a frustrating tour of homes, with none of the fixer-uppers meeting the clients' wish list, Chip and Joanna get outside the box and take on a brand new build, custom-creating a couple’s dream home from the ground up.

Meet the Homeowners

Nancy and Dale Pahmiyer moved to Waco to be near their kids and grandkids. They’ve spent five years living in a small duplex and are eager to find a place that's more suitable. “We are so ready to call a new place home,” said Nancy. They’re looking for a home large enough to accommodate sizable family gatherings and with a big yard where the grandkids can play. Other items on their wish list include a nice master bath, a play room for the youngsters and, importantly, a nice view. “We've always liked having views where we lived,” said Dale. “We haven't always had that but, when we have, we've always appreciated it, and it's something we never grow tired of.” They’re hoping to live in Waco’s Woodway neighborhood, and they have a budget of $300,000.

BEFORE

A 'Lot' of Options was Chip’s clever moniker for the "Before" pic in this Fixer Upper installment — since there was no actual fixer-upper to fix. Just a nice patch of green. After considering several renovation options that didn’t pan out, Chip proposed this lot in a scenic locale as a potential site for a new-home build. “You know, not everybody is built for the fixer-upper model,” said Chip. “I mean, we love it, and it's in our blood, but I think that this is a great option if the fixer-upper thing is just not in the cards.” The half-acre lot has open space surrounding it and an elevation that provides for scenic views. The lot was listed at $32,000, leaving roughly $270,000 to build the new home.

AFTER

For the Pahmiyer's new home, Chip and Joanna created this spacious and updated take on a cottage style home, with European influences, wood accents, a deep front porch, a large dormer and lots of room inside. The exterior mixes cream colored stucco with shutters painted in sage green. Other exterior highlights include gas-lantern sconces, a pergola-style trellis over the garage doors and landscaping that includes climbing jasmine.

First Impression

The new foyer features a wood front door with arched insert, an antique sideboard in distressed finish and classic style chandelier.

A Truly Great Room

Just inside the front entry, the core of the home’s open floor plan is this grand room with high vaulted ceilings and exposed beams in a space that combines living room, dining room and kitchen. “I wanted a high ceiling,” said Nancy, “and, boy, I got a high ceiling.”

Bright and Expansive

The décor brings together a soft neutral color palette, comfortable furnishings and several statement pieces including a custom vent hood in the kitchen and extra high windows and French doors. “Notice the windows,” said Joanna. “We went as high as we could so that you could really enjoy this view.”

One Amazing Fireplace

The true focal point in the living room is the massive corner fireplace with brick interior, stucco outside, antique wood mantel and a coordinated architectural piece that provides a striking decorative accent.

Living Room, Detail

The wood accents are salvage pieces from an old garden gate. Joanna highlights the mantel with fresh greenery and elongate black iron candlesticks.

Living Room, Detail

Throw pillows in sage, muted blue and beige accent the oversized living room sofa.

Dining Room

By design, this mixed-use space is perfectly suited for entertaining and family gatherings. "Instead of everybody crowding in the kitchen," says Nancy, "we can all be together in one great room."

Dining Room

The statement piece in the dining area is the large-scale chandelier in rustic copper finish.

Dining Room, Detail

A tall hutch that incorporates pastel green in a distressed finish alongside natural wood adds a warm and soothing touch in the dining area.

Dining Room, Detail

Simple white dishware is perfectly suited to the home's natural and rustic feel.

A Standout Kitchen

The new kitchen features extra-high cabinets painted in a tranquil shade of green and a pair of islands with wood bases and marble tops.

Kitchen

Visual and design highlights in the kitchen include antique French doors, a custom vent hood with carved wood relief, subway tile and working gas lantern sconces.

Kitchen

High-end kitchen features include modern stainless appliances, a gas cooktop, pot-filler faucet and farmhouse sink.

Kitchen, Detail

Tall cabinetry help combined with the high ceilings help give the kitchen a dramatic feel.

Kitchen, Detail

Brushed copper hardware, fixtures and accents provide a visual counterpoint to the pale green and white color palette and, along with the natural wood surfaces, contribute a warming balance to the space.

Kitchen, Detail

The kitchen utilizes a mix of open and closed storage.

Laundry Room

The antique French doors open onto a laundry room just off the kitchen.

Laundry Room, Detail

The laundry room includes this work/study nook, tucked to one side of the storage cabinets.

Laundry Room, Detail

Children's Playroom

In keeping with the Pahmiyers new-home wish list, Joanna created this playroom for the grandkids just off the front foyer. The playroom includes pocket doors and a work table custom built by Clint Harp.

Children's Playroom

The playroom includes built-in bookshelves, perfect for building a children's library, and a reading nook lined in one of Joanna's new favorite wall coverings — skinnylap.

Children's Playroom

Master Bedroom

An iron bed, white linens, a neutral color palette, soft textures and natural wood all come together to make for a tranquil and relaxing bedroom.

Master Bedroom

Brushed bronze sconces, whitewashed wood beams, a ceiling fan in classic country design and wooden French doors add to the room's cozy cottage ambiance.

Master Bedroom, Detail

Master Bath

The new bathroom features a large walk-in shower with glass door and gray tile surround.

Master Bath, Detail

Master Bath

In addition to the large shower, the bath includes a jet tub with marble surround.

Master Bath

Other highlights in the bath include twin sconces on either side of the double vanity, warm wood cabinetry and antique corbels as decorative accents.

Front Exterior, Detail

The spacious front porch is made complete with two porch rockers in natural stained wood finish.

Front Exterior, Detail

The creeping jasmine will eventually trail into the wood trellis at the front of the garage.

The Pahmiyer House

It doesn't even look like a brand-new house. It looks like an established European cottage. It's just lovely.
—homeowner Nancy Pahmiyer

Finis

If you enjoyed this Fixer Upper project, may we suggest that you also might enjoy this one: "Blending Styles: Coastal and Rustic in the Heart of Texas".

And a Bonus Pic...

Just because we couldn't resist. And keep checking back here for the latest Fixer Upper updates.

Fixer Upper

Fixer Upper: A Home With a View

Related To:

Shop This Look

Blank Canvas

Meet the Homeowners

BEFORE

AFTER

First Impression

A Truly Great Room

Bright and Expansive

One Amazing Fireplace

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Detail

Dining Room

Dining Room

Dining Room, Detail

Dining Room, Detail

Dining Room, Detail

Dining Room, Detail

A Standout Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Laundry Room

Laundry Room, Detail

Laundry Room, Detail

Laundry Room, Detail

Children's Playroom

Children's Playroom

Children's Playroom

Master Bedroom

Master Bedroom

Master Bedroom, Detail

Master Bedroom, Detail

Master Bedroom, Detail

Master Bath

Master Bath, Detail

Master Bath

Master Bath

Front Exterior, Detail

Front Exterior, Detail

The Pahmiyer House

Finis

And a Bonus Pic...

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