Fixer Upper: A Stately Retreat in Woodway, Texas

A family of five is in search of a new home with space, and lots of it, but they don't want to sacrifice traditional features and classic style. Chip and Jo are there to help strike just the perfect balance.

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November 28, 2017

By: David L. Haynes

Show: Fixer Upper

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Photo By: Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A

At Home in Woodway

Chip and Jo take on a project with some serious square footage in this renovation in the Waco's Woodway community. The clients were a family of five looking to upgrade to a larger home and had already settled on Woodway as their neighborhood of choice.

Before

Chip gave the project home the moniker of "The Mountain House" — since it sat at an elevation well above street level, presenting a stately profile. Though rather bland and ordinary in appearance, the house, built in 1986, was in good shape and, with a little TLC, offered potential for real curb appeal.

After

Fresh gray paint, white trim, new windows, updated columns and fresh landscaping all help give the home a more crisp and vibrant appearance.

Meet the Homeowners

Bryce and Emily Sandvall were partial to the Woodway community, an attractive neighborhood in a good school district. With three active daughters, they were looking for a spacious house and their wish list included five bedrooms, three baths and space for a utility mudroom. With a budget of $415,000, they chose the Mountain House at a list price of $290,000, leaving a renovation budget of $125,000.

Foyer, Before

Prior to the renovation, the foyer, stairway and hallway felt tight and confining.

Foyer, After

Joanna reworked the stairway, removing the carpeting and adding new metal railing. Fresh white paint and wainscoting, contrasted with dark hardwood floors, give the home's entry a whole new feel.

Living Room, Before

The living room featured a brick fireplace, built-in bookshelves and ceiling beams. Initially Joanna considered removing the ceiling beams, feeling that they made the room feel smaller.

Living Room, After

The built-in shelves were removed to make room for new windows, bringing more natural light into the space. The fireplace gets a facelift with marble hearth and surround, contrasting smartly with the new hardwood floors in dark stain.

Living Room, After

Joanna ultimately opted to keep the ceiling beams which, with the new bright white interior, tie in nicely with the newly added trim. The fresh motif and added light make the room feel much larger.

Living Room, Detail

Two new bench window seats with French mattress cushion and sconce makes for ideal reading nooks.

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Before

In the original floor plan, the living room opened onto the kitchen.

Living Room, After

The floor plan was modified somewhat, redefining the kitchen and creating a less formal dining area and new breakfast nook. This side of the living room now opens onto the dining area through a cased opening with side lights.

Dining Room, After

In the new dining room existing windows were replaced with French doors and side lights to bring lots of natural light into the space. Joanna added a statement chandelier, rustic wood dining table and glass-front bookcase, also in natural wood finish.

Dining Room, Detail

Kitchen, Before

The kitchen had a sizable footprint but a dated appearance with laminate countertops, contractor-basic cabinetry, green tile floor and mustard yellow walls.

Kitchen, After

Joanna's design plan for the kitchen was simple and straightforward: "The first thing I would do is remove the wall that leads into the dining room, add a new cabinet package, new countertops, backsplash, and then we'll run an island right down the middle."

Kitchen, After

The kitchen has a simple, clean look with bright white cabinets, offset with black hardware, and gray subway tile backsplash.

Kitchen, After

Natural wood elements like the custom vent hood and these open shelves help ground and warm up the white, well-lit space.

Breakfast Nook, After

A signature highlight in the renovation is this breakfast nook just off the kitchen, with bay window and wooden table custom built by Clint Harp. Another special feature is a set of antique doors (left) with vintage hardware installed on the new pantry.

Breakfast Nook, After

The breakfast nook is lined with bookshelves and features wraparound bench seats, giving it a cozy feel and tying in stylistically with the window seats in the living room.

Before

This area just off the kitchen would become a new mudroom and laundry.

Mudroom, After

Checking off one of the clients' wish-list items, Joanna and Chip created this multifunctional mudroom and laundry. The large space features lots of storage and gray stone tile floor in herringbone pattern.

Laundry, After

The laundry area features a prep area with butcher block countertops, utility sink and tile backsplash.

Laundry, Detail

Porch Essentials

A pair of traditional rockers painted in matte black offer a finishing touch on the front porch.

The Reveal

Bryce and Emily get their first look at their newly renovated Fixer Upper.

Before

After

Emily Sandvall summed up the reveal of her new home's transformation in just five words: "So amazing. Best day ever!"

Finis

If you liked this Fixer Upper renovation, we've got a hunch you'll also enjoy this one:
California Dreamin' in the Waco, Texas Suburbs.
And keep checking back here for new galleries, exclusive videos and show updates.

Fixer Upper

Fixer Upper: A Stately Retreat in Woodway, Texas

Related To:

Shop This Look

At Home in Woodway

Before

After

Meet the Homeowners

Foyer, Before

Foyer, After

Living Room, Before

Living Room, After

Living Room, After

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Before

Living Room, After

Dining Room, After

Dining Room, Detail

Kitchen, Before

Kitchen, After

Kitchen, After

Kitchen, After

Breakfast Nook, After

Breakfast Nook, After

Before

Mudroom, After

Laundry, After

Laundry, Detail

Laundry, Detail

Porch Essentials

The Reveal

The Reveal

The Reveal

Before

After

Finis

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