Fixer Upper: A Forever Home For 'Patti B'

When Patti decided to move to Waco to be near her two sons, she was determined to find a house that would bring her joy. Chip and Jo delivered with a warm and welcoming home that produced both smiles and "happy tears."

Chip and Joanna Gaines in the family room of the Baker's newly remodeled home, as seen on Fixer Upper. (After)

Chip and Joanna Gaines in Patti Baker's newly remodeled den

Photo by: Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A

Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A

Chip and Joanna Gaines in Patti Baker's newly remodeled den

There wasn’t a lot of suspense in the home-selection phase of this particular Fixer Upper project. Chip and Joanna’s client, Patti Baker ("Patti-B" in Chip parlance), had already found and purchased a ‘50s era bungalow with some nice features and plenty of promise. But the plain beige exterior and dated kitchen and baths amounted to a house that, in Patti’s own words, “needed a hug.” Fortunately, as Fixer Upper fans know well, Chip and Jo are good at delivering hugs.

As seen on FIxer Upper, the exterior of the Baker's home. (Before #1)

Before: This house, with it's plain brown wrapper, could use a hug.

Photo by: Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A

Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A

Before: This house, with it's plain brown wrapper, could use a hug.

The house had good bones, the right amount of space and well-preserved original hardwood floors. It just needed some of the Gaines magic to make it come fully alive. “This is her forever home,” said Joanna. “I want to make sure that everything that I am choosing and deciding from a design standpoint is timeless and as classic as possible.”

The Baker’s family room has new flooring and freshly painted walls, as seen on Fixer Upper. (After #6)

The Baker’s family room has new flooring and freshly painted walls, as seen on Fixer Upper. (After #6)

Photo by: Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A

Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A

Patti’s tastes in décor ran toward the simple, basic and primitive, and she clearly wanted a home that would be both soothing to the spirit and inviting for family and guests. She also likes the sharp contrast that black can bring to doors and fixtures, and she prefers classic design. All of these things, of course, are firmly within Joanna’s wheelhouse.

The kitchen, with its faded laminate flooring (covering original hardwoods!) and bright red cabinets was a good place to start. The floor plan gets modified to create a grander kitchen and dining space, and Joanna provides a homey look with a rustic European antique table to serve as an island, concrete countertops, blue and white patterned tile backsplash, casual open shelving and newly revealed hardwood floors.

Patti's key word was really "primitive." She wanted authentic. She wanted things that looked handmade.
Joanna
Blue and White Tile Backsplash

Blue and White Tile Backsplash in Neutral Cottage Kitchen

Kitchen, Detail

From: Fixer Upper

Photo by: Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A

Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A

Kitchen, Detail

Did we mention a taste for basic black? A star attraction in the newly reconfigured and remodeled kitchen is a casual dining area with a black shiplap feature wall and twin pendants with black metal shades.

 Neutral Breakfast Nook with Black Shiplap Wall and Tan Table

Contemporary Neutral Breakfast Nook with Black Shiplap Wall

A star feature in the new kitchen is the casual dining space with a black shiplap feature wall and twin pendants in black metal finish, as seen on HGTv's Fixer Upper.

From: Fixer Upper

Photo by: Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A

Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A

Another highlight of the renovation is the repurposing of two adjacent spaces, divided by a pony wall and with integrated open shelving, to create a combination casual den and laundry room/home-office.

The Baker’s new family room has built in shelving that helps to separate the space from the laundry room, as seen on Fixer Upper. (After)

The Baker’s new family room has built in shelving that helps to separate the space from the laundry room, as seen on Fixer Upper. (After)

Photo by: Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A

Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A

The Fixer Upper episode titled New Chapter, New House premieres Tuesday January 9 at 9pm|8c. And check here for additional air times.

Next Up

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Are you looking for something to feel really good about? Then don't miss this Fixer Upper which, incidentally, features a pretty well-known sports hero. And have tissues at the ready. You have been warned. 

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New Chip and Jo Spinoff Series 'Fixer Upper: Behind the Design' Comes to HGTV

It’s a wrap for Fixer Upper’s fifth season, but Tuesday-night appointment TV with Chip and Jo lives on in a new series that offers viewers an in-depth look inside Joanna’s creativity and designs.

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