Fixer Upper: A Family Home Resurrected in Rural Texas

Chip and Joanna Gaines help a Texas couple reclaim a family home on a ranch in Marlin, Texas. The house, inherited from a grandfather, held sentimental memories but, after sitting empty for more than a decade, had fallen into serious disrepair. Chip and Jo help preserve, re-imagine and remake the country home, adding contemporary elements and some Southwest inspired touches.

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January 19, 2016

By: David L. Haynes

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Photo By: Jennifer Boomer/Getty Images

Making New Memories

Joanna and Chip transformed a crumbling and practically abandoned old house in Marlin, Texas – a rural community about 30 miles outside Waco – into this stylish and attractive home for a family of three. New exterior enhancements provide plenty of curb appeal although, with the house located on a 2000-acre ranch, there's not a curb in sight!

Southwest Contemporary

Since the living area was already a large, open space, not much was needed in terms of structural changes for this area. However, the house overall was in such bad shape prior to the renovation, it had to be taken down to the studs and essentially re-created from the ground up. Joanna referred to the project as "building a new house inside an old frame."

Gathering Space

The house had belonged to homeowner Sterling Zan's grandfather and, in years past, it had served as a focal point for holiday get-togethers and other family gatherings. Joanna and Chip's remodel creates a revitalized space that's ideally suited for extending old family traditions and fostering new ones.

Meet the Homeowners

Chip and Joanna pose with homeowners Casey and Sterling Zan on the front porch of their newly renovated family home. The Zans knew from the start they wanted to restore this cherished and inherited home, so there was no purchase decision for this particular fixer upper. The challenge was in the damage the house had undergone and in pulling off a full makeover within Zans' $160,000 renovation budget.

Living Room, AFTER

The bright and open living room has new hardwood floors, large windows and a completely reworked front entry. Prior to the renovation, this space had dark wood-paneled walls, a badly damaged tile floor and acoustic-tile drop ceiling.

Living Room, Detail

A gallery wall above an antique wood console features vintage black and white photos of the home and property in years past.

Living Room, Detail

Joanna repurposed some of the old patterned drapes – one of just a few things salvaged from the original items in the home – to create new throw-pillow covers. The western and southwest themes of some of the original furnishings served as a reference point for Joanna's decorating theme, thereby maintaining a visual connection with the home's past.

Living Room, Detail

Dining Room, AFTER

The home's original dining table was salvaged and restored by furniture designer and woodcraftsman Clint Harp.

Dining Room, Detail

Kitchen, AFTER

The newly redesigned kitchen features a generous kitchen island, concrete countertops, brick tile floors and natural wood cabinets.

Kitchen, AFTER

The drop ceiling was removed and exposed wood beams added for a coffered effect. New stainless appliances were added as well as all new lighting and special features such as a wall-mounted pot-filling faucet and a custom vent hood with copper accents.

Kitchen, Detail

The existing stone wall backsplash, one of the kitchen's vintage and distinctive features, was retained.

Kitchen, Detail

Sterling Zan is a fan of copper, so Joanna incorporated a copper farmhouse sink and brushed copper fixtures.

Kitchen, Detail

Master Bedroom, AFTER

The renovated master bedroom included restored original hardwood floors and a new accent wall with rough milled cedar planks for a decidedly country look.

Master Bedroom, Detail

Repurposed pallet wood was used to create these floating shelves in the master bedroom.

Master Bath, AFTER

An original jack-and-jill bathroom was reworked to create two separate baths including this master with twin vanities, marble countertops and stand-up shower.

Master Bath, AFTER

Master Bath, Detail

Home Exterior, AFTER

The original metal roof was retained, but nearly everything else visible on the outside is new. The front porch was moved from a corner location to create this grand new entry with post-and-beam construction and exposed wood. The siding was replaced and enlarged windows added with decorative wood shutters.

Home Exterior, AFTER

The new and enlarged front porch is the perfect spot for a pair of wood rocking chairs.

Home Exterior, Detail

Group Photo Time

With their home finally complete and move-in-ready, the Zans pose for a pic with Joanna and Chip on their new front porch.

There's One in Every Crowd

Chip can seldom resist the opportunity to break up a photo shoot.

Finis

Still want more from this project? Be sure and check out Joanna's design tips videos with exclusive background and insights on the designs incorporated into the kitchen, living room and master suite in this Fixer Upper makeover.

Fixer Upper

Fixer Upper: A Family Home Resurrected in Rural Texas

Shop This Look

Making New Memories

Southwest Contemporary

Gathering Space

Meet the Homeowners

Living Room, AFTER

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Detail

Dining Room, AFTER

Dining Room, Detail

Kitchen, AFTER

Kitchen, AFTER

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Master Bedroom, AFTER

Master Bedroom, Detail

Master Bedroom, Detail

Master Bedroom, Detail

Master Bedroom, Detail

Master Bedroom, Detail

Master Bath, AFTER

Master Bath, AFTER

Master Bath, Detail

Master Bath, Detail

Master Bath, Detail

Master Bath, Detail

Home Exterior, AFTER

Home Exterior, AFTER

Home Exterior, Detail

Home Exterior, Detail

Group Photo Time

There's One in Every Crowd

Finis

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