Fixer Upper: Old-World Charm for Newlyweds

Chip and Joanna Gaines help a newly married couple create their ideal first home, turning a standard suburban '70s house into a romantic retreat that effectively blends styles, influences and textures.

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January 26, 2016

By: David L. Haynes

Quintessentially Home

Chip and Joanna renovated an ordinary looking brick house in the Mountainview neighborhood of Waco to create this beautiful first home for a young couple moving back to Texas after a stint in Tennessee.

Transitional Themes

Several walls were removed to create this open floor plan that combines kitchen, dining area and living room.

Blended Styles, Merged Spaces

A newly configured foyer with dark columns and wood paneling opens onto the living room to create a visually striking formal entry to the home.

Minimalist and Functional

The kitchen is enlarged and remodeled with a simple design and fresh, clean aesthetic.

New and Old

Though the renovation was a thorough update, Joanna incorporated older furnishings and antiques to deliberately avoid the appearance of a new build or simple remodel.

We'll Take Romance

The new master bedroom is done in soft gray with warming wood tones, ornamental sconces and a few colorful accents.

Keeping Up With the Joneses

Homeowners Jeff and Sara Jones were Baylor sweethearts who moved to Tennessee after college but then decided to return to the Waco area. They were looking for a home where they could one day raise a family, and their wish list included three bedrooms, an open living space and a large backyard. Their budget, including renovations, was $235,000.

European Flair

Sara's tastes run toward a nouveau classical look with an affinity for ornate furnishings and French antiques. The combination presented a decorating challenge for Joanna who frequently leans more in the direction of farmhouse country and rustic themes. This new foyer – highlighted by black and white marble floors, rich textures and dark gray paneling – offers a mix of contemporary elements and old world touches making for a carefully integrated look that marries comfort and style.

Living Room, AFTER

The biggest construction challenge in the renovation was the removal of several walls to merge the first floor spaces. Lam beams were added to provide structural support for the new large space with a bright and open feel.

Living Room, Detail

Dining Room, AFTER

The formerly tiny and closed off dining room is now spacious and inviting. Worn wall-to-wall carpeting is replaced with a new wood-look tile floor.

Dining Room, Detail

The existing brick fireplace was retained but updated with black interior, new trim in dark gray and a reclaimed wood mantel.

Dining Room, Detail

This antique style fixture was used as a unifying theme in several of the renovated spaces including the dining room, foyer and master suite.

Dining Room, Detail

Dining Room, AFTER

Dark gray paneling around the fireplace provides visual contrast with the light walls. Limitations in the renovation budget precluded adding larger windows, but the existing windows were updated with new trim also painted in gray.

Dining Room and Kitchen

Kitchen, AFTER

The new kitchen is almost doubled in size from its original footprint.

Kitchen, AFTER

New additions in the kitchen include a farmhouse sink, marble countertops, new cabinets, recessed lighting and a custom island with waterfall edge. The doors on the newly added pantry have antiqued glass inserts emulating the look of a vintage mirror.

Kitchen, Detail

Other new kitchen enhancements include subway tile backsplash and lots of open shelving.

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, AFTER

Double Duty

This space serves a dual purpose as a home office and a mudroom The newly partitioned space, which was originally part of the living room, includes new French doors with access to the backyard.

Home Office, Detail

The office includes a special housewarming gift from Sara's father: an original wall-art piece with the text of a prayer read at Jeff and Sara's wedding.

Home Office and Mudroom

This multi-use space also inlcudes additional storage, hooks and modern sliding doors opening onto the living room.

Office and Mudroom, Detail

Master Bedroom, AFTER

A statement piece in the remodeled bedroom is a French antique mantel, dating to the turn of the last century, used as a decorative wall feature.

Master Bedroom, AFTER

Another defining element in the bedroom is the pair of antique-look wall sconces in the same style as fixtures used in the dining room and foyer.

Master Bedroom, AFTER

Master Bedroom, Detail

We briefly interrupt this slideshow for a romantic interlude.

...courtesy of Mr. Gaines.

We briefly interrupt this slideshow for a romantic interlude.

Girls do like flowers.

We now return you to the regularly scheduled photo gallery.

The Reveal

Jeff and Sara Jones get ready to see their newly completed fixer upper for the first time.

The Reveal

Are you ready to see this Fixer Upper?

The Reveal

AFTER

The new exterior has new double doors at the front entrance, reworked columns, new landscaping and an updated color scheme.

AFTER

Prior to the renovation, the home exterior was plain brown brick. The distinctive whitewashing effect was achieved through a technique known as German mortar smear.

Behind the Scenes: At the Silos

Whenever Chip finds some time between Fixer Upper projects for clients, he's likely hard at work at Magnolia Silos, Chip and Joanna's new HQ.

Behind the Scenes: At the Silos

Concurrent with the Jones project, work was underway on rebuilding and shoring up the roof on the grain silo. Here Chip does some welding on special i-beams that will help support the additional weight in renovated structure.

Behind the Scenes: At the Silos

Chip and Jo get the call from Jeff and Sara Jones with the news of which of the three Fixer Upper houses they selected.

Behind the Scenes: Meet the Parents

Chip and Joanna meet Sara Jones' parents Max and and Denalyn Lucado. Max Lucado is a well known author and a minister in San Antonio. The prayer he authored and delivered at Jeff and Sara's wedding became the inscription on the original art piece that was a housewarming gift for Sara and Jeff.

Finis

If you liked this Fixer Upper makeover, we bet you'd also enjoy this one from Season 2:

Mid-Century "Asian Ranch" Goes French Country.

And keep checking back at Fixer Upper Central for the latest makeovers.

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Photo By: Rachel Whyte

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Fixer Upper

Fixer Upper: Old-World Charm for Newlyweds

Quintessentially Home

Transitional Themes

Blended Styles, Merged Spaces

Minimalist and Functional

New and Old

We'll Take Romance

Keeping Up With the Joneses

European Flair

Living Room, AFTER

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Detail

Dining Room, AFTER

Dining Room, Detail

Dining Room, Detail

Dining Room, Detail

Dining Room, Detail

Dining Room, AFTER

Dining Room and Kitchen

Kitchen, AFTER

Kitchen, AFTER

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, AFTER

Kitchen, AFTER

Double Duty

Home Office, Detail

Home Office, Detail

Home Office and Mudroom

Office and Mudroom, Detail

Master Bedroom, AFTER

Master Bedroom, AFTER

Master Bedroom, AFTER

Master Bedroom, Detail

Master Bedroom, Detail

Master Bedroom, Detail

We briefly interrupt this slideshow for a romantic interlude.

We briefly interrupt this slideshow for a romantic interlude.

Girls do like flowers.

The Reveal

The Reveal

The Reveal

The Reveal

The Reveal

The Reveal

The Reveal

The Reveal

AFTER

AFTER

Behind the Scenes: At the Silos

Behind the Scenes: At the Silos

Behind the Scenes: At the Silos

Behind the Scenes: Meet the Parents

Finis

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