28 Things You Love About Chip and Joanna Gaines

Do you love Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna Gaines as much as we do? Get to know the couple behind some of HGTV's most amazing before-and-after renovations.

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August 26, 2015

By: Liz Gray

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Photo By: Sarah Wilson/ Getty Images

Meet Chip and Joanna Gaines

The hosts of HGTV's hit series Fixer Upper dish about their family, their home and their biggest design mistakes.

On Their Family of Six

Chip and Joanna have four kiddos who range in age from 7 to 11.

On Their Children

"They love being outside, they love farm animals and they are sure to always keep things interesting around here," Joanna says.

On Their Farmhouse

"Our home is a hundred-year-old farmhouse that sits on about 40 acres," Joanna says. The home features casual farmhouse style with lots of repurposed vintage pieces.

From: Chip Gaines

On Buying Their Own Fixer Upper

Chip and Joanna's families had complete faith in their renovation skills when they bought their own run-down property. "They have seen some pretty bad homes that we have purchased...this one honestly didn't scare them, mainly because the land was so pretty," the couple says.

On Their Renovation

"When we renovated the house we made sure we kept all the original molding and trim, flooring and shiplap walls to preserve the character," Joanna says.

From: Chip Gaines

On Joanna's Favorite Room at Home

Her favorite space post-renovation? The kitchen. "It's the heart of the home for me," she says. "No matter how much is going on, I don't feel overwhelmed because the palette is very clean and fresh. I love the farmhouse sink, and I love looking out the window at the animals and cows while I work."

From: Chip Gaines

On Chip's Favorite Room at Home

Chip's favorite room in the house is the boys' room, which comes complete with four custom-made bunk beds, an "Adventure" sign and a basketball hoop.

From: Chip Gaines

On Their Extended Family

The Gaines' 40-acre farm is also home to 60 animals, including chickens, cows, goats...

On Their Extended Family

...and horses! (Here, Chip takes a late-afternoon ride.)

On What Their Home Doesn't Have

"We didn't buy a TV when we first got married, and we have yet to buy one," Joanna says.

On Their First Design Project

Their first house as a married couple was "all over the map," Joanna says. "The front room had sailboats in it, the kitchen was mustard yellow and French themed, and the back den was rustic with cedar paneled walls, hanging horns and cow hides. I guess I was testing out my style."

On Their Design Style

Joanna's three-word explanation of their style: "Simple, clean and unexpected," she says. Chip's take? "Whatever Jo likes," he jokes.

On Chip's First Flip

Before he met Joanna, Chip partnered with his parents to buy his first flip property while still in college. "After that I was hooked," Chip says. "I started buying and selling homes and commercial properties."

On Joanna's Start in the Property Business

"When I met Chip, he was renting and flipping properties left and right to college students," Joanna says. "Once I caught on to the concept of buying something that is undervalued to then put value into it and sell it for a profit, I was hooked, too."

On Joanna's Vintage Decor Shop

"I started a local boutique and partnered with Chip to implement the Magnolia style in the homes he was flipping," Joanna says. "We later branched out and started renovations in the central Texas area."

From: Chip Gaines

On Joanna's First Big Design Mistake

"For our first high-end flip, I chose a tan stucco color," Joanna says. "After it was painted, I pulled up to the house and it looked like a big yellow school bus." Lesson learned? Always buy paint samples.

On Chip's First Big Design Mistake

"I wanted to surprise JoJo with a bold backsplash at a flip property," Chip says. "It took me all day to install this beautiful tumbled-stone backsplash, but when I went to grout it...it soaked up the color and turned maroon. It was horrible, and JoJo was surprised to say the least."

On Their Hidden Talents

You know about their renovation skills, but did you know that Chip can juggle and Joanna can do a back handspring? Believe it.

On the Number One Design Mistake People Make

"When people make their house too practical or too pretty," it doesn't work, Joanna says. Great design is a blend of both, like this functional yet chic white kitchen.

From: Chip Gaines

On Their Favorite Power Tools

"I'm a fan of the hand sander," Joanna says. "When a piece is painted, I like to distress it to give it more character." Chip's pick? The chain saw. "It's a powerful tool that gets the job done fast," he says.

On Their Favorite Reactions to a Makeover Reveal

"Jaws dropped, tears, and big hugs," Joanna says. "It made all the hard work worth it."

On Their Favorite Reaction to a Makeover Reveal

(Sometimes the reveal is part laughter, too.)

On Favorite Spots to Find Vintage Goodies

Where does Joanna find all the great products she uses in her farmhouse and in her shop? "Off-the-beaten-path antique stores and flea markets," she says. "My favorite thing to do is hunt for really cool pieces to sell or repurpose and use in my home."

On Their Favorite Guilty Pleasures

Joanna's secret indulgence? All-you-can-eat buffets. Chip's go-to guilty pleasure: "Buying stuff at auction," he says.

On Joanna's Favorite (and Least Favorite) Colors

Joanna loves the color green, but isn't a fan of purple.

On The Couple's Favorite Meals

Joanna's crazy for pasta, while Chip's most-requested dish is chicken-fried steak.

On How to Dress Up Any Room on a Tiny Budget

"Fresh flowers," Joanna says, make a huge impact for a tiny price. Other budget updates: Throw pillows in the living room and bright dishes or tea towels in the kitchen.

From: Chip Gaines

Fixer Upper

28 Things You Love About Chip and Joanna Gaines

Related To:

Shop This Look

Meet Chip and Joanna Gaines

On Their Family of Six

On Their Children

On Their Farmhouse

On Buying Their Own Fixer Upper

On Their Renovation

On Joanna's Favorite Room at Home

On Chip's Favorite Room at Home

On Their Extended Family

On Their Extended Family

On What Their Home Doesn't Have

On Their First Design Project

On Their Design Style

On Chip's First Flip

On Joanna's Start in the Property Business

On Joanna's Vintage Decor Shop

On Joanna's First Big Design Mistake

On Chip's First Big Design Mistake

On Their Hidden Talents

On the Number One Design Mistake People Make

On Their Favorite Power Tools

On Their Favorite Reactions to a Makeover Reveal

On Their Favorite Reaction to a Makeover Reveal

On Favorite Spots to Find Vintage Goodies

On Their Favorite Guilty Pleasures

On Joanna's Favorite (and Least Favorite) Colors

On The Couple's Favorite Meals

On How to Dress Up Any Room on a Tiny Budget

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