1968 Fixer Upper in an Older Neighborhood

Vote for Your Favorite Fixer Upper renovation from Season Two. Candidate #1: Chip and Joanna help a new-home builder and his wife take the leap into the world of rehabbing an older home -- in a beautiful, established neighborhood.

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November 15, 2017

By: David L. Haynes

Show: Fixer Upper

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Larsen & Talbert Photography

The Aptly Named "Tree House"

This '60s-era home in Woodway, Texas -- seen here after a Fixer Upper makeover -- has a particular feature that earned it the nickname "tree house." A large live oak is situated so close to the front entrance that it appears almost to part of the house itself.

Outdoor Amenities

Floating shelves in natural wood are an eye catching accent in a new outdoor dining space.

Touches of Green

Window planters with fresh herbs, live potted daffodils and a bowl of green apples help brighten the newly updated kitchen.

His and Hers

The newly expanded master bath comes with plenty of marble counter space and twin vanities separated by a spa shower.

Working Spaces

The home's reconfigured interior includes this new home office, conveniently accessible from the kitchen and with two distinct work zones.

All in the Details

In the living room, cylindrical birch-log vases and a framed antique map create a focal point atop a new mantle made from reclaimed wood.

Mr. Gaines, Tear Down This Wall?

The homeowners' initial thought was to eliminate this outdoor brick partition -- which they nicknamed "the Alamo wall." But Joanna convinced them that, with a few creative additions and some fresh landscaping, the wall could help delineate and revitalize an underutilized outdoor space.

Meet the Homeowners

Genny Davis is a real estate agent and her husband Russ is a builder specializing in new home construction, so buying an older house was perhaps not their first inclination. But they're intrigued by a particular older neighborhood and, with the encouragement of Chip and Joanna, are wlling to take the plunge.

BEFORE

The 3760-square-foot home has five bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths but, prior to the reonvation, the exterior was unspectacular and notably lacking in curb appeal.

AFTER

Exterior enhancements included updating the paint, trim and siding, highlighting the home's profile with window boxes and exposed redwood beams, freshening up the landscaping and converting the carport into an enclosed two-car garage.

Outdoor Dining Area, AFTER

"I like to make quirky spaces funtional and pretty," says Joanna Gaines. Once she convinced the homeowners not to remove the oddly placed brick wall, Joanna had it repainted to match the home's exterior and set about creating this separate space for outdoor dining and entertaining.

From: Joanna Gaines

Dining Room, BEFORE

The dining room, before the renovation, offered plenty of space but kitchen access was limited. Joanna suggested removing a wall to open and brighten things up. She also suggested enclosing the nook at the far end of this room, turning that space into a new home office.

Dining Room and Kitchen, AFTER

Raised ceilings with exposed beams, walls painted in soft gray, and a new open configuration with plenty of natural light all combine to create a unified space with a more relaxed and less confining feel.

Home Office, AFTER

White cabinets and black countertops in the office pick up on the design choices used in the kitchen. Dual work stations offer ample space for Russ and Genny, both of whom work from home.

Kitchen, BEFORE

With bright yellow paint, dated wood paneling, laminate countertops and poor lighting, the kitchen was dated and badly in need of an upgrade.

Kitchen, AFTER

Opening up the entryway, lightening the color palette and adding dark wood floors help give the kitchen a cleaner and crisper look.

Kitchen, BEFORE

The existing kitchen island was small and off center. Joanna suggested replacing the island, adding black countertops and closing off the paneled alcove at the rear of the living room.

Kitchen, AFTER

The new kitchen island, with black honed granite top, is more robust and offers a wider prep area and expanded storage. Other new additions in the kitchen include carrara marble tile backsplash, all new cabinets with brushed steel hardware and a range hood covered in natural wood.

Living Room, BEFORE

Prior to the renovation, though the living room was adequately large, the dark paneled alcove, massive fireplace and brick surround visually dominated the space.

Living Room, AFTER

The new fireplace is better suited to the room's scale, and French doors add light. The paneled alcove formerly at the far end of the room is now closed off and converted to storage. For the fireplace, the white painted brick is replaced by a natural stone surround with a rough-hewn cedar mantle.

Living Room Detail, AFTER

Architectural salvage dooors serve as creative wall decor.

Bathroom, BEFORE

The master bathroom before the renovation, was small and cramped, and the existing shower -- strangely -- had two separate entry doors: the one seen here and another on the opposite side, opening onto a guest bathrom.

Bathroom, AFTER

The renovated and expanded master bath has a positively spa-like feel with marble tile floors, plenty of dressing space and dual vanities.

Bathroom, AFTER

The new shower is nothing short of luxurious with Carrera marble tile, corner bench and glass door and partition.

Master Bedroom, BEFORE

The size of the master bedroom was adequate, but the homeowners wanted something bigger. Joanna suggested taking out a wall and expanding the footprint of the bedroom, essentially turning two bedrooms into a single master suite.

Master Bedroom, AFTER

The new master is painted in soft gray and decorated with blue and purple accents. The window treatments employ both wood shutters and drapes, and the wood bed frame is painted in white and given a lightly distressed finish.

Home Exterior, AFTER

The newly renovated home features natural gray stone and wood treatments for the exterior -- themes that are repeated inside with the new stone fireplace and wood beams. Other improvements include new balcony railing and the addition of a new enclosed garage.

Vote for Your Favorite 'Fixer Upper'

1968 Fixer Upper in an Older Neighborhood

Related To:

Shop This Look

The Aptly Named "Tree House"

Outdoor Amenities

Touches of Green

His and Hers

Working Spaces

All in the Details

Mr. Gaines, Tear Down This Wall?

Meet the Homeowners

BEFORE

AFTER

Outdoor Dining Area, AFTER

Dining Room, BEFORE

Dining Room and Kitchen, AFTER

Home Office, AFTER

Kitchen, BEFORE

Kitchen, AFTER

Kitchen, BEFORE

Kitchen, AFTER

Living Room, BEFORE

Living Room, AFTER

Living Room Detail, AFTER

Bathroom, BEFORE

Bathroom, AFTER

Bathroom, AFTER

Master Bedroom, BEFORE

Master Bedroom, AFTER

Home Exterior, AFTER

Happily Ever After

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