Fixer Upper: A Country Home Fully Reimagined
In one of their biggest challenges yet in terms of redefining spaces and floorplan, Joanna and Chip take on a quirky house in a rural setting and transform it into a charming and dramatic country home. It's the ideal spot for a couple who have two grown kids and are looking to settle down in their forever home.
The Big Switch
The "Big Country Farmhouse" was one of Chip and Joanna's most ambitious and dramatic home transformations to date. Not only were walls removed and structural components upgraded, but entire rooms were redefined to serve completely new functions. "Every space in this house has been reconfigured," says Joanna. "What was once the living room is now the master bedroom. What was once the kitchen is now a guest bedroom...What was once the master bathroom is now the kitchen. What was once the kitchen is now the bunk room."
BEFORE
Homeowners John and Stephanie were understandably underwhelmed at the sight of the home itself, prior to the renovation. But they fell in love with the country setting and the amenities that included 40+ acres of land, a pond and beautiful trees. They were willing to trust Joanna and Chip's vision for how the home could be made over. The house was built in 1959 and came with three bedrooms and three baths. A series of prior additions, however, had ultimately created an interior with varied elevations, numerous step-ups and step-downs, and a generally odd layout. Utimately, the home's foundation would need repairs and the HVAC, electrical and plumbing would all need replacing.
High-Drama Entryway
The elongated foyer runs the length of this portion of the home and is furnished with rustic console tables custom made by furniture artisan Clint Harp. Beams made from reclaimed lumber and stained dark span the width of the hall overhead and help define the space. The lateral hallway provides access to the new master suite at one end and the re-envisioned living space at the other.
AFTER
According to Joanna, re-fashioning a new living space was the biggest challenge in this renovation. The center section of the ceiling was raised and multiple spaces were newly laid out. A wall was removed to open the new living area onto the all-new kitchen, which had formerly been a master bath and closet.
The Payoff
And if you enjoyed this Fixer Upper project, we'll just bet you'll like this one too: A Family Home Resurrected in Rural Texas.